On the 26th January 2016 Sr Tess Ward was named in the Australia Day Honours List for 2016.

Tess has received an Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division, for her Service to Indigenous Communities in the Northern Territory, particularly as linguist and educator.

I know in whom I have believed,
and I am confident that he is able to safeguard until that Day
all that I have entrusted to him. (2 Tim. 1:12)

When peaceful silence lay over all,
And night had run the half of her swift course,
Down from the heavens, from the royal throne,
Leapt your all-powerful Word. Wisdom 18, 14-15

Overcome Indifference and win Peace will be the title of the Message for the 49th World Day of Peace, the third of the papacy of Pope Francis. Indifference in regard to the scourges of our time is one of the fundamental causes of the lack of peace. Today, indifference is often linked to various forms of individualism which cause isolation, ignorance, selfishness and, therefore, lack of interest and commitment. Increase of information does not mean per se an increase of attention to the problems, if it is not accompanied by solidarity-based openness of conscience. To this end, it is essential the contribution that can provide–besides the family–educators, teachers, people of culture, media practitioners, intellectuals and artists. Indifference can be won only responding together to this challenge.

Our first Superior General, Mother Marie Louise Hartzer, was born in Alsace, France in 1837 and died in Thuin, Belgium in 1908.  She first married, had two sons, and later as a 45 year-old widow, joined the young congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.  Her two sons became Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.  For 26 years (1882-1908), she led our congregation, faithfully passing on the founder’s charism and spirituality to the sisters.  She saw the congregation expand from Europe to the Pacific, becoming a truly international congregation.

“As Father Chevalier, by the exercise of his spiritual paternity, has given life to the Congregation, so Marie Louise Hartzer by the grace of spiritual maternity bestowed up her for the purpose of fostering that life, may be called and is its venerated Mother.” (Mary Venard, fdnsc, The Designs of His Heart)

And For twenty-six years, until her death in 1908, Marie Louise wisely guided our Congregation.

2015-12-08 Vatican Radio - (Vatican Radio) - Pope Francis on Tuesday opened the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, inaugurating the Jubilee of Mercy. The ceremony took place after he celebrated Mass for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in St. Peter’s Square. The rain did not keep the people away: Over 50 thousand arrived, including the President and Prime Minister of Italy, Sergio Mattarella and Matteo Renzi; as well as King Albert II of Belgium with Queen Paola.

Pope Francis, during his homily, highlighted the primacy of grace.

“Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures,” Pope Francis said. “But the promised triumph of Christ’s love enfolds everything in the Father’s mercy… The Immaculate Virgin stands before us as a privileged witness of this promise and its fulfilment.”

2015-12-06 Vatican Radio - (Vatican Radio) - Before the recitation of the Marian Prayer on the second Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis referred to Sunday’s liturgy in which John the Baptist, preaches "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins".

The Holy Father pointed out that conversion is not just for atheists but also for those who already consider themselves Christians.

Pope Francis continued by saying, “No one can say: I'm fine. Not true, it would be presumptuous, because "we must always be converted."

2015-12-07 Vatican Radio - Director of the Apostleship of Prayer in Zambia, Jesuit priest, Father Charles Searson reflects on the Jubilee year of Mercy and what it entails of all:

Pope Francis has declared the period from 8 December 2015 to 29 November 2016 as a Jubilee Year of Mercy. It is also his prayer intention for December: "that all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving."

Appropriately enough the Holy Father anticipated the year on Sunday evening 29 November by opening the Door of Mercy at the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Bangui, in the Central African Republic.

Pope Francis wants the celebration of the Holy Year to be for all believers "a true moment of encounter with the mercy of God". The Hebrew word for Mercy is "Hesed" which translates as "the loving kindness of the heart of our God."

Last week, from the 5 - 7 December, Srs Jenny Seal, Lorraine McCleary and Philippa Murphy joined with approximately 4000 young Catholics in Adelaide for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival. The Festival was supported by the Australian Catholic Bishop's Conference.