145. Anne McLean and Alice Sullivan RSJ - 17 December 2023

Australian Women Preach

Third Sunday of Advent - John 1:6-8, 19-28

Anne McLean grew up and was educated by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St Joseph in Bathurst. After a time of teaching in the Western suburbs of Sydney, Anne came to Mudgee. She and her late husband, David, cared for and nurtured their 10 children in Mudgee NSW. When their children began school at St Matthews, David and Anne began their involvement in their education. Anne represented parents of children in Catholic schools at local, diocesan, state and National levels. She has been involved in her local Parish, including Sacramental Programs and various other ministries; she was also member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council. It is with humility and hope that she shares her being received ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’, an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church.

Born in Coonabarabran, Alice Sullivan RSJ is a Sister of St Joseph living in Bathurst. Alice was a primary school teacher in the Diocese of Bathurst for many years and was also involved in youth ministry with her sister, Maria Sullivan RSJ in the Bathurst diocese. After a 5 year period managing a refuge in Sydney, Alice returned to the Bathurst diocese where for 15 years she was the Pastoral Associate in Mudgee. Alice is now involved as a volunteer in ministries in the Cathedral Parish in Bathurst. While in Mudgee, Anne, Alice and Annie Flynn (inaugural participant and collaborator on the development of the book by the same name) developed a program called “Conversations about Catholics” to assist young families navigating the faith journey in their children’s lives. This program has been shared with many dioceses and has been a resource which seems to help people in this journey. A link to the program is on the Diocese of Bathurst website.