Having just celebrated National Volunteer Week in Australia (16-22 May), we wanted to take this opportunity to thank all volunteers and especially to our volunteers, Mary Williams and Sallie Lang working in the MSS Archives at The Wallis Centre in Hobart, Tasmania....
Our News
We, Missionary Sisters of Service, keep busy in our various communities. We host and attend events, are busy with different projects, and happenings. On this page, you’ll find links to all our latest news and events, reflections and books.
Lecture to seek conversion of heart and action
The 2021 John Wallis Memorial Lecture on Wednesday 27 October at 7pm will call participants to a conversion of heart and action as they seek to live an authentic response to the Gospel. Dr Wayne Tinsey will be the 2021 Memorial lecturer speaking on the topic, 'Around...
2021 John Wallis Walk, Hobart
Each year our mission entity Highways and Byways - A Community of Service hosts the 'Yarck to Yea' Walk Run Ride fundraising event in Victoria. Funds raised go toward Highways and Byway's fabulous work in supporting people and communities experiencing hardship and...
Remembering Fr John Wallis 20 years on from his death
During his long life a cloak of gentleness gathered about him, Yet he was ever ready to challenge, to stir, Yet equally to affirm, encourage and trust That the Spirit was at work in everyone, everything, everywhere – A man with a big heart. On 3 August 2021, we mark...
MSS celebrate 77-year anniversary of foundation
In a great spirit of joy and gratitude, the Missionary Sisters of Service celebrated 77-years of going out into the highways and byways on 8 July. Following our long-held tradition, we celebrated our Foundation Day, ‘Rosary House Day’, as it was originally known, with...
An unexpected gift, Fr John Wallis portrait on canvas
We are excited to show off a beautiful new gift that is gracing the wall of our MSS office in Melbourne. Jeff Byrne has been a director of our Highways and Byways – A Community of Service Board for the past seven years. During this time, we’ve been so grateful to Jeff...
Madonna King reflects on Father John Wallis at book launch
Award-winning journalist, author and commentator, Madonna King, spoke of the remarkable relationship that John Wallis had with his mother and how through his letters he spoke of the every day things of his life. Dear Mother, Dear Father – Letters Home from John...
Bishop Bill Morris launches Dear Mother Dear Father in Toowoomba
There is a Semitic saying that goes something like this: “God loves stories, so God created the human person” and if there is any truth in that saying it certainly comes alive in this book, Dear Mother Dear Father Letters Home from Father John Corcoran Wallis 1927 –...
Dear Mother Dear Father book launched in Melbourne
“History ... is a gift from which to understand and attempt to make sense of our past and our present, often to make resolutions or decisions, even unconsciously, moving into a hope-filled future.” This is an excerpt from the latest book by Bernadette Wallis MSS,...
Launch of Dear Mother Dear Father in Yea, Victoria
Yea held a special place in the heart of the young visionary and pastoral priest, John Corcoran Wallis, who was born at the old Yea hospital and baptised in the Yea Sacred Heart Catholic Church in 1910. He grew up in Homewood, 10 kilometres from Yea and attended the...
2020 book launches for Dear Mother Dear Father
We are excited to announce that Dear Mother, Dear Father: Letters Home from John Corcoran Wallis 1927 - 1949, by Bernadette Wallis MSS, will be launched in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Toowoomba and Yea, in country Victoria, in 2020. The 100 letters written by John...
Yarra Theological Union hosts launch of Dear Mother Dear Father
"It is an honour to have been invited to launch Dear Mother Dear Father Letters Home from John Corcoran Wallis 1927-1949. In so doing, I am also pleased to be able to pay tribute to Bernadette Wallis, whose vision, scholarship and dedication have come to fruition in...











