MMCRC 40th Anniversary

This photograph is an aerial view of the College grounds taken in 1989.Oral History

Sr Briege Buckley rsj

Sr Briege Buckley rsj holds an important place in the early history of Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College as one of the Sisters of St Joseph who helped establish the College's distinctly Josephite character.

Originally known as Sr Bridget, Sr Briege came to the College in 1987, following founding Principal Ed Carmody's appeal to the Sisters of St Joseph in April 1986 for a Sister to join the developing school. Her appointment established a direct connection between the young College and the religious congregation founded by St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods.

Sr Briege taught most of the College's Religious Education classes, as well as English and Geography. Her contribution, however, extended well beyond the classroom. During the second half of 1987 she worked extensively to promote the new College throughout South Gippsland, visiting district schools with other staff and conducting enrolment information sessions. A Leap of Faith records that these efforts were highly successful, contributing to a Year 7 intake of 65 students in 1988 at a crucial stage in the College's growth.

Sr Briege shared fully in the challenges and sometimes colourful experiences of the pioneering years at the new Horn Street site. The history even recalls her involvement in the memorable episode of a possum being inadvertently left inside the original house overnight, resulting in considerable havoc by morning.

Sr Briege remained part of the College community until 1994. Her years at Mary MacKillop combined teaching, faith formation, promoting the fledgling College, and the practical work of building a new Catholic school. As a Sister of St Joseph, her presence also gave tangible expression to the spirituality and educational tradition of Mary MacKillop that remains central to the College's identity today.

Below is a reflection from Sr Briege when contacted by Jenny Shea recently:

As I reflect on Mary MacKillop as the first Sister of St. Joseph and the standard she set for those who follow in her footsteps, two words spring to mind: listening and responding.

Mary knew how to listen. Right from the start as a young woman, it was while listening to the vision of Fr. Julian Tenison Woods to provide education for the children that Mary heard the first whispering of the call which was to shape the rest of her life. Like Julian, Mary too was very aware of the needs of people around her. She too, had heard "the cry of the poor" (Proverbs: 21:13) and like Julian, with a sensitive, listening heart she was willing to respond with generosity, and so began a journey that not only changed her life but changed and enriched the lives of many, many people since then, right to this present time.

Not only did Mary listen to what was happening around her. She also listened to the "still, small voice" within. (1Kgs, 19:11-12). Mary knew that voice well. She had first heard it as a child in her desire to give her life to God and, later, she encouraged the Sisters to, "Believe the whisperings of God in your own heart" (1868).

Mary certainly did that herself. She wrote, "The will of God is a book I never tire of reading". To discern that Will of God, Mary would have had to create times and spaces of silence to listen and become attuned to that "still, small voice". It was her guiding light, her GPS as it were, guiding, accompanying and strengthening her in the concrete, immediate circumstances of her daily life, enabling her to live fully her calling to respond to the needs of those around her.

That inner voice carried her across geographical boundaries, not only within Australia but also across the world. It carried her too, across the boundary of what was then the accepted form of Religious Life to envision a new form, more suitable to the "wide, brown land" of Australia and its far-flung population.

Little wonder then, that Mary chose St Joseph as her patron and companion on the journey.

Above all, St Joseph is a witness to the power of listening. The Gospels do not record a single word he spoke, but they do record his ability to listen in the stillness and silence of the night, and to be faithful to what he heard. The guidance which he received enabled him to lead his precious family across boundaries of personal uncertainty and into a foreign land in search of safety. No wonder Mary could say with such confidence, "In St. Joseph's care I leave you" (1873), and shortly before her death she again encouraged her Sisters to, "Go to Joseph" in every difficulty, and "you will not be disappointed" (1906).

To listen well we need to be present, present to the immediate, concrete situation of our lives, whatever that may be, and present to our own true selves within.

Being sufficiently present to listen can be quite challenging in our digital times with so many loud, distracting voices vying for our attention. Love never intrudes; it just invites, whereas that which is not love intrudes constantly. The challenge for us is to be as fully present as we can be to this particular moment, this person, this cup of tea, this task, this illness, this walk in the forest, this need, so that we can respond with love.

Mary wrote, "There where you are you will find God" (1874). Our life situation may be one of chaos or calm, clarity or confusion, but all we need do to experience the guidance, strength, and support of the Divine is to listen, right where we are. There, we can be assured as Mary was, that we are loved through and through, and through and through, no matter what, and that we too can experience the peace and joy that accompanied Mary and enabled her, even in the midst of great trials, to write, "Keep your mind at peace whatever happens" (1890) and, "Enjoy yourselves and be happy above all" (1874). And even, "Keep young as long as you can"(1874)!

Could this then be the standard that Mary set for those of us who feel inspired by the same charism, the same gift of the Spirit, which inspired her, whatever our life situation?

To listen with an open heart to the needs around us in the immediate, grounded, practical circumstances of our lives and to respond with love, knowing that our response may be as simple as a welcoming smile, a kind word, a helping hand or it may be something more,

To carve out times of silence and stillness in our daily lives so as to listen to "the whisperings of God" in our own hearts,

And above all, to be faithful to what we hear? It will always be towards love.

Project – Our Stories, Our History

As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations, our Oral History Project is helping to preserve the stories and experiences of the people who have shaped Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College over the past four decades.

Led by John Ryan and supported by Edson Letendrie, the project goes beyond dates, buildings and milestones. Through personal interviews, it captures the voices, memories and reflections that bring our College's history to life and provide an important record for future generations.

We are pleased to share the first three professionally edited interviews:

Jenny Shea – who commenced at the College in its foundation year, 1986, and continues to serve our community today: Watch Jenny's interview
Jill Carmody – offering another important perspective on the people and experiences that have contributed to our story: Watch Jill's interview

Each interview offers a different window into our past and reminds us that a school's history is ultimately the story of its people.