Sr Marie Berise Nash, sm
Marist Laity Mentor
I was born in Toowoomba, Queensland and as the
eldest of three enjoyed a very happy childhood with
my brother and sister, cared for by my mother and
my father who was a State School Teacher. We were
educated in Catholic primary schools, All Hallows
Mercy Secondary school in Brisbane and at Toowoomba
State High where my father taught. I completed my BA at Queensland University and did my State Teacher-Training in Brisbane, along with music Diplomas from Trinity College and the Queensland University Music Department.
I taught in various state schools and enjoyed social activities until I was posted to Gladstone High. There everything changed. I continued to be a daily mass goer (I found Mass helpful in passing exams) and found a Marian spirit prevailed in the Parish. At a 40 hours Adoration I experienced a distinct call that God wanted me be become a religious sister. I consulted the Parish Priest and when I read a little booklet "In the Footsteps of Mary" about the Marist Sisters, I knew that this was for me.
I travelled to Sydney and entered the novitiate at Merrylands where I was given the name Sr M. Ambrose. After two years training and taking my vows I taught at Woolwich for a year before being missioned to the multi-racial Loreto High School in Levuka, Fiji. Before final profession I was transferred to Burwood, Melbourne where I was one of the pioneers of Chavoin Secondary College. After that I taught in Marist Sisters School in either Sydney or Melbourne.
During the last eight years of my teaching career at Cerdon College, Merrylands I joined others in promoting Marist Laity groups. I also become involved with L'Arche communities for the intellectually impaired in both Sydney and Melbourne. An important experience was going to the International Renewal of Marist Sisters in Italy and France and being able to visit the Sisters in the British Isles. In 1984 I celebrated my Silver Jubilee. I made two visits to New Zealand to observe and work with the Marist Laity Coordinator, Fr John Allardyce, sm - we promoted "Faith and Light" throughout the country. It was also in New Zealand that I met the Focolare Movement which we have been building up in Sydney since then.
Since retiring from teaching I have been involved in various pastoral ministries including working with other religious of the Marist Family to get Marist Laity started originally in Melbourne and then in Sydney. I gave Family Ministry support and used music therapy for the profoundly handicapped at Kew Cottages. I am still involved with the Focolare Movement and I belong to the Worldwide Community of Christian Meditation. In 1992 I returned to Sydney and helped Marist Laity Australia become established. I still support and encourage this active branch of the Marist Family to bring Fr Jean Claude Colin's vision for the Laity alive in a truly Marist Church.
 Marist Laity Australia officially launched by Fr Bill Ryder, sm Australian Provincial |
Home
More Profiles
