Humble Grave Marks Historic Beginnings

A humble grave marked by a white cross, near a wall of St Mary's Cathedral, Hobart, has immense significance for the Catholic Church, not only in Tasmania, but Australia. It marks the resting place of Mother Xavier (Ellen) Murphy, who led a small group of women halfway around the world to begin, in Hobart, the first Presentation foundation in the southern hemisphere.

Their story, and those who have followed in the 140 years since, is told in rich detail in An Acorn Grows Among the Gums, written by Dr Noela Fox PBVM and launched by the Archbishop of Hobart, the Most Rev Adrian Doyle, on Tuesday.

It is a story of courage, commitment and faith which continues today in the Tasmanian Presentation Sisters under the leadership of Sr Gabrielle Morgan.

"It is a remarkable and wonderfully compelling story," Archbishop Doyle said, "as told primarily through the lives of individuals. Through these individuals we see the real history of the Presentation Sisters."

Sr Noela asked people to read An Acorn Grows Among the Gums with the "eyes of your heart" so that they might discover the treasure the Presentation Sisters have been to the people of Tasmania, and Australia.

"Step into the story," she invited. "What motivated these Sisters to choose freely to come to the most distant, the most needy, the most dangerous British colony of the time? What has motivated them to meet courageously the challenges of every decade since 1866?"

Sr Noela said that it was impossible for words to do justice to the story. However, inspired by the immense courage and faith of the Sisters whose story is told, she said she had come to a greater understanding of the substantial contribution the Tasmanian Presentation Sisters had made to nurturing the faith of the people and to the development of society itself.

The Congregation Leader, Sr Gabrielle Morgan PBVM, pointed to the close collaboration between the Church and Sisters that brought the first Presentation Sisters to the island – Archbishop Daniel Murphy inviting his blood sister Ellen and her religious sisters to educate the children of the young colony.

"We continue to enjoy today a close association with our Archbishop – a former student – as we work together for the mission of the Church in this diocese," she said.

"These 140 years have seen the loyal and faithful service of many Sisters with and among the local church, faithfully striving to nurture the faith in the lives of the young and their families, and especially in more recent times, in various other ministries, alongside the many other committed members of our Church in Tasmania.

"Who knows where religious life, as we know it, is going in the future? One thing I know for sure, is that God will continue to call women and men to leave all that seems secure in their lives and step out onto the pathway on which the Gospel leads us.

"We give thanks to those Sisters and co-workers who have gone before us in these past 140 years, and we pray that in reflecting on the story that is told in this book, we will catch glimpses of what it is that we as Church in Tasmania are called to in the future."

An Acorn Grows Among the Gums was launched before a large gathering in the new Mary Morgan wing at St Mary's College, the founding college of the Tasmanian congregation, on the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Penny Edman, editor of Online Catholics
Posted on Friday, 24 November 2006 in The Good Gossip

The Good Gossip is an independent weekly publication featuring news and events in Tasmania which have special importance for Catholics and other interested people.

The book is available for purchase at Credo Books and Gifts
162 Macquarie Street, Hobart - Phone: (03) 6223 6774.

More photos from the launch