BLACKLIGHT

US, 2022, 108 minutes, Colour.

Liam Neeson, Aidan Quinn, Taylor John Smith, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Claire van Der Boom, Yael Stone, Andrew Shaw, Zac Lemons, Tim Draxl, Mel Jarnson.

Directed by Mark Williams.

Liam Neeson as action hero again. In fact, since 2008 when he appeared in the original Taken and proved his credentials for taking on this kind of role, he has averaged an action adventure movie every year since. (And, while Blacklight is for 2022, he has already another two films like this waiting for release – and then, he will appear as the classic private investigator, Philip Marlowe.)

In many ways, this is standard Liam Neeson action. He plays Travis Block, whom we first see being a doting grandfather, his daughter wary of him, fearing that he is going to turn the little girl into a security expert – she is already alert to dangers in situations, her grandfather tutoring her. And, throughout the film, there are some very pleasant grandfatherly sequences, Travis doting but then caught up in action and forgetting to turn up for the little girl’s play at school.

And, Travis has every reason to be distracted. The film is set in Washington DC and opens with a protest rally, a type which Donald Trump would not have approved of. The speaker is a passionate young woman and while we look forward to seeing and hearing more of her, she is set up and killed, appearance of a hit run accident. So, sinister beginnings.

A young man is seen at the rally and it emergence that he is the speaker’s boyfriend, Dusty Crane (Taylor John Smith). And, he is on the run, pursued by Travis, interrogated by him, revelations that he has been working undercover – which means then that we are on the way to a deadly conspiracy.

Dusty Crane has been in contact with an ambitious reporter, Vera (Emmy Raver-Lapman) who dismisses him but is forced to take everything seriously, Travis interrogating her, enlisting her help to track down the assassins.

It is also revealed that Travis has been working for years with the head of the FBI, Robinson (Aidan Quinn looking older and not immediately recognisable). Travis has been doing undercover work for Robinson because of the debt when Robinson saved him from court-martial in Vietnam.

So, it all builds up to a confrontation, revelation of a make America great again moral disapproval of American culture, justice being done, the rescue of daughter and granddaughter in witness protection and a happy reunion.

This is a film that Liam Neeson made in Melbourne in 2021. While the four central roles are played by Americans, the quite long list of supporting characters is all played by Australians.

The director, Mark Williams, created the television series Ozark – and clearly has a dislike of some of the triumphalist aspects of the Trump years.

1. Political thriller? Washington DC? The FBI? Conspiracy theories? Echoes of the Trump era?
2. The Washington settings, the city, offices, outside rallies, homes, the streets? The musical score?
3. The title, the conspiracy, the FBI, Operation Unity? Assassinations?
4. The opening rally, the tone, protests and demonstrations, Sophia and her assured speech, Dusty Crane in the audience, tentative, applauding? The relationship? Her going home, taxi, standing at the taxi window, the car and her killing?
5. Travis block, a Liam Neeson hero, age, alienation from his daughter, care for his granddaughter, the scenes of him being a grandfather, the outings? If his daughter concerned about his security background, knowing how many exits, his granddaughter and her comments on security?
6. His background, explanations, the Vietnam war, the rescuing of the woman in the alley, the irony that it was the Cmdr and the assault, Gabriel Robinson covering for him, his debt? The return from 50 Vietnam, 15 years, his being recruited by Robinson? Espionage, hitman? Outside the law?
7. Dusty Crane, his age, experience, undercover, his training, with Sofia? Spying on her, falling in love with her? The impact of her death? His wanting to make a confession? Contact with the journalist? The encounter with Travis, taking him in, interrogation, his escape, the pursuit? Meeting the journalist, the computer stick, his being attacked, death?
8. Mirror, her work as a journalist, her boss, sceptical about her story, wanting evidence? Her boss and the discussions? Her personal life? Scepticism about Dusty, going to meet him, moving away? Phone calls, contacts, his death, her blaming herself, grief? The discussions with Travis, the walks, further investigations?
9. Robinson, head of the FBI, home, smooth, charmed? The emergence of the truth? Operation Unity? Wanting secrecy, wanting loyalty from Travis? His politics, philosophy, cleansing and protecting America? The elimination of Sophia, her knowing too much about Dusty? Eliminating dusty? His henchmen, running over Sophia? The pursuit of Dusty? Pursuit of Travis?
10. Travis, preoccupied, neglecting his granddaughter? The disappearance, witness protection? Is challenged to Robinson, demands?
11. The set-ups, the pursuits, shooting? His going to Robinson’s house, confronting him, the threat? Robinson’s capitulation?
12. Vera, her story, accepted, published? Her career?
13. Travis, older, saving his daughter and granddaughter, settling down? Or not?

