19 July 2022 · 2022-07 newsletter
Recently, two “pioneers” of our Schoenstatt Family, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne, have been called home to the heavenly Father. Each one has made a different contribution but each one has been significant in helping to “grow” Schoenstatt in their respective State. We will miss them and pray they may rest in peace in our “heavenly Schoenstatt”.
Joan Hardie – Menai, Founding Schoenstatt Mother
Joan Hardie and her sister Nancy built a new home in Illawong, Menai after her early retirement in 1988, from an illustrious nursing career. She became the founding member of many initiatives of Father Denis Foley, the newly appointed Schoenstatt Diocesan Parish Priest, who asked her to form the Catechists and the RCIA in Menai, now in their 32nd year of existence, and a Schoenstatt Mother’s Group. Joan had never married but being a child from a large family and having an exceptional nursing career she ably led the Schoenstatt Mother’s Group which is where I first got to know her.
We would meet in several mother’s homes-sharing the load on the young mother’s and Joan was helped by Sr. Angrit who would drive down from Schoenstatt, to try and instil some Schoenstatt spirituality into the mother’s hearts. She held ‘The Magnificat’ group, a diverse collection of women, together for many years until her move from Menai to Mudgee in 2000.
She was a Pilgrim Mother Co-ordinator and proud of the fact she had one of the original Pilgrim Mothers brought back from Germany by Vishna Turner. She and Nancy were familiar faces in the crowd at the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate days in May each year.
She travelled overseas on pilgrimage to Rome and the Original Shrine in Germany in 2000 accompanied by Fr. Denis, Sr. Elizabeth and many parishioners from the parish of Menai. I have a fond memory of Joan, Rose and Emily (Victoria) disappearing off to morning Mass in Bangkok, leaving no note as to their whereabouts and pleading innocence like little children when they found out how concerned we all were that they had ‘disappeared’. She suffered greatly in her later years becoming blind, but she had a deep devotion to Sr. Emilie and like her bore her suffering quietly.
Her funeral held at St John Bosco was attended by many of her Hardie family as well as friends from the parish of Menai. May she rest in peace, safe in ‘The Arms of our Mother’.
Angela, member of the ‘Magnificat’ and ‘Mary and Martha’ Mothers’ Groups.
Tribute to Trudi from the Victorian Schoenstatt Family
Trudi Wijewardene, one of our pioneer members of the Victorian Schoenstatt Family prior to 1999, passed away peacefully on June 26th at 7.20pm.
Trudi played a vital role in our movement in Melbourne, as Pilgrim Mother Coordinator and Leader. She is also remembered for her active role in the annual Novena since 1999, and we have continued the Novena since then. It is recited for nine Sundays leading up to the Feast of the Assumption. She trained the youth how to pray the Novena and brought so many to the Shrine. She was very passionate and devoted much of her time for the movement. She demonstrated her love and devotion to Our Lady through her leadership role in the Movement for decades. She has left us with a legacy of the Schoenstatt Journal which she documented during her period of time in the movement, which carries great value. She was also musically talented.
Trudi will be greatly missed by the Victorian Schoenstatt Family and our thoughts and prayers are with her daughter, Shyama and her family. Holy Mass was celebrated for Trudi at the Kew Shrine on Sunday 3rd July followed by the annual Novena Prayers. May she rest in peace.
Contributed by Yvonne and Annerine
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