Leaders inspired

Published: 14 March 2010

Josephite unity: Sisters of St Joseph Australian congregational leader Sr Anne Derwin (left) with leaders from Mary MacKillop College, Nundah, and Our Lady's College, Annerley, (from left) Kate Agnew, Phoebe Rodgers, Samantha Grant, Hannah Baily, Rebecca Littee and Evelyn Clarke

SIX student leaders from Our Lady's College, Annerley, and Mary MacKillop College, Nundah recently returned from a special leadership course in Sydney.

The girls joined students from 14 other Australian Josephite schools to explore leadership in the Mary MacKillop tradition.

The Joseph, Julian and Mary MacKillop (JJAMM) leadership conference began at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney where the Josephite Sisters' Australian congregational leader Sr Anne Derwin commissioned students to follow in the foot-steps of Mary MacKillop who still provides a model for leadership that is practical and empowering.

The students spent two days exploring the Mary MacKillop museum, praying at Mary's tomb, engaging in group activities, learning about leadership and sharing ideas, before travelling to the Kincumber Retreat and Spirituality Centre for more insight.

Assistant principal for religious education at Our Lady's College John Clarke said a culminating activity was the creation of a wheelchair-friendly garden in the grounds of Kincumber as a joint project preparing for the pending canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop.

Mary MacKillop, who co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph, is due to be canonised in Rome on October 17.

"The students created the garden then planted native Australian trees to represent each school, a reminder of the collective legacy they will leave through their leadership," Mr Clarke said.

"There was a delightful sense of connectedness, a wonderful shared purpose experienced by all."

Mary MacKillop College's deputy principal and director of mission Mary Hilton said the Queensland students realised that leaders of other schools attending JJAMM were just as passionate as they were and shared many similar ideas.

"Similarly, the staff members were able to share their experience of the Josephite ethos and to support one another with new ideas," she said.

Mr Clarke said all the Brisbane participants were enthusiastic about the conference and had returned to school with a keen desire to further develop the Josephite charism.

He said the conference participants were also investigating new ways to lead their school communities to work for justice and peace.