Trieu Nguyen, after covid, isolation, negative test, flight to Vietnam after almost four years.

A photo record. Trieu with family, religious friends, MSC Community

Some of religious people who were born and grew up in my parish. This is a special mass for vocation. In the photo also is Trọng - one of the postulants in Vietnam. We came from the same parish.

And photos from Hoang, Vietnam community leader. He says this was a very joyous visit,

Mass,

Meal –

and a great deal of noise!

Monday memories – and some nostalgia…

Actually, it was Sunday February 13^th 1972, beginning of the pre-Novitiate year: Peter Curry, Des Holm, John Mulrooney and Leo Wearden, They are still the largest group who have stayed as MSC in the history of the Pre-novitiate, 1969-1983.

The 1969 group has three who just celebrated Golden Jubilee of Profession: Claude Mostowik, Roger Purcell, John Kelliher. They equal the group from 1970, Golden Jubilee next year, Phil Reilly, Jac Boelen, Josef Senjuk.

One of our correspondents found the archive photo. There are two who did not stay, Don Violi and Terry de Luca, and Walter Puccetti who left, returned, taught at Daramalan and left.

Investigations cannot identify the Pre-Novitiate Director in the photo.

And our correspondent also noted that the responsibility all lies on Brian Gallagher who was Vocations Director in those years!!

MSC Vows – from PNG to Brazil via Venezuela

As our congregation grows around the world.

Some images from PNG

Venezuela

Congratulations to Miguel Ibarra and Yordy Blanco: Celebrations for the MSC Missionary Community of Venezuela

The beginning of 2022 has brought great joy for the MSC community in the Venezuelan Region, with Miguel Ibarra MSC renewing his vows on Saturday, January 29^th, and Yordy Blanco MSC making his First Profession on Wednesday, February 2^nd.

Vow renewal of Miguel Ibarra MSC

Miguel Ibarra MSC, a member of the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Missionary Community of Venezuela, made his First Profession in February 2021 and renewed his temporary vows in Caracas on January 29^th, 2022. Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the celebration was a small, private one, attended by some family members, but nonetheless special for it. A beautiful Mass was celebrated by Fr Tom O’Brien MSC and Fr John Jennings MSC, while Miguel’s vows were received by Fr Yonys Mendoza MSC.

After spending some time at home with his family, Miguel is due to return shortly to São Paulo, Brazil, to continue his theology studies in the MSC Scholasticate.

To Brazil

First Profession of Yordy Blanco MSC

Miguel will soon be joined at the MSC Scholasticate in São Paulo by Yordy Blanco, a fellow member of the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the Missionary Community of Venezuela, who took his First Profession vows in Brazil on Wednesday, February 2^nd (the Feast of the Presentation and the 2022 World Day of Consecrated Life). Yordy completed his noviciate year in Itajubá in Brazil, and made his First Profession alongside his fellow novices, Diego Zambrano, Guicherme Bernal, Mateus Borodiak, Pedro Henrique, and Valmir Silva.

These six young men are members of the Provinces of Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba and Sao Paulo, the Section of Ecuador, and the Missionary Community of Venezuela.  The Mass was presided by Fr Humberto Henriques MSC, Assistant General, and the vows were received by the Provincials of the three Brazilian Provinces.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Yordy and wish him and all his fellow novices a beautiful celebration,” wrote Irish Provincial Leader Fr Carl Tranter MSC, ahead of the profession ceremony. “May their lives as MSCs be filled with joy and fulfilment. Congratulations also to the MSC community in Venezuela as they welcome Yordy to their small but powerful group of missionaries.”

