Oceania Updates - Edmund Rice

Director Province Mission NewsletterDear Brothers, Colleagues and Friends“When I am downand, oh my soul, soweary;When troubles comeand my heartburdened be;Then, I am still andwait here in thesilence,Until you come andsit awhile with me.”(You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban)The Josh Groban classic reminds us of the gift of the risen Christ andthe continuous presence of the Spirit within and beyond ourselves.Easter is a time when we do ‘sit for a while,’ engage the silence andcome to appreciate the significance of Faith as it sustains and givesmeaning to our life. Easter of course is celebrated as a time of God’sYES to the life of Christ and our belief that the Christ of Mysterycontinues to be present. Bishop William Morris was often quoted forhis Easter challenge: ‘to be evidence of the Resurrection’ and so sharethe gift of Easter in real ways – in places and circumstances where needs are greatest.Perhaps this is in situations ‘when troubles come and my heart burdened be’. As I movearound the Province one of the real difficulties is finding/giving time to ‘sitting for awhile’ and perhaps engaging at least the silence or being available to listen to the Spiritmoving in others.Thanks to Phil Glendenning and the Edmund Rice Justice Centre people for comingtogether last week. Our discussion around mission certainly reminded me of theimportance of language and the value of hearing perspectives as top priorities and beliefsabout mission. The conversation continues this week with Board members joining theOceania Leadership Team in conversations around vision and purpose; particularly with aview to ensuring the Board’s Constitution is aligned to these parameters. It is also anopportunity to thank Professor Jude Butcher cfc for his longstanding leadership of theBoard and to members generally who have so generously given of themselves and theirresources to the mission of the centre in supporting the very needy.Brother Neville Thornton and I were privileged to visit St. Leo’s Residential College(University of Queensland) this week. Neville was a previous leadership team member ofthe College and myself a longstanding friend of the Rector, Brother Vince Skelly. Wedelighted in the catch up and opportunity to learn of the ministry that has now beenentrusted to the Brothers for some ten years. The experience was memorable – as was themorning tea! However, what does really impress on occasions such as this is therealisation that while Brother Vince and the community of Brothers Rob Callen and BobWallace make such a remarkable contribution, so do so many other Brothers andcommunities which operate under separate Canonical and Civil arrangements. Thegenerosity and diffused contribution of the Brothers to ‘the Kingdom’ is extraordinary.Next week our ministry support Coordinators meet with our central leadership group tointegrate the strategic plans of the three earlier Directorates along with reviewing andcombining the wisdom from the Ministries Conference of last year together with my ownreflections in the Report – Imagination for Mission. Hopefully, the experience will notonly advance our efforts organisationally but importantly build deeper connections amongoverall team leaders. Perhaps more than most other occasions we might enter the silenceand take time to ‘sit awhile’.Have a blessed fortnight.Bill SultmannDirector Province MissionPRESENCE COMPASSION LIBERATION4