Mass to celebrate Religious Men and Women

By Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese

31 August 2005

Over 500 religious men and women representing more than 75 orders have responded to the invitation from Cardinal Pell to attend a special Mass and dinner to celebrate the richness of their life and work. 

This Mass, on Thursday 1 September 2005 at 5.30pm in St Mary’s Cathedral, is an opportunity for the Catholic Church in Sydney to express gratitude to the religious for their witness and service.

Cardinal Pell says “The Catholic Church is greatly indebted to the many women and men religious who live and work here. Their contribution to the work to the Church and the community is enormous.

“These men and women have responded to a call from God to meet the needs of their times. Their work, so often unnoticed, does not go unappreciated.”

Men and women religious work in parishes and schools and with children in general, in the higher education sector and adult education, in advocacy for the disadvantaged and marginalised, they work with the sick and disabled, and most importantly pray and provide spiritual nourishment for those who need this support. 

Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, Archdiocesan Director of Vocations, says “So many Catholics can attest to personal experience of their ministry. Many of us were educated, cared for in hospital or welcomed into the faith community by these great men and women.

“Blessed Mary Mackillop is just one of Australia’s religious whose contribution to the universal Church has been recognised with canonisation. Please God it will not be too long before a second miracle is found and she is declared Australia’s first saint.”

School students and parishioners have been invited to send representatives to the Mass to show their appreciation and support for the religious who have been part of their lives.

Religious Orders who will be represented at the Mass to celebrate Religious Women and Men

• Augustinian Recollect Sisters
• Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation
• Brothers of the Christian Schools
• Canons Regular of Premontre
• Companions of the Heart of Mary
• Congregation of Christian Brothers
• Congregation of Lebanese Maronite Missionaries
• Congregation of Mary
• Congregation of St Michael the Archangel
• Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
• Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
• Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ
• Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity of Australia
• Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady Help of Christians
• Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (DC)
• Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
• Daughters of St Paul
• Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands
• Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
• Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood
• Franciscans of the Immaculate
• Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia
• Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• Institute of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict
• Little Company of Mary
• Little Sisters of the Poor
• Lochinvar Congregation Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph
• Marist Brothers of the Schools
• Missionaries of Charity
• Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales
• Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
• Missionary Sisters Oblates of the Holy Family
• Missionary Sisters of Christ the King
• Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the World
• Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary
• Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit
• Missionary Society of St Paul
• Order of Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt Carme
• Order of Discalced Carmelites
• Order of Friars Minor
• Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
• Order of Friars Minor Conventual
• Order of Lebanese Maronite
• Order of Preachers
• Order of St Augustine
• Order of St Clare
• Order of St Paul the First Hermit
• Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
• Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor
• Passionist Sisters of St Paul of the Cross
• Perthville (NSW) Congregation Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph
• Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP)
• Salesians of Don Bosco
• Scalabrinian Congregation
• Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary
• Sister Disciples of the Divine Master
• Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ
• Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
• Sisters of St Paul of Chartres
• Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
• Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
• Sisters of the Order of St Basil the Great
• Society of Christ
• Society of Mary
• Society of St Paul
• Society of the Divine Word
• Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
• Society of the Sacred Heart
• St. Columban's Mission Society (SSC)
• The Congregation of the Mission (CM)
• The Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family
• The Sisters of Our Lady of China
• The Sisters of St Joseph of Orange
• The Society of Jesus
• Ursulines of the Roman Union