“I extend our special thanks to the São Paulo Province for welcoming Yordy into their common Brazilian Noviciate,” continued Fr Carl, “and especially to Fr Getulio Saggin MSC, Novice Master, for his kind, gentle and close accompaniment of the novices throughout the year.”

PS  This appeared on Facebook in translation – with the request to rate the translation.  (Being kind, clicked 2 out of 5!)

Today we welcome the six new missionaries of the Holy Heart who taught their Votes in Itajubá-MG.

Acknowledging Pat Power, retired auxiliary bishop, Canberra, 80.

Pat Power is a Chevalier College Old Boy, friend of the MSC, especially in Canberra. He turns 80, 11^th February.

From the Wikipedia entry:

Patrick Power grew up in Queanbeyan and was educated at St Christopher's School and St Edmund's College in Canberra and completed his schooling at Chevalier College, Bowral. After leaving school, he trained for the priesthood at St Columba's College in Springwood and St Patrick's College, Manly.

He was ordained to the priesthood in Queanbeyan on 17 July 1965 and served in the parishes of Braidwood, Canberra and Goulburn before being asked by Archbishop Thomas Cahill to undertake a doctorate in canon law in 1972 at the Propaganda Fide College, Rome. On the completion of his studies in 1975, Power returned to Canberra and for 10 years served as archbishop's secretary (to three archbishops) and director of the marriage tribunal. In February 1985, Power became parish priest of his home parish of Queanbeyan.

On 18 April 1986, he was consecrated bishop by Archbishop Francis Carroll in St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra, becoming the fifth Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra–Goulburn.

Since that time he served on bishops' committees for laity, ecumenism, canon law, family and life, social welfare and media. He has also been the Secretary of the Committee for Justice, Development, Ecology and Peace and a member of the Australian Social Justice Council.

Much of his ministry has been in the field of ecumenical and inter-faith relations. He was the first Catholic co-chairman of AUSTARC, the national Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue. He served a number of terms as chair of the ACT Churches Council.

At the 1998 Oceania Synod of Bishops in Rome, Power spoke on marginalised people in society and in the church. Much of his efforts have been directed in this area through Catholic Welfare Australia and through local community organizations in Canberra. He has been a strong advocate for the East Timorese and the Palestinian people, for Aboriginal people, for racial respect, for the unemployed and in opposition to abortion and assisted suicide.

His early resignation, at age 70, as auxiliary bishop of Canberra and Goulburn was effective from 7 June 2012.

Never too late. Bob Irwin and Roy O’Neill are still graduating: MSC Ongoing Formation Facilitator’s Training.

Bob writes:  This is a first! Roy O’Neill and I and another 7 or so MSC around the world.

Whilst I was at MONIVAE last year and a member of the Melbourne community! I made use of free time to do the course. Hopefully it will help me with the men when I get back to Vietnam!…fingers crossed and knees bent.

I would recommend it…..very well done on line…..with plenty of personal online interaction as you can see from the certificate itself.

While the ceremony is tomorrow so no photo - but our archives show has been graduating for some time.

And here is an opportunity to share vicariously in the Graduation!  Bob sent the text of the ceremony.  Here it is. Chris Chaplin responsible.

Graduation Ceremony MSC Ongoing Formation Facilitators’ Training Thursday February 10 – Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82546363178?pwd=WU9vbVM2Y1hsRWw0OFpvOS80RXpSQT09 8pm Sydney, 6pm Seoul, 5pm Manila, 2.30pm Bangalore, 11am Southern Africa, 10am Rome and Spain, and 9am UK and Senegal.

Preparation

• Graduation Certificates signed by Trainers will be emailed to Trainees this week, to be used in this ceremony. Official originals will come in the post later.
• Trainees, please print certificates emailed to you and have with you at the graduation ceremony. If you wish to decorate (tie in ribbon) please do so.
• Everyone, bring a candle that can represent this moment for you (and matches or something to light the candle with).
• Everyone, please reflect on the questions in the section below called “Testimonial”– please prepare your thoughts to share with everyone. You will have about 3 mins to speak, so keep it focussed and authentic.
• Everyone, please bring your own drink (snack if you wish) for the social.

