Sisters honoured

 

 

 

 

 

In an early-career address to the first National Catholic Education Conference, Sr Mary Ronayne opened up to public scrutiny what she has known for many years: that Catholic education, if it were to move beyond mere survival and flourish, would have to make significant changes to the governance and management structures in place at the time.

 

From this initial insight, Sister Mary  rose from a secondary school teacher to become a principal and significant leader.  She was a member of the Council of Good Samaritan Teachers' College, a member of Polding College Limited and served as a member of the Council of Catholic College of Education in Sydney, a college that became an integral part of ACU National in 1991.

 

Her experience in the governance of Catholic higher education has been instrumental in her wise counsel to Catholic schools and their boards to this day.

 

"The constant interests and commitments that have been to the fore of Sister Mary Ronayne's life are Catholic schooling, governance of Catholic education, social welfare, and the ongoing development of Catholic women.  She has been a leader in each of these fields for over four decades, and in each area she has successfully brought many projects to fruition," ACU National Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said.

 

Sr Mary is a member of the NSW State Planning and Finance Committee of the Commonwealth Schools Commission, the Catholic Education Board Sydney, and served as the Superior General of the Good Samaritan Order. She also led a Task Force to review the provision of Catholic education in Western Australia.

 

Additionally, Sr Mary has campaigned for and improved upon the status of women in religious life.

 

She has been the national secretary and later the national president of the Conference of Women Major Superiors and the newly combined Conference of Women and Men Major Superiors, now known as Catholic Religious Australia.  At the same time, she was a Councillor for the Oceania conference of the International Union of Major Superiors, representing Australian women religious at international meetings in Manila, Bombay and Rome.

 

"Sister Mary Ronayne was recognised by her peers in both women's and men's religious orders as a leader with unwavering conviction and foresight, one who was quite unafraid of the challenges facing Catholic education," said Professor Craven.

 

"Sister Mary Ronayne has remained alert to the needy in our society and has maintained her personal interest in their welfare.  In this she has been true to the Gospel of the Good Samaritan, namely, one who sees with the eyes of God and assists those in need, becomes the heart and hands of Christ in this world.

 

"From her position of experience at the classroom and governance levels, Sister Mary Ronayne has always seen the significance of the past while also acknowledging the challenges facing Catholic education in the future. She believes strong in the importance of the heritage of religious orders, and looks to the future with confidence, continually advocating that issues must be faced with honesty and clear vision."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She played a major role in the establishment of the Najara Centre for Spirituality and Ecology at Nambour as a centre of prayer, environmental care and adult education. She is also an active member of the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, having demonstrated on behalf of environmental justice.

 

For many years, Sr Mary has worked as a facilitator of congregations in their preparation for Chapter and congregational leadership. This work continues to engage her today as religious orders in Australia and overseas still seek her inspirational guidance and gentle leadership.

 

"Sister Mary McDonald's life, both religious and professional, has been exemplary,"  said ACU National Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven.

 

"Her contribution to women's spiritual growth, through her role as the foundation president of Women and the Australian Church, as adviser to women's congregations and her role in the development of the schools of the Good Samaritan sisters, in addition to her leadership in education as principal, Director of a diocesan office and Chair of an archdiocesan council, and her inspired contribution to the movement linking spirituality and ecology, mark her as an extraordinary  figure of the Catholic Church in Australia."

 

In the mid 1980s, Sr Mary was appointed to the role of Director of Education for the diocese of Townsville, a position she held for almost a decade.

 

During this time Catholic education expanded in significant ways in the diocese. She also completed her doctoral studies during this period, focussing on women in administration in Catholic education.

 

"Sister Mary McDonald's religious, professional and academic lives have gone hand in hand throughout her career.  She has been active in assisting religious, especially women's congregations, in the discernment processes that have characterised their ongoing renewal formation," said Professor Craven.

 

Sr Mary is currently Chair of the Education Council for the Archdiocese of Brisbane, an educational consultant, an international religious consultant, an ethicist, and an influential figure in the direction of the Good Samarian Colleges' social justice programs.

 

She is a member of the national Good Samaritan Education Council, the International Benedictine Education Commission and the University of the Sunshine Coast Human Ethics Committee.

 

She also continues her voluntary work with the Buddhist-sponsored home palliative care organisations Karuna and Cittimani.