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CONTENTS
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Our Lady of Mount Carmel
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"Convent of the
Little Way"
Charbelite Sisters
ORDER OF SAINT
CHARBEL
▫ Motherhouse ▫
Community of
Gethsemane
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Updated:
January 7, 2005
Mother Shirley-Anne and Sr. Ruth Journey
to Rome, Europe, USA
Canada, Japan, Singapore
A mission of encouragement: November - December 2004
Solemn
Religious Profession - May 23, 2004
(Flash)
Mother Maria Charbel (from Canada)
Solemn
Religious Profession - January 11, 2004
Community of Gethsemane
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FROM THE DESK OF
MOTHER GENERAL SHIRLEY-ANNE, OSC |
FROM THE DESK OF MOTHER
SHIRLEY-ANNE
This page is for a
more personal encounter with the Mother General of the Order. Her guidance
and newsletters, while directed to the Charbelite Sisters around the world
-- remain a source of spiritual vitality and inspiration for all. Mother
Shirley-Anne oversees the common good of the Charbelite Sisters as a whole
-- namely, the total of conditions that allow the Sisters to realise their
Religious Vocation fully and easily throughout the world. The commitment
to fraternal charity; affirming a sound and just system of leadership
among Superiors; and the provision of essential goods and services for all
Charbelite Sisters wherever they are.
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OVERVIEW OF THE
CHARBELITE SISTERS |
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The Order of
Saint Charbel has a unique charism -- to raise the dignity of family
life to the higher level of holiness envisioned by Pope John Paul II
in so many papal documents on the Family. It is truly the "seminary"
of vocations to the Religious life -- nurtured from the earliest
years. The Three Branches -- First (Priests); Second (Religious
Sisters and Brothers); Third (Families and Singles) -- all living
under a Rule and Constitutions which maintain the unity and stability
of the "extended family" which is the whole Community.
Mother Superior of the Charbelite
Sisters of Gethsemane Community located near Nowra, N.S.W. Australia
is:
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Mother
Veronica, OSC
Superior of the Charbelite Sisters
in the Community of Gethsemane
(appointed 2004)
Please feel
free to write to her. Especially if you are interested in knowing
more about our Community of Charbelite Sisters here. |
Mother Veronica, OSC |
For a nice general presentation on
the Charbelite Sisters -- please see the following flash movie:
The Charbelite
Sisters (Flash Player required)
For more information, please
see the Order documents:
Rule and
Constitutions (1996 edition)
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The Sisters are involved with many
works and various projects
(This page under
construction)
 | School Teaching |
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| Embroidery |
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Direct all
Correspondence to:
Vocations Director:
Charbelite Sisters
161B Koloona Drive
Cambewarra, N.S.W. 2540
Australia
Tel/Fax: +61 2 44460734
(Convent Office)
Email: mwoa@shoal.net.au
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Current
Mother General: |
Mother Shirley Anne,
O.S.C. |
Mother Shirley Anne, OSC
(Mother General)For
the
Charbelite Sisters worldwide
Resident at
Motherhouse
Community of Gethsemane
(Cambewarra) |
Born in
Melbourne, Shirley Anne Stokes -- as a child attended Saint Dominc's School and the Siena
Dominican Convent. In 1963 she entered Mater Dei Nursing School at
Saint Vincent's Hospital and graduated as a Registered Nurse and
Midwife. Mother Shirley Anne has travelled overseas extensively -- in
Europe and the Holy Land. In 1973 she accepted a position as Nurse
Supervisor at Saint Vincent's Hospital Melbourne.
In 1987 Mother
Shirley became aware of the Apparitions of the Mother of God to the
Little Pebble in Nowra. She became a worker for the Mission and
travelled to Nowra almost monthly. In 1995 after the death of her
mother -- she moved to the Community of Gethsemane. In 1996 she
realized that she had a calling to the Religious Life and in January
1997 she entered the Second Branch -- for Religious Sisters. She made
her first Profession in July 1999 and was appointed Novice Mistress.
In February 2001 she was appointed Mother Superior for the Convent
in the Community of Gethsemane.
Mother Superior is
in charge of the Convent of the Little Way which is the Motherhouse in
Australia. She is responsible for the
day-to-day operation and functioning of the Sisters in the
spirituality of the Second Branch. She is the immediate Superior for
all of the Sisters living within the Community of Gethsemane.
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Previous
Mother General: |
Mother Marie
Therese, O.S.C. |
Mother Marie Therese, OSC
(Mother General)For
the whole Order
In residence at the
Community of Gethsemane
(Cambewarra) |
Born in
Sydney, Elizabeth McKinnon -- as a child attended several notable
education institutes: Holy Cross College; Sisters of Mercy; Santa
Sabina Dominican; and Bridgidine College. In 1956 she entered the
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary -- leaving before taking Vows in 1959.
She entered the WRAAF for some years. In 1984 Elizabeth discovered the
Apparitions Site at Nowra and was deeply inspired to dedicate herself
to follow the Mission of the Little Pebble -- known as the Marian Work
of Atonement, at that time.
In 1995 she entered
the Order of Saint Charbel -- in the Community of Gethsemane -- and
taught in the Saint Joseph's School until 2001. She made Profession as
a Nun in January 1996, and made her Solemn Vows in December 1997. She
continued her studies and was accredited as a qualified Accountant.
The Moderator appointed her as Mother Superior in 2001 and then to
Mother General not long after
Mother General is
head of all the Religious Sisters in the Second Branch all over the
world. She is responsible for the general welfare of the Sisters and
the correct implementation of the Rule and Constitution for all
Communities regarding the Religious Sisters. |
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First
Mother General: |
Mother Marie
Goretti, O.S.C. (Emeritis) |
Mother
Maria Goretti, OSC |
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Born in
Sydney, as Helen Mary Gillespie.
Mother General
Maria Goretti came to know and believe in the Little Pebble in the
early 1980's.
As a Religious Sister of the Congregation of Sisters of Mercy (Sydney) all her life -- she gradually
realized in her advancing years -- that God was calling her to join the Order of Saint Charbel.
In 1992 with permission of her Congregation -- she moved into the
Community of Gethsemane to take up her new residence. In 1996 she became the
first Mother General of the Charbelite Sisters and Mother Superior for
the Community of Gethsemane -- this appointment was made by the Moderator. Because of her rich and long experience of Religious
life -- she has made her stamp upon the Order of Saint Charbel by
greatly influencing the growth of Vocations. Due to ill health she was forced to resign her office in
2001. |
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Convent