Introduction

In the presence of the Congregation and your Trainers we gather. (Chris) (Lighting of the MSC Ongoing Formation candle)

Moving Forward in the Spirit James Maher, msc

Refrain: Moving forward in the Spirit,

taking new steps with a trusting heart,

sharing a vision to form our future,

Instruments in God’s hands,

Missionaries of God’s heart. Repeat

.

For all that has been, and all that is,

For the toil in each mission place,

We give thanks for the showings of God therein;

the Divine with a human face. Refrain:

.

The call to be prophets is rising again,

In the church and the world of our time.

With courage and trust, and through deep listening,

New ways will bear God’s sign. Refrain:

Facing the challenge to die and rise,

Held in love’s mystery.

Ready and open to God’s surprise.

New heart! New urgency! Refrain:

Testimonial

Trainees & Trainers. (3 mins each)

• Now that you have finished the course what has surprised you the most about your experience?
• What is your hope for yourself and your entity in the context of OGF and facilitation?

Calling of the Name

Each trainee will be called by name by their trainer.

Afterwards each trainer will be called by the Superior General or OGFC. When the person called has shared, we all pause and allow some silence while they light their personal candle. We acknowledge that person and their testimony.

Presentation of Certificate

Congratulations on having met the requirements and standards of the MSC OGF Facilitators Training. We welcome you into this inaugural body of qualified Facilitators. This qualification is officially recognised by the Congregation through the 2021 General Conference. [N.] we take great pleasure in awarding you this certificate. [Applause]

Benediction

Woman of the Sacred Heart James Maher msc

In you our flesh he had to come

You grounded him upon our earth

Your feet that walked, your womb that held

Your pain that brought this love to birth.

The Sacred Heart of him you held

can grieve and grow within the space,

of patient love and listening;

a mother’s choice o’ mystic’s grace.

In your delight, in your despair,

The smallest choices of each day;

The cost to you, your hope-filled yes,

Your courage lived shows us the way.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,

Eternal sign of God surprise,

In you we know the poor as blessed,

This world transformed before our eyes.

.

O Woman of the Sacred Heart,

You heard the words of Gabriel.

Pray we may hear the call of God

and come to meet Emmanuel.

His truth is witnessed in your face,

that he became and was and is

The Sacred Heart, the resting place;

Our hearts forever held in his.

Social

THE APOLLO

US, 2018, 103 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Roger Ross Williams.

In 103 minutes, this is a visual history of the theatre in Harlem, The Apollo, billed as The Soul of American Culture.

Opening in 1935, surviving through many upheavals, especially the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, closing in 1977 – but then, refurbished, opening again in 1985.

The film is worth seeing just for the amount of historical footage that it includes. There are images of the theatre, the street, as they changed over the decades. This are scenes of the interiors of the theatre. But, it is the range of performances we glimpse that offer a reminder of the range of talent fostered at The Apollo.

There are some moments of Billie Holliday singing Strange Fruit, the 1950s with Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Leslie Uggams. There are the various music and dance movements, especially Twist and Shout – with an interview with Paul McCartney explaining the impact of this music in the UK and on the Beatles, wary of visiting The Apollo during the first visit in the 1960s because of the mood, later visiting and paying homage.

There are also the many comedians, especially Richard Pryor, Redd Fox. And the comedians with their wry comments like African-Americans born into their world with PTSD. And singers remarking that it is not that they were not worth it but they were made to feel that it was not worth it.

Quite a lot of historical footage is included, especially with the Civil Rights movement, glimpses of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, their assassinations and funerals.

There are images of the young Stevie Wonder as well as the powerful impact of James Brown. The presence of Aretha Franklin.

And there are more contemporary commentators by Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Chris Rock. And a visit from President Obama – an encouraging speech as well as a pleasant attempt at singing.

