HISTORY
History | Mission | Apostolate / Work | Charism | Spirituality
The idea for the John Paul II Sisters (which later included the Missionaries of the Gospel) was revealed in March 2004. Under obedience, it was kept confidential for a period of time. During this time of prayer, a letter was written by Clare (now Sr. Bernadette) to our late Holy Father John Paul II to share the news with him. The concept was presented to Perth Archbishop, Most Rev. Barry James Hickey at the time when he was asked to forward the two page letter (dated 17 September 2004) to His Holiness. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (substitute) replied to this letter on behalf of John Paul II in December 2004.
Clare was able to speak to Archbishop Hickey about the new community of Sisters for the first time on 6 October 2004. The Archbishop expressed that he believed the idea of the community was the will of God and, “it is time.” Many discussions followed in which the Archbishop helped to form the foundation and vision for the community.
On 21 April 2005 in a meeting with Clare, the Archbishop confirmed that the community should encompass more than just Sisters, and extend to include John Paul II Priests and Brothers and lay men and women. The umbrella name of Missionaries of the Gospel was later given to this larger group.
The beginning of 2005 to June 2007 was a time of prayer, discussion, discernment and formation. Lay people began to be involved in the community, and a canon lawyer provided assistance in writing the community’s provisional statutes. The Missionaries of the Gospel (MG’s) were officially established in a ceremony by Archbishop Barry James Hickey on 23rd June 2007. At this time two young women were accepted. A week later they left Perth to complete the first part of their formation in Poland.
For the first nine months of their formation, they were blessed to live in Lublin, Poland, studying the life of JPII and the language, culture and history of his homeland. After visiting Rome and the USA they returned to Australia for World Youth Day in 2008. Shortly after settling in Willagee, a third member joined the community on 12 October 2008. Under the guidance of her Superiors, Clare made her final profession on 16 October 2008 (apart from making final vows, she also received the full habit and her new name of Sister Bernadette Pike of the Cross MG). In the designs of Providence, the two other women left the community in February and September 2010.
Sr. Bernadette was subsequently sent to the USA to do a Masters in Clinical Psychology at the Institute for the Psychological Sciences (www.ipsciences.edu) for 2 years. During this time, the Living the Legacy Series began. In this 12 month program, lay people from different countries sign into a video conference every 2 weeks to receive formation in the charism and spirituality of JPII. For some of the group, it is a concrete way for them to discern whether they are called to be a MG. This online community is a beautiful example of how the community is developing for lay people, who as we know, were so dear to our late Holy Father.
Another young woman from Perth was accepted into the community towards the end of 2011 and is preparing to enter postulancy with the now ‘Mother’ Bernadette in the USA in late June 2012. Both are expected to return to Perth in January 2013.