Barbara Ashwell
I was born in Bluff, New Zealand where
I spent the first 18 years of my life and
was educated by the Dominican Sisters.
I worked for two years before entering the
Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary
in Heretaunga, Wellington (NZ).
On completion of my religious, missionary and teacher training I was missioned to Samoa where I spent twenty years. During that time I taught at primary, secondary and tertiary level and held various roles of responsibility in schools, community and in the Archdiocese. My last work in Samoa for the Archdiocese was to run a Clinic for suicide victims and their families. The long hours of 'being there' for others, with little support, took their toll. So at the end of this contract I needed a complete change. I moved from Samoa to Sydney and from being a Marist Religious to being Marist Laity.
Some years later I encountered Sr Marie Berise, in St Vincent's Private Hospital where I work as a Pastoral Carer, and she put me in touch with Marie Baden and the group which was becoming Marist Laity Australia. Now I am a member of the Core Committee and value the richness experienced from all the branches of the Marist family. This year I have initiated a Marist Laity Group in St Gabriel's Parish, Bexley, NSW
I thank God for the wonderful gift of being Marist and Mary for her continuing 'gracious choice' in all the events of my daily life.
 Marist Laity Australia officially launched by Fr Bill Ryder, sm Australian Provincial |
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