Well worth spending an hour and three quarters to be aware of and to relive something of the life of The Apollo and all that it has meant in American culture, in African-American culture.

MOONFALL

US/Germany, 2022, 130 minutes, Colour.

Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Charlie Plummer, Michael Peña, Carolina Bartczak, Zayn Maloney, Ava Weiss, Stephen Bogaert, Donald Sutherland.

Directed by Roland Emmerich.

The moon going off orbit. That sounds like an exciting premiss for some science fiction imagination. The moon coming closer towards earth, rising and setting irregularly, the loss of control of the tides and consequent flooding… Solid ingredients. And that is the basic challenge of Roland Emmerich’s Moonfall. Not that he hasn’t contemplated extensive destruction all over the earth – Independence Day, Godzilla, climate change in The Day After Tomorrow… (Although this reviewer’s favourite Emmerich film is his Shakespeare/Duke of Oxford, de-parody, Anonymous. More films like Anonymous, please!)

For a while, in the 1970s, conspiracy theorists told us that there was no moon landing, that it was all re-enacted in a movie studio. This time, there is another conspiracy theory or, at least, a reinterpretation of human history, especially concerning aliens, and that the moon is actually a “Megastructure”, a source of artificial intelligence, with an enormous mechanical core…

So, this is one of those science-fiction disaster movies where one is invited to have more than willing suspension of disbelief. Could this possibly happen!

The film opens in 2011, a lunar expedition, Patrick Wilson and Halle Berry as the leaders. The craft experiences a shudder and one of the crew is lost – and Patrick Wilson is condemned by courts, disgraced, from hero to pariah. And then the action shifts to 10 years later, our time. And the moon goes out of its orbit – with some visually amazing special effects, giant waves, floods, and even the tower of the Chrysler building landing in the Rockies!

Which means, of course, that there has to be an expedition to steady the moon’s orbit. And, of course, who has to go but Patrick Wilson, living alone, repairing cars, alienated from his wife who has remarried, from his teenage son who is arrested for reckless driving and drug possession? Reinstated, he has to team up again with Halle Berry who has become head of NASA. But, the interesting character is John Bradley’s KC Houseman, a more-than-eccentric delete amateur mathematician and moon theorist, especially those ideas of Megastructures and the construction of the moon. He is a welcome presence, one of those large-build actors (his choice of words in the screenplay is “chubby”), Jonah Hill and Josh Gad, who is something of a scientific genius, but ignored by all except his mother and some really eccentric friends.

So, no spoilers, simply to ask will the expedition rectify the orbit, save Earth, head off the chiefs of staff who want to nuke the rampaging AI? (And, for some more dramatic excitement, there is a lot of the action taking place on earth, the astronauts’ sons involved in adventures as they try to escape to safety in Colorado.)

Action adventure for science-fiction fans rather than for scientists.

