My parents married in their early twenties following a rudimentary education.  I was born into this working-class family in the 1940’s. Both my parents were non-practicing Catholics but made sure that I attended Catholic schools, received the sacraments, and went to Mass every Sunday. As parents , I would have to say that they loved me and were as good as they knew how to be.

Dad was good at every job he undertook and was always moving on to the next challenge. This meant that I was moving on to a new school all too frequently and the result was an erratic pattern in my education. I was repeated twice and put back once so that by the time I completed Primary School I was old enough to be sent to a Business School where I took the courses in shorthand and typing and gained employment in office work.  I did all my secondary education in two years as a mature age student.

Growing up, faith became important to me when I met significant others in my twenties, during which I was fortunate to live among some luminous women when I entered the convent and learned to embrace the Benedictine way of life.  I made vows for three years and then for a further three years but as the time approached for me to take my final vows, I knew that God was calling me back into secular life, so I decided to leave the convent.

I took up office work again and eventually I met and married a fine man, and we raised a family together.

People in my life journey who have been and continue to be of great influence on me include my family of origin, my friends from convent days and others I have met along the way doing courses at the Aquinas Academy and at other centres.

At this point in my life, Spirituality means exactly what Fr Michael Whelan has taught— living relationships.  It is shot through with forgiveness—both given and received.  Attending the Aquinas Academy after I retired from the workforce was one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

The person who has been of greatest influence is my best friend, my husband, who is the most forgiving person that I have ever known.  He is my true anamchara.  Anamchara is a Gaelic word which means  ‘soul-friend’, a true mentor—one who loves you without being jealous, who guides you without being judgemental, who walks beside you without trying to change your pace.

Where am I now in my faith connection with the Church?

I hold the following convictions. 

The whole church needs to make an option for the poor and marginalized!

Am I correct in assuming that there is a movement to depart from the directives of Vatican II?  Surely the Institutional Church really does not wish to let such a ground-breaking moment as this Council was, slip away.  Those who so admired St John XXIII’s courage and vision certainly do not want his legacy to simply evaporate.

Perpetuating the anachronistic practices which conserve clericalism and the status quo as it was before Vatican II is not the way forward in my opinion. The clerical/non-clerical relationship needs to move from one of parent/child to one of equality.  When the non-clerical, baptised people of God have reached mature adulthood, respectful acknowledgment of them as such would greatly benefit the Church, for they have much to offer in service from their experience in life and learning.

Our Bishop Francis of Rome is desirous of a synodal church, where all, male and female, might have a place at the table when it comes to Church/church governance.

Too few of the non-clerical baptised (I dislike the terms ‘laity’ and ‘hierarchy’ for they tend to promote a ‘them and us’ mentality) go on to adult formation and faith and spirituality.  For some, their Christian education in the Catholic Faith Tradition stopped upon leaving high school.

Speaking for myself, I believe everything in the Creed which I profess at Mass.  I just do not believe it in the same way as I did when I was at school.

Seminary and ministerial training should be for real life!

Celibacy is a gift for some but not for all.

A simple stole to denote clerical ministry would suffice for celebrants  –  given our climatic conditions.

Deliberative as well as consultative roles should be the norm for those on parish, diocesan, pastoral and financial councils.  This would also hold for the election of pastors and bishops.

There needs to be particular attention given to the Sacrament of Baptism as the basis for the understanding of all ministry in the church.

The celebration of the Eucharist stands alone as our highest form of communal worship.  Devotional practices recited aloud immediately before or after the Mass can be distracting for those trying to make their preparation or thanksgiving.

The community of faith needs to become aware of the enormous resource for adult education and renewal represented by our Catholic colleges, theological unions, academies and universities, and these institutions need to recognise their responsibilities for helping the People of God to think.

When women are given their rightful positions as fully equal partners with men, the Catholic Church will experience an amazing untapped resource for renewal and growth.  To quote the late, great, Cardinal John Henry Newman  “ To grow is to change, and to grow fully is to have changed often.”

It is my belief that ‘change for the better’ is what God is asking of us in Australia currently.