19 July 2021 · 2021-07 newsletter
With wonder, awe and amazement, the Webb family had the privilege of watching the third of their 12 children, Sr Rose Patrick O’Connor (Nancy Webb), profess first vows with the Sisters of Life in June. Although travel restrictions meant participation was via a livestream from the Sacred Heart Parish in Suffern, New York, cheers and a few tears were very real and present. The family watched on from Toowoomba, Brisbane, Canberra and Zurich.
“The Sisters of Life are women who are in love with Love – Love incarnate, crucified, and Risen – and captivated by the truth of the beauty of every human person, created in God’s image and likeness.
We believe every person is valuable and sacred. We believe that every person is good, loved, unique and unrepeatable. We believe that every person’s life has deep meaning, purpose and worth. In fact, we give our lives for that truth.”
(https://sistersoflife.org/who-we-are/who-we-are/)
Poverty, Chastity, Obedience and service to the Sanctity of human life. Those were the vows Nancy Webb, called in religion Sr Rose Patrick O’Connor, made on the 26th June, 2021. Sr Rose and her class have collectively adopted the name “Beloved Dwelling”. As with Schoenstatt’s personal, couple or group ideals, this name captures the God given, unique and special charism of this group of religious women. This group has enjoyed watching as people they encounter feel loved and at home. The adopted name reflects their recognition of this grace and their commitment to foster it throughout their lives as Religious.
Authenticity and Joy were the words Sister of Life Superior Mother Agnus Mary used to describe Sr Rose and her companions as she congratulated them on their first vows and called them to share the mission of the Sisters of Life.
Six hours later in Toowoomba, Bishop Robert McGuckin presided over a celebratory Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Toowoomba. The order of the Mass was the same as that used in New York, that of religious profession, and after the homily the parish community watched a clip of Sr Rose professing her vows.
Reflecting on the occasion, Sr Rose’s parents, Paul and Fiona, explained to fellow parishioners that “it takes a village to raise a child and you (Sacred Heart Parishioners in Toowoomba) are part of that village.” So too is the extended family, the broader Church community, and the Schoenstatt Movement in and beyond Australia.
Paul and Fiona made their Covenant of Love in 1998 and many of their children have followed suite. Sr Rose was staying in Mulgoa in 2008 when she met the Sisters of Life at World Youth Day (WYD). The whole WYD experience was one of joy and comradery.
At Mulgoa and at the many venues throughout the wider Sydney joy and encounters with Christ were shared in abundance. In many other pilgrimages to Mulgoa from 1996 onwards, the Webbs have witnessed the Joy of the Gospel and the sense of a home that the Schoenstatt Sisters, Schoenstatt priests and the many lay members have fostered.
Sr Rose made her Covenant of Love in about 2014 and there can be no doubt that this has contributed to Sr Rose’s vocation and now to the “Beloved Dwelling” Sisters of Life class.
“The Sisters can give Christ because they have Christ. They have Christ because they love Christ, because they are consecrated to Christ and Christ is consecrated to them.” John Cardinal O’Connor, Founder of the Sisters of Life.
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