1. The films of the director, disaster movies, the fate of the earth, destruction?
2. The premise of the plot, the moon Is a megastructure, its creation, aliens, human ancestors? The moon falling out of alignment? Consequences for Earth? Plausibility of this plot?
3. The initial expedition, the introduction to Brian Harper, Jo Fowler, the work and repairs of the spacecraft, the tremor, the death of the astronaut? The consequences? No explanation of the shudder? The court cases, the condemnation of Harper, his previous reputation, Jo and her testimony against him? His being disgraced?
4. Brian, relationship with his wife, Sonny, her leaving him, marrying Tom, their daughters? Brian living alone, repairing cars? In debt? Sonny, reckless driving, drugs, the court case, Bryan intervening, the judge unhappy, Sonny’s sentence?
5. The introduction to KC Housman, age, experience, knowledge, research, documentation, his mother, his friends and their meetings, eccentric? His realisation of the moon’s orbit, trying to communicate, no reply from Jo Fowler, going to see Brian, not & to? Brian late for the lecture with see children, KC giving the talk, talking with Brian, thought of as eccentric?
6. The moon’s orbit, the consequences, nearing Earth, control of the tides, loss of control, the visuals of the flooding? The changing of the temperatures? The pieces falling from the moon, destruction, the Chrysler Tower in the Rockies?
7. Brian, his response, going to the meeting, KC and his theory on Megastructures, the origins of the Moon, aliens, mechanical?
8. NASA, the information about the moon, the visuals of the monster, the European expedition, sending the probe down into the hole? Their deaths? Jo and her response, wanting to do something? Contacting Doug, his being with the chiefs of staff, their solution for nuclear destruction? Her wanting to prevent this, are concerned about Jimmy, the au pair girl, the plan to go to Colorado to safety?
9. Bryan bringing KC to meet Joe, her previous disregard, listening to his theories? The plan, her son’s thought about the craft in the Museums? Bringing on the staff, the research? The statistics on the moon’s orbit, KC and his contribution? Jo and her calling Doug, his delaying with the chiefs of staff?
10. The tidal wave, the destruction? Re-creating the spacecraft, the technicians, the launch?
11. The down on Earth story, Bryan getting Jo to negotiate Sonny’s release from prison, Sonny and his getting Jimmy and the nurse to safety? The drive, the thugs pursuing, the guns, on the road, Jimmy getting the other hand, the continued pursuit, the quakes, the guns, the death of the pursuers? Tom, with his children, the lack of oxygen, staying behind, the others getting to safety in the tunnel? Sonny, fall over the cliff, the girl coming to save him, the gravity, loosening him, the family getting together?
12. KC having to go to space, the comments about his eccentricities, chubby frame, his going, the tasks? In space, at the moon, the hole? Going down?
13. The discovery of the megastructure of the moon, the visuals and special effects, the credibility of the stories, Bryan and his son appearing, the consciousness of the Moon taking human shape? The crashes, the pursuit of the artificial intelligence as a monster? KC and Joe, in the corridor is, finding Brian, his being willing to sacrifice himself?
14. Using a spacecraft from the moon, the bomb, Bryan and his plan, KC tricking him, going to sacrifice himself, then Brian had believed in him, the explosion?
15. The moon gradually rectifying itself, Doug and his putting the gun chiefs of staff?
16. KC did, the appearance of his mother, achievement?
17. The module, landing on earth, Jo and Bryan safe, the helicopter, meeting their families?
18. Science fiction, conspiracy theory background, heroics?

RIP, 2 OLSH Sisters, Eileen van der Lee and Pauline Pitman.

Our condolences to the Sisters, the 3^rd and 4^th deaths this year.

Reading the Eulogies, we discover the talents and ministries – and get a strong sense of what it was like in PNG and the NT ‘in those days’.

Eulogy: Sr Eileen van der Lee fdnsc (5.3.1930 - 21.1.2022)

I have loved you with an everlasting love.  I am constant in my affection for you.

These words from the prophet Jeremiah capture well the driving force behind our dear Sister,  Eileen as she had  absolute confidence in the one who called her into life and loved her unconditionally. At approximately 8 pm on  Friday 21^st January she  gently slipped into the loving embrace of the one who had loved her with an everlasting love, throughout her 91 years ago.

Today we come together to celebrate the life of Eileen van der Lee, a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart whose ministry in health showed care, concern and compassion for all who came to her especially the people of Papua New Guinea.  Her dedication as a nurse came from her closeness to Jesus to whom she dedicated her life for 71 years.

To Eileens’s brother Joseph, and all her relatives and friends who loved her so much and are deeply saddened by her death, we offer our deep sympathy and love.  We also offer sympathy to those who join us from around the world, especially, our Sisters.

 Eileen, as we called her, was born Aldagonda Eileen van der Lee, in Ceduna, South Australia on 5^th March 1930 to Petrus and Suzannah.  Her parents grew up in Europe through the war, after they were married, they migrated to Australia from the Netherlands. Eileen’s father was a labourer and in the 1920’s he helped build the jetty at Cape Thevenard in Ceduna. It was in Cape Thevenard, an isolated coastal village that Eileen attended school. The family had a strong Catholic faith, it was this faith in God that supported them during the difficult years of the Depression. Eileen recalls attending Mass with the family every two months when a priest was able to travel. Eileen had no formal religious instruction, the example of her parents and the many holy pictures on the walls of her home, educated her in her faith.

