Marking the 90-year anniversary of Fr John’s ordination

Four people standing in a row in a library
02/12/2022
Father John

On 18 December 2022, we celebrate and acknowledge the 90-year anniversary of ordination of our founder, Fr John Wallis. We have so much to be grateful for! And the fact that he established our community of women in 1944, we’re so fortunate that all of us MSS knew and loved Fr John in our years of formation and service. He died on 3 August 2001, aged 91.

In a small ceremony at the Wallis Centre in Hobart, on 29 November, the MSS officially donated John Wallis’ extensive library of books to the care of the Archdiocese of Hobart Archives. At the ceremony, his niece Bernadette Wallis MSS shared stories of John’s love of books, which nurtured his relationship with God and shaped his spirit and vision. Corrie van den Bosch MSS, who has spent much time in the MSS archives helping to sort and catalogue the books provided a presentation of the treasured books that could be found on the shelves. Congregational leader, Stancea Vichie MSS, formally handed over the library to archdiocesan staff  Chris Ryan, executive director of the archdiocese and Eloise Armstrong, archdiocesan archivist (featured in the photograph above).  The Archdiocese of Hobart also covered this story in The Standard.

Bruny Island Historical Society receives copy of Fr John’s letter for display

Helping to keep the memory and legacy of Fr John Wallis alive, Tracy Thomas, on behalf of the Bruny Island Historical Society was presented with a display book that showed one of Fr John’s letters describing his experience on Bruny Island, as well as a canvas showing a photographs of a younger John, and an older, smiling John. See the last few photos below.

 

  • John Wallis Library is now in the care of Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart Archives

  • Bernadette Wallis MSS, Corrie van den Bosch MSS and Mary Williams (Highways & Byways Hobart branch)

  • Corrie van den Bosch MSS and Mary Williams (Highways & Byways Hobart branch)

  • Bernadette Wallis MSS

  • Bernadette Wallis MSS

  • Bernadette Wallis MSS

  • Judy Cain (Highways & Byways Small Grants committee member)

  • Painting of Fr John Wallis

  • Newspaper clippings about Fr John Wallis

  • Corrie and Stancea Vichie MSS (congregational leader)

  • Chris Ryan (Executive Director, Archdiocese of Hobart), Bernadette Wallis MSS, Stancea Vichie MSS and Elouise Armstrong (archdiocesan archivist)

  • Mary Williams (Highways & Byways Hobart branch); Stancea Vichie MSS (Congregational Leader); Tracy Thomas (Bruny Island Historical Society Coordinator); Bernadette Wallis MSS; and Corrie van den Bosch MSS. 

  • Bernadette Wallis MSS making the presentation to Tracy.