Sue Richardson, pbvm: Getting to know the MSCs

After almost four decades of ministry in Melbourne, Sue Richardson, well-known to many MSC, is returning to Lismore. Here, she remembers Siloam, Heart of Life work, and her being the Director of the Centre at two different periods. Latterly, she has been YTU Chaplain and Vicar for Religious for Melbourne Archdiocese.

My first encounter with an MSC was in the States way back in 1977.  Walter Downs (RIP), was doing the same two week seminar as I was on the Ignatian Exercises – the 30 Day Retreat.  He was a friend of Brian Gallagher, so told me to contact Brian when I returned to Australia and he would find retreat work for me. 

It wasn’t too long after arriving home, that I contacted Brian and was introduced to Douglas Park and began my retreats ministry. Harvey Edmiston (RIP) Peter Hoy and John Flynn were also part of the MSC retreat team.  It was at this time that I first met MSC Brothers who were responsible for the farm and looking after the domestic side of life at the retreat centre.

After several years giving retreats at the Park, I was sent to Melbourne to become the formator for the Presentation Sisters Central Noviciate programme at Sandringham, and then as formator for those preparing for final vows. At the same time, I was also involved in establishing with Brian Gallagher, the Siloam formation programme for spiritual directors.  Initially this was at the MSC student formation house at Croydon, where I met and came to know more MSCs including Terry Naughton, Peter Malone and Paul Castley.  Terry eventually moved to Douglas Park and joined their retreat team.  It was during our time at Croydon that I also came to know many of the MSC students.  

After a couple of years, Brian had the inspiration to establish the Heart of Life Spirituality Centre. Initially this was established at a former Josephite Boy’s Home in Surrey Hills and then at the Family Care Sisters former residence at Kew.   Besides offering the formation programme for spiritual directors with Brian, we then established the Spiritual Leaders programme, plus reflective programmes on different aspects of spirituality. Siloam, being a fulltime programme, enabled people to attend from the different Australian States as well as from overseas countries. In the Spiritual Leaders programme, attendees were mostly pastoral associates, congregation leaders and parish priests.

When Brian was elected provincial I took over as director of Heart of Life for the next six years. I then decided to take a sabbatical year.  This I did by walking the Camino, then spending time with the contemplative Sisters, where Julian of Norwich lived.  The Medieval Mystics was one of my main topics for the seminars I offered at Heart of Life.  I also attended some Summer Schools in Dublin, Ireland before returning home and taking up the leadership position of my congregation for the next five years.

Sue's second term as Director of Heart of Life was when it was situated at Box Hill

As leader, I held the office of vice-president of Catholic Religious Australia for three years and for five years I was a member of the Council for Clergy Life and Ministry, a council of the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Church Ministry. After completing my time as Religious Leader of the Lismore Presentations, I then took up again the directorship of Heart of Life for the next six years. During this time, I initiated the two year part time programme for spiritual directors, over and above the full time programme and Peter Curry joined the team as our receptionist.

The next two years I continued to see people for spiritual direction and pastoral supervision at Heart of Life and also studied for my MA. Significant for me was being in the same class as James Maher (RIP) and studying in Philip Malone’s classes. When I completed my term as director, the President of YTU, Chris Monaghan, offered me the position as Chaplain.  This gave me another opportunity to meet and get to know the MSC students who were doing the English Second Language programme as well as those studying theology. I completed my time as Chaplain at the end of 2019.   In late 1916, the archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, offered me the of Vicar for Religious for the Melbourne archdiocese.   This I held for the next three years. 

All going well, I will be returning to Lismore when possible this year. 

Sue Richardson pbvm, MA (Theol), AMusA, DipFormSpir, DipStudSpir, CertSD, DipTeach