The Annals was one publication the family received and here Eileen delighted to read about the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. No doubt at this time she started to dream about being a missionary Sister. I’m sure Eileen’s early years living in an isolated town prepared her for life as a missionary. In 1946 Eileen moved to Adelaide for work as a telephonist and it was here that she met Fr Cuthbert Hoy MSC and the sisters at Kilburn. Eileen had a deep sense God was calling her to be a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and our determined Eileen was ready to enter the Novitiate. Eileen’s mother did not agree to her entering the Convent and found it very hard and even took Eileen to the police to try to prevent her from entering.  As she was eighteen years old, the police said they could not prevent her from going but she could not take any permanent vows until she was 21.  Eileen’s father was agreeable for her to go and told her that if she wanted to come back, there was always a home for her. In1948, she entered the novitiate at Hartzer Park and made her first vows in July 1950. She was given the name, Sr Cuthbert; thus, began Eileen’s lifelong ministry and her epic journey as a passionate, enthusiastic nurse and missionary Sister.

Eileen did her general nurse training at St Vincent’s Hospital from 1951 to 1954. From 1954 to 1956 she worked at the leprosarium at Chanel Island and East Arm in the Northern Territory. This was followed by four years nursing at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Hospital, Randwick. During this time she studied as an Operating Theatre Sister at Lewisham Hospital and with Sr Constance Daley, started the theatre at Randwick. She also trained as a midwife at Calvary Hospital.

In 1964 her dream of going to the missions was realised and with joy and enthusiasm she accepted a move to Papua New Guinea. After a year at Paparatava, Rabaul, she was appointed to the newly opened Mission Station of St. Paul’s Boregaina in the Rigo District east of Port Moresby.  Sr M Paul had started a small clinic for the people but with the arrival of Eileen a very good general clinic was established and provided prenatal care for the women.  Eileen began going to nearby villages to provide health care for the people and trained a young woman to be her helper.  She showed herself to be an excellent nurse and had a special skill in diagnosing illnesses.

In 1969 Eileen commenced her many years of community health nursing and maternal child health at various mission stations on New Britain Island – including Kilenge, Vunapope, Paparatava, Uvol and Napapar.  Many of these were very isolated with no doctors nearby and when necessary she would seek advice from a doctor over the mission radio sched.  Usually there were two or three sisters in the community. Eileen was often called upon to care for the needs of the German MSC priests and brothers, including preparing meals for them.  Some of the sisters were Dutch and with her Dutch heritage she would have felt a special bonding with them.

Eileen was an excellent nurse, compassionate, resilient and hardworking, she endured many difficulties with living in isolated missions with her reliance on the Grace of God.

When she was at Kilenge, a station at the very tip of the west end of the island, she was in charge of the mission hospital with any medical help many days by boat away.  But she had an interesting “sideline”.  Kilenge has a very active volcano, not very far from the Mission, and Eileen was the one who reported its activity daily to the Vulcanologist in Rabaul via the two-way radio. 

In 1990, after 37 years and since Independence in PNG and with many trained local people in Papua New Guinea, Eileen transferred to the Australian Province. She said that in many ways she found this move quite difficult after working a number of years in the conservative Archdiocese of Rabaul.  From then until 2008 she nursed at St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility.

Eileen was a good friend to many, she enjoyed walking, knitting, reading and swimming. When it was becoming apparent that Eileen’s health was failing, she asked to transfer to St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility, she accepted her aging with her typical resignation. It was here that she was beautifully cared for until her death.

Eulogy: Sr Pauline Pitman fdnsc (21.4.1937 - 19.1.2022)

“You did not choose me, I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. (John 15:16)

Early on Wednesday afternoon, 19^th January, Pauline gently and peacefully breathed her last breath and came face to face with God whom she had lovingly and generously served. Pauline was 84 years old and had just celebrated the 64^th anniversary of her Religious Profession as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

To Pauline’s brothers Michael and Gregory, her nieces and nephews and all her relatives and friends who loved her so much and are deeply saddened by her death, we offer our deep sympathy and love. You know well her deep love for you, her pride and joy in you, and her gratitude to you.  We also offer sympathy to those who join us from around the world, especially, our Sisters.

