Perfect Charity

In this book, fourteen women religious tell their personal stories of the dramatic changes they experienced as a result of the Second Vatican Council. What they described is radical renewal. Their stories chart journeys that took them from school classrooms to the wider world. Varioulsy they went to universities, practiced canon law, became feminist theologians and biblical scholars, and worked with the marginalized and asylum seekers. The sisters' contribution to the educational and cultural life of Australia has been largely anonymous and its significance understated. Within twenty years few religious orders will survive Australia in their current form. This book is a timely record of the experiences of remarkable women. Aimed primarily at the general reader, it also provides material of value to the academic scholar and researcher. This book discloses diverse lives...readers will find it both interesting and informative. - Rosa MacGinlay, author of A Dynamic Hope: Institutes of Women Religious in Australia. Here are...beautifully told stories of fourteen women that inspire each of us to also live a remarkable life. - Alexander Shaia, author of Heart and Mind - the Four Gospel Journey for Radical Transformation. The stories of these resilient and reflective Australian nuns make captivating reading. - Claire Renkin, Yarra Theological Union, University of Divinity, Melbourne. Heather O'Connor was born and educated in Ballarat. She is a qualified teacher with a life-long interest in women's history and their role in society. Mary Ryllis Clark was born and educated in England, married an Australian and emigrated to Melbourne in 1974. She has worked as a teacher, freelance writer, journalist and historian. Valerie Krips came to Australia from England in 1969. An honorary Fellow in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, she taught in universities in Australia and USA before retirement.