Formation Events

New Staff Induction 

Our three one-day New Staff Induction days were wonderful opportunities to welcome educators joining the Kildare Ministries community through their schools. Staff were invited to reflect on their identity from a personal point of view, and draw connections between their own values and those of Kildare Ministries. We recognised our relationship to each other as members of the community on Earth, recognised the land and culture of our First Nations people where our schools are, and considered the confronting messages that migrants and refugees in the United States have been facing since announcements of their deportation were made. We also reflected on our position as Catholic schools, taking lead from Pope Francis who wrote to the Catholic Bishops of the United States to affirm our Church’s stand to be hospitable to the stranger; that they are our family as Jesus taught us.  

Staff also engaged with the stories behind our Brigidine and Presentation heritage at Kildare Ministries, and explored the values that continue from these traditions into our current vision and mission. We considered how these values inform our responses to the challenging circumstances we sometimes face in our schools today. 

Reflections on the day showed how much staff valued learning about the how Kildare Ministries is set up, the responsibilities our Trustees have courageously taken on and how big an impact our relatively small community works are making. Seeing the spectrum of roles across Kildare Ministries helped the group to explore their own vision for how they might continue the mission of Kildare Ministries in their particular school. In conversation with other new staff, they were empowered to step forward into the future knowing they weren’t alone: 

"We do not say that God’s Church has a mission but rather that God’s mission has a Church, that the mission has Kildare Ministries and that the mission has me  

and it has you….  

We are called to this both individually and collectively. " 

   Erica Pegorer, KM Executive Director, 2015 

First Nations Forum  

On April 29th, we were privileged to gather the staff of our schools who are responsible for developing relationship-based learning about First Nations in our schools. We were fortunate to be joined by Yorta Yorta Winyarr, Aunty Vicki Walker who has joined the staff at St Joseph’s Echuca. 

Continuing our work from last year’s Conference and first meeting of our Forum, we were encouraged by Vicki to focus on relationships as central to our work in learning about First Nations people, Country, culture and spirituality.  

Conscious of the hopelessness and disrespect experienced by First Nations people who have been overpromised and underdelivered in the past, we acknowledged our humility in what we don’t know, and clarified our intentions; to learn from listening deeply to First Nations, to act courageously to support Truth Telling and Reconciliation and offer experiences to our staff and students so we can learn with wonder about this oldest continuing civilisation on Earth.  

Rosemary Copeland, Co-Chair of the Trustees, shares a reflection of the day in the next section of this newsletter.

Palm Sunday Rally: Stand Together for Justice and Kindness with the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project 

Students and staff from across Kildare Ministries joined the Palm Sunday Rally, supporting Sr Brigid Arthur as she spoke to the passionate crowd gathered to support those seeking human dignity and compassion in Australia for those fleeing life-threatening circumstances in their home countries.  Students spoke and participated in an action on stage focusing attention on the impact of simple acts of KINDNESS. 

One student reflected on the hope they felt by being part of something bigger than themselves, standing alongside people from across the community who share these values, and shows that change is possible when we come together. 

Jane Collopy

Mission Leader