Pauline Mary Pitman was born in Sale, Victoria on 21st April, 1937 to Charles and Nora Pitman, the third child of five children.

In 1940 the family moved to Lidennow South and they stayed here during the war years.

The final years of World War 2, when Pauline was between the ages of five and 10 years old, affected her during the whole of her life.  She remembers many Italian POWS working on the dairy farms and many of the local young men were away fighting in the war.

 Her father had a one teacher school with eight classes. Pauline was determined to start school and at age 4 she started school and brought the Lindenow South State School enrolment up to 30! Pauline attended a number of schools because of her father’s job. She spent six years at Notre Dame de Sion School, a year boarding with the Brigidines in Mentone, completing her studies at Sacred Heart College, Shepparton.  Pauline embraced these moves because it opened her world to make a number of friends to enjoy various interests with, including sport, dancing and we won’t be surprised to hear that Pauline herself says she had a great social life. On completing her secondary education Pauline went to Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy because she wanted to be a nurse and she knew she could do nursing there.

Pauline’s parents had a deep faith with love of the rosary, mass and devotion to the Sacred Heart. There was always a copy of the latest Annals in the family home and when Pauline was in Grade 5 she dreamed of being a missionary. The dream continued to grow and when she was 11 she met Sr Aileen Crowe who was enroute to Kiribati and our ever decisive Pauline decided at that moment that as soon as she was able she would join the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

In 1956 Pauline entered the Novitiate at Bowral, taking the name Sr Mario. She was professed in January 1958 at Hartzer Park. After profession Pauline studied to be a nurse and midwife and her life long dream to be a missionary as a DOLSH was fulfilled when on the 31^st May, 1965 she travelled to PNG to be a Missionary and a nurse. Her first appointment was eighteen months nursing at St Therese’s hospital at Badili in Port Moresby.

The next six years Pauline was nursing at Napapar, Uvol and Paparatava on New Britain Island.  This involved going on patrol to the villages and assisting the people medically in their own situations.  She also trained PNG nurses who became the backbone of the health system run by the Catholic Church.  Pauline’s work was to keep up the immunization of babies and to see the mothers for antenatal treatment. This was very important and reports were made each month and sent to the Health Department.  As with all our nursing Sisters on isolated outstations, Pauline was called upon to diagnose and treat various conditions that normally a doctor would attend to.  The people greatly appreciated her care of them and Pauline was grateful to the other Sisters in community who – though they were not nurses – helped out in the hospital when there was a need.

In 1976 Pauline returned to Port Moresby where for the next two years she was the National Coordinator for Natural Family Planning in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.  This was an appointment by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.  During this time Pauline travelled to many Dioceses to teach leaders about the Billings Method of Natural Family Planning.  She found this very satisfying and the men and women she trained continued this work after she left.

Unfortunately, the reactions she had to the anti-malarial tablets brought her back to Australia in 1978.  She firstly resided at Kensington and then in Toowoomba for two years where she continued her Natural Family Planning work.  On her return to Kensington, she was infirmarian both at the Convent and at Sacred Heart Monastery Infirmary.  From 1983 to 1985 she was once more in Toowoomba.  She spent a year at Taroom doing pastoral work before going to Port Keats and Santa Teresa where she nursed and trained others.

Pauline always showed an interest in others and had a good memory for people she had met and had socialised with.  She was very outgoing and touched the lives of many.

When it was becoming apparent that Pauline’s health was failing she asked to transfer to St Joseph’s Aged Care Facility in 2007. What a time of suffering for our dear Pauline! It was at St Joseph’s that she was beautifully cared for until her death.

We thank God for the many gifts given to Sr Pauline Pitman.  We thank the Pitman family for their gift of her to our religious family.  

We will remember Pauline as a woman of deep faith who cared for the sick and infirmed with tenderness and compassion.

We thank you Pauline for your interest in each one of us, your kindness and good humour.