Dear Friends,
National Vocations Awareness Week is always held in early August and is an opportunity for each of us to reflect on his/her own life of Christian faith and commitment in terms of our growing relationship with Jesus and some of those who give outstanding witness in their lives. This week, I share with you reflections on Gregor Mendel OSA and Australia’s first saint Mary MacKillop whose Feast falls on 8 August.
Over the centuries, many Augustinians have embraced lives of study and research in a variety of disciplines – commerce, economics, education, humanities, various branches of science, as well as philosophy, theology, spirituality and canon law. Perhaps the best known Augustinian in modern times is Gregor Johann Mendel OSA, abbot of St.Thomas' Abbey of Brünn (Brno), in today’s Czech Republic. Born 200 years ago, Mendel was a biologist, meteorologist and mathematician who gained posthumous recognition as the founder of the modern science of genetics.
While farmers had known for millennia that crossbreeding of animals and plants could favor certain desirable traits, Mendel's pea plant experiments conducted between 1856 and 1863 established many of the rules of heredity, now referred to as the laws of Mendelian inheritance. Those of you who have studied biology will be familiar with his work.
The real significance of Mendel's work was not recognized until the early 20th century (more than three decades later) with the rediscovery of his laws. The verification of several of Mendel's experimental findings in 1900, ushered in the modern age of genetics, an incredibly important help to our understanding of the realities of human reproduction too. Science buildings at Augustinian universities and colleges across the world bear Mendel’s name.
Mary MacKillop is a model of youthful idealism and faith in her efforts to set up a school in Penola to cater for all Catholic children, including the poor. The school eventually became a reality and Fr Julian Tenison Woods and Mary hoped to form a simple community. Mary began wearing a plain black dress and bonnet. When Bishop Lawrence Sheil OFM visited Penola, he addressed her as ‘Sister Mary’ and her great story continued from there.
Many of us, including myself, have benefitted from the teaching ministry of the Sisters of St Joseph founded by Mary. Her pioneering work included the establishment of Catholic schools in Penola SA, South Brisbane Qld, and in the Sydney area at St Marys and Penrith.
Every one of us is called to be a bearer of God’s grace to others. This is what every parent does, what spouses do for each other, what family, friends and loyal companions do as well. Mary’s spiritual wisdom can support us:
· Forgive from your heart everyone who has pained you.
· Let not your crosses make you unhappy.
· A certain sense of God’s wonderful love strengthens me.
· God’s love is too deep for words to express.
· Never see a need without trying to do something about it.
Fr Dave