Asian Sisters visit Sydney

Reflections from Helen Farrell and Carmele Nicolosi

My time with Sisters Elisabet, Veronika and Prapatsorn by Helen Farrell

After the busy time Sisters Elisabet, Veronika and Prapatsorn had in Brisbane, they then visited Sydney for several weeks. A part of their time in Sydney was spent discussing two topics: personal transformation and transforming our world. Stimulus materials included the spiritual writings of Albert Nolan and YouTube videos as varied as ‘The New Bionics’ which are capable of transforming the lives of the severely injured to Sr Joan Chittister’s ‘New Ideas on Faith’.

There was also time to visit institutions well known in Sydney for assisting people to transform their lives. Visits included a guided tour of the Wayside Chapel and learned of the many support services available there as well as the extensive level of care and services offered by the nearby Matthew Talbot Hostel. A much smaller, but no less important organisation they had time to visit was The Trading Circle in Summer Hill. The Trading Circle is an outlet for goods expertly crafted in the Asian region and beyond. The sale of these goods enable women to trade out of poverty.

No opportunity was missed to explore multicultural Sydney. One highlight was exploring traditional aboriginal culture around the foreshores of Sydney Harbour. A trip down the Parramatta River was an opportunity for a history lesson of colonial Sydney which was follow by discussion around a lunch table while enjoying views of the Parramatta River.

Sr Prapatsorn’s slightly longer stay in Sydney enabled her to visit the Blue Mountains. This adventure included walking out to the Three Sisters and taking the Scenic Railway down to the Jamison Valley and exploring its spectacular beauty.

While the visit of Srs Elisabet, Veronika and Praparsorn was short, there was time to share ideas and experiences, to enjoy each other’s company and to form bonds which will last well into the future.

Helen Farrell

 (image above: from left Sr Veronika, Helen Farrell, Carmele Nicolosi & Sr Prapatsorn)

 

 

 

Reflection of the Tertain's visit to Sydney 2016 by Carmele Nicolosi

Our first outing was very exciting for me as Elisabet, Veronika and Prapatsorn were my first passengers in the new car. Her name is Beatrix or Bea which means 'she who brings happiness'. We went to Mary MacKillop place. As there wasn't a Mass that day we visited the museum instead and also the chapel and Mary's tomb. A couple of Josephite sisters came to meet our sisters and were very gracious.

On the way home we visited the Aboriginal shop at Croydon Park for souvenirs. Their eyes just lit up and they didn't know which way to look. The owner is always so lovely. She gave them each a carry bag painted by an aboriginal lady from Alice Springs.

The weather was better the second week so I took the sisters to Featherdale Wildlife Park at Doonside. We arrived in time to see the fairy penguins being feed and also the Pelicans. We saw the Koala's and they had photo's taken with them. They just loved the kangaroo's and couldn't get enough of them, lots more photos. There are so many beautiful birds there and also reptiles. They recognised the dingoes as they had learnt about them in their English class at Griffith University.

Sr Venera, an Australian Ursuline wanted to meet the sisters so we called in and had lunch with her. They picked spinach and coriander from her garden. We called in home on the way back and they took photo's of my garden. Veronika played Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art on the piano.

For my last outing I wanted it to be a relaxing day for them. We visited the Labyrinth at Centennial Park. Unfortunately, the stonemason was cleaning it when we arrived but we were able to walk most of it. I explained the three stages to them....
1. Release on the way in - letting go of what no longer serves

2. Receive a sense of peace and calm as you pause in the centre

3. Resolving to engage with the world in a new way as you follow the same path back.

We stopped and watched the ducks and other birds on the way out and took photo's of them as well as the spring flowers. We had lunch at the Gardeners Lodge Cafe at Broadway. It was the dream of Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo to have a cafe in Victoria Park with a bush tucker twist. It is staffed by the students from Yaama Dhiyaan Hospitality College, Darlington. A lovely way to finish the day.

During the last week of Sr Prapatsorn's visit we had two outings.  We drove to Darling Harbour and walked along the Waterfront Walkway to the Chinese Gardens, it was so beautiful and we took lots and lots of photo's. We caught the light rail around to the Fish Markets and had lunch of oysters, octopus, calamari and fish. We then visited the Welcome Wall and I showed her the names of the 10 nuns who came to Australia from Germany in 1882 and settled in Armidale NSW.

Our last outing was a visit to Sisters Venera and Patty's and had a lovely lunch. Sr Prapatsorn enjoyed spending the day with the Sisters and helping us with a special project we are working on.

Sisters Veronika, Elisabet and Prapatsorn were three very special and inspirational women. They were always ready for whatever I had planned and were so grateful and enjoyed every outing. There was a great 'mateship' between them which was so special and they had a great sense of humour. I admire them so much for having to adapt to a new country and language and still able to be themselves.

It was wonderful to see 'my world' through their eyes. I enjoyed being with them.
I am very grateful to Sr Ruth Durick and Australian Ursuline Community for the opportunity to spend time with Veronika, Elisabet and Prapatsorn even though it was so short.

With thanks
Carmele

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 images: Sisters visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park and Chinese Gardens, Darling Harbour

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