2006

Wednesday 31st May 2006
*Woman shares her priestly calling
It is well known that in the Catholic Church, women cannot be ordained priests. Does that mean that a woman cannot receive a calling to live a life that is oriented to prayer and ministry in the Catholic tradition and is committed to celibacy? In short, can a woman receive a priestly calling?

The issues arising from these intriguing questions will be addressed by writer and ‘creative thinker' Ms Teresa Pirola at the 12th Annual Dinner of the Tenison Woods Education Centre on Friday 2 June. Teresa's topic is “Making sense of a ‘priestly' vocation: one woman's story”.

Teresa is currently working as a pastoral associate in the Sydney parish of Chatswood. She was the originator of The Story Source , a creative publishing strategy which honours the stories of ‘ordinary' Australians and brings them to a wider audience, encouraging the living of a contemporary Christian life.

She has edited two books, 100 Inspiring Stories: Finding Love and Laughter, Hope and Healing, Forgiveness and Faith and Stories From the Prophet Next Door.

According to Sr Louise Gannon, Chair of the Board of the Tenison Woods Education Centre “Teresa is a prolific writer, contributing to many theology and spirituality publications. Through her writing and speaking, a voice emerges that is at once faithful and questioning, steeped in the tradition and contemporary. She has rich experience to draw on and promises to challenge her listeners”.

Established in 1993, the Tenison Woods Education Centre is a conference, retreat and family centre. Set on 70 hectares and surrounded by the open spaces and hills of Lochinvar, the centre provides facilities for day school camps, retreats, workshops and family-oriented programs, and limited overnight accommodation, as part of the ministry of the Sisters of St Joseph .

The Tenison Woods Education Centre, which commemorates the Sisters' co-founder, Julian Tenison Woods , began in 1993. “As our major annual fundraiser, the Tenison Woods Dinner aims to gather the diocesan and local communities and promote good conversation,” Sr Louise said.

What: Tenison Woods Annual Dinner, featuring guest speaker Ms Teresa Pirola

When: Friday 2 June 2006

Where: Therry Centre, New England Highway, East Maitland at 6:30 for 7:00 pm

*RELEASED ON BEHALF OF THE SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH LOCHINVAR

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