- Sisters' Ministries -

NILS Programme

Dominican Sisters NILS is an outreach of the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands. It is a branch of National NILS Network operated by the Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service Inc and is affiliated to NSW NILS Network which provides training days and twice yearly meetings for the exchange of ideas and mutual support.

The rationale for the NILS scheme acknowledges that most low income people find it virtually impossible to save the cash price of major household items such as a  refrigerator, television or washing machine. They can rarely obtain credit and then only on terms long recognised as a poverty trap. No Interest Loans are an alternative form of credit provision and are an important part of a holistic response to the needs of low income people.

An essential element in the basic philosophy of NILS is respect for the dignity of  every person and the belief that the scheme can enable less financially secure people to gain a degree of financial control and empowerment.

Link to NSW NILS (No Interest Loan Scheme) www.nilsnsw.org.au

Dominican Sisters' Sustainable Garden 

Gaia

Maryland Newcastle

This Garden, Gaia in Maryland, Newcastle has just won a garden competition. It is called the 'Keep Australia Beautiful - Sustainable Garden Challenge'. It is a regional award. For more info go to www.kab.org.au.

At the moment Sr Diana Santleben is all focussed on Green Power for anyone who has not the roof, money or desire to go solar. Most would only have to pay $2 per week extra so that all their electricity would be sourced from renewable power (solar, wind or geothermal).

When the 'Make Newcastle Solar' project was launched in 2008, dozens of householders who wanted to have solar panels gathered to buy 6 panels of 1.5kw and an inverter for only $1,800 after the government subsidy. The Gaia system cost $10,000 but it is only a third larger, so this new project was a terrific bargain.

On 13 and 14 September 2008 'National Sustainable Homes Day' Gaia was one of the three that was open in Newcastle. There were a number open in Sydney and other regional centres. Full details are on their website: www.sustainablehouseday.com.

At regular intervals there is open house at Gaia, 16 Tinobah Place, Maryland NSW.

Most days there are 30-40 interested visitors.

Sr Diana Santleban op

Sr Mary Campion: Cana Communities

Over 30 years ago a Dominican friar, Mark Brereton OP, founded a community with and for needy people in the inner city of Sydney. Another Dominican working with that community was Sr M Seraphina OP who died in April 2008. A few months before that Sr Mary Campion OP began to work with the Cana Communities at De Porres House.  The name De Porres is that of the Peruvian Dominican, St Martin De Porres. Cana Communities and the Community founded by Mark Brereton amalgamated. It has been good to have the involvement of a Dominican again.

Cana Communities centre on those who are the most rejected and the most powerless; those suffering from loneliness, mental illness, addictions, homelessness and other factors which alienate them within society. Cana really tries to build community with these people and volunteers from the wider community. Their Constitutions state: “In companionship with Jesus and inspired by his gospel, we recognise the unique and mysterious value and beauty of each person.” 

They have set up:

• 3 church shelters for overnight accommodation

• Teresa House

• 2 residential homes where many visitors come to share prayer and meals

• Café Cana, 96 Pitt Street, Redfern. This is a commercial venture by day. At night, at least once a week it is open for music, and monthly there is a Gala Night, often attended by 100.

Mary Campion OP says: I am delighted to join 4 or 5 other volunteers and guests at De Porres house weekly. We prepare lunch before we pray together. To me, the prayer seems really from the heart. We enjoy laughter and conversation over lunch.  From the first day I went to Cana I could see how there was real community there.

Ministry is always a 2-way thing. I had a dramatic experience of this recently. Frank and I were the first ones in the prayer room. I spoke to Frank, but he told me: “Don’t talk. Focus on Jesus.”  The next day Frank, aged 57, died suddenly. What a lesson!

For more information on Cana contact: Anne Jordan

Tel: (02) 9360 5084 or www.cana.org.au.

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