A Pilgrimage of Hope in Cultural Diversity - Australia
23/06/2025
A Pilgrimage of Hope in Cultural Diversity: Reflections from APUC 2025 in Australia
This year, the Asia Pacific Ursuline Conference (APUC) 2025 brought us— 35 daughters of St Angela—to the land of Australia. More than just a meeting, this conference became a true pilgrimage of hope: an encounter with one another, a deep immersion into local cultures, and an opportunity to be shaped by experiences of intercultural religious life.
The First Steps: Rooted in the Land, Nature, and Life
The journey began with an immersion programme, an invitation to enter more deeply into the lived realities of local communities. We were divided into two groups.
The first group went to Brisbane, joined by Sisters from India, Taiwan and Thailand. Accompanied by Sr. Helen who leads the immersion and Sr. Kari, they were introduced to the Aboriginal spirituality —a deep reverence for the land, where nature is not seen as a resource but as a living being, a sacred mother. Through this immersion, they were invited to listen to the earth, to feel the pulse of the land, and to understand how Aboriginal people live in profound connection with creation.
The second group traveled to Alice Springs, with Sisters from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. Under the guidance of Sr. Ruth Durick, Sr. Anne Surtees, and Sr. Mary Wick, they were warmly welcomed into the life of the local community at St Therese Parish’s Spiritual Center. There, they met local women who, with the support of the Ursuline Sisters, expressed their faith and cultural identity through dot-by-dot painting—a traditional Aboriginal art form—on ceramic crosses. The creative process was quiet yet powerful, a space where art and faith met in sacred expression.
The immersion also included time to appreciate the stunning natural beauty of Alice Springs and to experience the richness of Aboriginal culture through stories, symbols, and hospitality.
Gathering in Sydney: Where Is My Heart Now?
On Friday, May 23, 2025, all participants gathered at Mary MacKillop Centre in Sydney. There was a sense of joy and gratitude as we saw one another again, each carrying unique experiences from the immersion.
On Saturday, Sr. Kari, the Provincial Leader of Australia, invited us to enter into a time of interior reflection. With a simple yet profound question—"Where are you now?"—we were encouraged to pause and become aware of the movements in our hearts. Through paired sharing and group reflection, we listened to one another’s journeys and recognized how God had been quietly and powerfully at work in each experience.
Journeying with the Word: God Dwelling Within Us
On Sunday, May 25, Sr. Mary Coloe, PBVM a renowned Scripture scholar, led us through a beautiful exploration of the connection between the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of John. She highlighted the intimate relationship between God and humanity, showing how the act of creation continues, and how God dwells within us—not far away, but near, present, and active in our daily lives. Her presentation stirred deep awe and contemplation, reminding us that we are co-creators with God in the unfolding story of salvation.
Listening to the Voices at the Margins
Monday brought us to Xavier College and a local hospital, where we met teachers and health workers dedicated to serving those often left out of mainstream society. At the school, students proudly shared how their education allows them to reconnect with and preserve their Aboriginal heritage—through stories, values, arts, and traditions.
In the hospital where some of us visited, the director of the campus explained to us, how each and every patient that they receive to the hospital are given unique care and attention. It was begun by some nuns, but now it is fully managed by the lay people as there aren’t many Sisters in that particular Congregation. We were also happy to know that a few Aboriginal people who work in the hospital are treated with dignity and respect. We had the opportunity to listen to them and the way they collaborate in the hospital.
The day concluded with a Eucharistic celebration at Sydney Cathedral, followed by a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge—beautiful reminders of the blending of nature, culture, and human creativity.
Walking Home with Symbols of Hope
On the final day, participants from — the Ursulines of the Roman Union, the Canadian Union, the TildonkUnion, and the Ursuline Franciscans—came together to share how this pilgrimage had touched their communities. In a closing ritual, each participant offered a footprint symbol, representing their unique journey of faith, hope, and commitment. Alongside it, each one wrote a personal reflection on the grace received throughout the APUC journey.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We are deeply grateful to Sr. Kari Hatherell, whose spiritual guidance opened space for deep reflection, to Sr Ruth Durick, who worked tirelessly to help with travel arrangements, and to the Provincial Council of Australia and all the Ursuline Sisters of Australia, who received us with generous hospitality and made this gathering a true encounter of hearts.
APUC 2025 was not just an event—it was a breath of new life, a rekindling of the flame, and a collective step forward in our journey as daughters of St. Angela. In our diversity, we found unity. In our differences, we recognized the same Spirit moving among us.
May this pilgrimage continue to inspire us all to walk with hope, rooted in faith and open to the rich diversity of the world God has entrusted to our care.
Sr. Veronica Sri Andayani, OSU
