She has worked in Melbourne, Australia, as a primary and secondary teacher, as well as in adult faith education, with a particular commitment to helping others discover a love of Sacred Scripture and the vision and values of Notre Dame de Sion.
On 8 September, Sr Mary was presented with a Wisdom Leader Award in recognition of her contribution to Catholic Religious Institutes and Ministerial Public Juridic Persons Ltd (CRMV).
Mary’s involvement with CRMV began in 2004, when, as a member of the Education Committee of Catholic Leaders Religious Congregations Victoria, she became increasingly aware of the challenges facing Catholic education in Australia and the importance of ensuring its continued vitality.
It was a journey already begun by her fellow Sion Sisters Dorothy Renton and Helen Frawley. For all three, part of that journey was to help ensure that Our Lady of Sion College in Box Hill could continue to offer young women a high-quality education shaped by the Sion charism.
More recently, lay people associated with the Congregation, including Milan Poropat, Chris Gebbie, Mark Walsh and Carmel Crawford, have also contributed to the work of the CRMV.
Sr Mary’s award recognises her many years of service to Catholic education and her contribution to the continuing story of Sion’s educational mission in Australia.
The Wisdom Leader Awards were established by CRMV in 2023 to recognise people who have contributed to Catholic education in Victoria. The awards reflect CRMV’s commitment to preserving and building on the legacy of the religious congregations that have contributed to Catholic education in the state.
The award citation drew on the image of Lady Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, describing Wisdom Leaders as those who guide others towards a shared mission, respond to the signs of the times and build collegiality through respectful dialogue. CRMV wrote:
“We look to them for their example, we walk in their footsteps, and we benefit considerably from their leadership and wisdom.”