Displaying items by tag: Michael Sims MSC

MSC Melbourne Gathering

We don’t often have a confrere’s 89^th birthday cake and candles – Michael Sims.

14^th March saw our first community gathering at Cuskelly House, Blackburn.

If you look closely you can pick us out – Community Leader, Dominic Gleeson, and with his pre-novitiate student, Samuel Joshua; Khoi and his novice, Long; at Cuskelly House, Trieu and Hoa and Mark Hanns; Brian Gallagher, Michael Sims, Peter Hendriks, and from Kew, Paul Castley, Philip Malone, Peter Malone. But we welcomed from Kensington Malcolm Fyfe who is there in the photos. Absent this time, Frank Andersen, Daniel Magadia, Alo Lamere, Chris McPhee. Ted McCormack at Monivae and Bartha (who visited during the week) at Moonah.

Officially announced, dates for Long’s first vows, May 30^th, Hoa’s final vows, May 31^st. And moving to Kensington, Philip Malone and Paul Castley. When renovations are completed on the Blackburn presbytery, Alo and Christ will move back there from Cuskelly House.

Photos: thanks to Trieu and Hoa, and Peter Hendriks for Michael and the cake.

Celebrating Michael Sims MSC, 60 years ordained

Michael was ordained on the Feast of St James in 1964.

The Melbourne community joined with him, the Little Sisters of the Poor and the residents at St Joseph’s Northcote for his anniversary Mass.

During the Mass, Michael remembered his life and vocation, his years at Port Keats and Bathurst Island and his many decades in Eastern Papua, including ten years on Rossel Island. Earlier this year Michael celebrated his 88^th birthday.

He spoke of first encountering aboriginal art at Port Keats, the circles and dots, the circles of life and the dots, people in one’s life. Hearing confessions there, he could not understand much of what was being said and he applied for time to study the language in Darwin, then mixing with people and becoming more familiar.

At one Easter, Michael remembers hearing a man movingly say that it was the first time he had heard the story of God’s love for us in his own language.

The Superior of the Community, Sister Shanti, spoke warmly of Michael’s commitment in his Chaplaincy and his continued ministry at St Joseph’s.

The MSC community were treated to a wonderful lunch and the Sisters and residents joined us for the cutting of the 60 years’ anniversary cake.

[And, God’s special bonus at this time, Carlton is second on the AFL ladder.]

Photos, Peter Malone and many thanks to Hoa for some extras.