Friends, you may recall our news in December, that the work of our mission entity, Highways and Byways – Healing the Land, Healing Ourselves, Together, is now being done in collaboration with Mary MacKillop Today, the mission entity of the Sisters of St Joseph.
This significant step followed a period of growing collaboration between our two organisations, fuelled by a long-standing friendship between the Missionary Sisters of Service and the Sisters of St Joseph. This integration allows us to build upon the strengths of both entities to respond even more effectively to the needs of marginalised communities across Australia.
We want to assure you that the vital grants and partnerships work of Highways and Byways continues under the banner of Mary MacKillop Today Highways and Byways Small Grants Program. As Marg Casey, former Chair of the Highways and Byways board stated in December, ‘The power of what the MSS have done over the past 80 years will be carried forward in this new way, managed by Mary MacKillop Today’.
Several key programs are continuing under this new arrangement, including Free2b Girls in Tasmania, which continues its programs of building self-esteem and confidence in women and girls facing tough times. The Northeastern Bioregional Network continues its Restoring Nature and Communities program under the direction of Todd Dudley in Tasmania, supported by a $30,000 donation from Highways and Byways. And Megan Brown will continue the Seeds of Connection programs at the First Nations health clinic in Roma, Queensland, with the support of a $30,000 donation from Highways and Byways.
The Missionary Sisters of Service and those involved in our mission entity, Highways and Byways remain deeply connected to this work. Stancea Vichie MSS, together with former Board Chair of Highways and Byways, Marg Casey; board members, Bernadette Madden MSS and Bernadette Hogan; and Liz McAloon, former executive officer of Highways and Byways, recently travelled to Sydney to meet with staff and board members of Mary MacKillop Today (see photos in the gallery). At the gathering, Stancea and the Highways and Byways team shared the story of the Missionary Sisters of Service and Highways and Byways, speaking of their deep connection to the land, and to the people, particularly those most marginalised and isolated, whether in the rural areas or cities. They showed a map of Australia indicating where the sisters had lived and worked over the past 80 years, as well as the hundreds of locations where Highways and Byways grants are making an important impact.
Reflecting on the gathering and expressing gratitude to those who visited, CEO of Mary MacKillop Today, Jane Woolford said, ‘I know the Board very much appreciated encountering the story of Highways and Byways, the history, the work and the joy with which you each have lived out this mission. … I received a great deal of positive feedback from form our staff. It makes a real difference for them to learn about the Highways and Byways story firsthand as they take on the role of continuing this into the next chapter.
‘The presence of you all as a team made a very significant impression on us all.’
2025 Small Grants Program Under Assessment
The latest round of applications for the Mary MacKillop Today Highways and Byways Small Grants Program for 2025 is currently being assessed. Members of the Highways and Byways Consultative Committee, established to work in partnership with Mary MacKillop Today in this crucial process, will be responsible for setting the theme and guidelines of the Small Grants Program, carefully assessing the grant applications for funding. The first of these gatherings to assess the applications took place on Tuesday 8 April in Melbourne (see photograph).
Members of the Highways and Byways Consultative Committee include Stancea Vichie MSS, Bernadette Wallis MSS, Bernadette Madden MSS, Marg Casey, Bernadette Hogan, Alicia Deak, Liz McAloon, Judy Cain, and Chrys Fernando and Maria Attard from Mary MacKillop Today. Stories of the impact of these continued programs and the grants will be shared through the Mary MacKillop Today Newsletter (which comes out three times a year), via their website and via our MSS website news section and newsletters (which come out April, August and December each year).
The continued support of our many friends, now directed through Mary MacKillop Today, remains vital in making a profound difference in the lives of marginalised communities across Australia. As always, thank you for being part of this journey and for your ongoing commitment to helping communities at the margins to thrive.
Feature image, from left: MMT Chairperson, Kieran Gleeson; Mary MacKillop Today CEO, Jane Woodford; Bernadette Madden MSS; Liz McAloon; Stancea Vichie MSS; Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader of Sisters of St Joseph; Marg Casey; and Bern Hogan.
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Presentation to MMT staff.
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From left, Monica Cavanagh, congregational leader of Sisters of St Joseph; Kieran Gleeson; Marg Casey; and Stancea Vichie MSS.
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Stancea Vichie MSS, Bernadette Madden MSS and Monica Cavanagh SJS.
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MMT Chairperson, Kieran Gleeson; Mary MacKillop Today CEO, Jane Woodford; Bernadette Madden MSS; Liz McAloon; Stancea Vichie MSS; Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader of Sisters of St Joseph; Marg Casey; and Bern Hogan.
