Retired teachers and nurses are “working and walking with people” in Western NSW communities without priests.
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Most live alone and have busy schedules that include teaching scripture and music, visiting the sick and homeless, and “empowering” people to get involved in parish work.
But they and fellow Sisters of St Joseph have taken time out at their annual rural conference in Dubbo.
The 37 nuns, aged from “about 60 to 80-plus”, will return to their communities physically and spiritually refreshed, reports Gilgandra’s Sr Robyn McNamara.
“Religious never retire we just grow old,” the cheerful sister said.
Sr Robyn said the sisters were “all one big family”.
“We love coming together...to share our lives and experiences,” she said.
2016 marks the sesquicentenary of the order co-founded by Saint Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Wood.
Sr Robyn said it was the sisters’ “presence” and not so much their work that mattered in Western NSW.