Dominican Sisters meet, welcome new leadership

On March 4, the New Zealand Dominican Sisters gathered in person in Dunedin and online from Auckland and Invercargill with Dunedin Bishop Michael Dooley. They were joined by trust board members, co-workers, sisters from Australia and Sr Margaret Mayce, coordinator of Dominican Sisters International, from New York.

The gathering was to mark the appointment of the New Zealand sisters’ new leader, Sr Judith Lawson from Australia.

The ceremony marked the culmination of several years’ work in which the sisters set up structures to enable them to live religious life as they age. The sisters have worked with the support of a group called Emerging Futures Collaborative, established by religious congregations in Australia to assist ageing congregations to prepare for their future.

This work culminated when the sisters requested from Rome the appointment of Sr Judith to assume their leadership. Sr Judith is based in Sydney and will visit New Zealand from time to time. Management of the sisters’ affairs will be co-ordinated by their congregational coordinator, Angela McMorran, who has worked with the sisters for more than 20 years.

The gathering was a time of joy and peace as the sisters continue their lives in security, following their calling to pray, to live in community and to support the mission for which they came to New Zealand more than 150 years ago.

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NZ Dominican Sisters gather to mark new leadership (Dominican Family Aotearoa New Zealand)