I RETURNED to Greythorn at the conclusion of a very successful Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Chapter in Sydney.
Significant policies on our expansion in Vietnam; our Heart Spirituality; working on the ‘margins’; ministry to remote communities of Aborigines and, of course, Retirement and Aged Care.
I missed a stronger statement on working regionally and the mission to China. However, we have a relatively weak central government being a Federation of Provinces and it’s difficult to garner regional cooperation.
Regarding China, we are just maintaining Japan and, in both cases of Japan and China, we have too few students willing or able to learn the language. Perhaps, I thought, this is best left to the Jesuits.
As expected, I intervened in favour of our academic ministry but it did not receive much support.
I was more successful when I made a lengthy intervention about retirement and aged care. Overall, it was a blessed and inspiring time for the Congregation.
The presence of our professed and ordained members from Vietnam was an uplifting experience. I had already met them in Vietnam and, again, in the Philippines, where they do their novitiate.