On Wednesday 4 March, the NZ Dominican Sisters gathered in person in Dunedin and online from Auckland and Invercargill, with Bishop Michael Dooley, to mark an important new step in their lives. They were joined by Trust Board members Bernadette Drummond, Colin MacLeod and Anna Heffernan, by co-workers, by Sister Margaret Mayce (Coordinator of Dominican Sisters International) from New York, and by Dominican Sisters from Australia. This ceremony was to mark the appointment of their new leader, Sister Judith Lawson, a Dominican Sister from Australia.
The ceremony marked the culmination of several years’ work in which the sisters set up structures to enable them to live religious life as they age. The sisters have worked with the support of a group called Emerging Futures Collaborative, established by religious congregations in Australia to assist ageing congregations to prepare for their future.
This work culminated when the sisters requested from Rome the appointment of Sister Judith to assume their leadership. Sister Judith is based in Sydney and will visit New Zealand from time to time. Management of the sisters’ affairs will be co-ordinated by their Congregational Coordinator, Angela McMorran. Angela has worked with the sisters for more than 20 years.
The gathering was a time of joy and peace as the sisters continue their lives in security, following their calling to pray, to live in community and to support the mission for which they came to New Zealand over 150 years ago.
Photos:
The sisters gathered for their chapter in April 2025.
Sister Judith Lawson is on the back left and Angela McMorran on the back right.
c Dominican Sisters Aotearoa New Zealand
