2. AUSTRALIA BOUND
• Bound for Hobart
Town
• Arrived in Van
Dieman’s Land early
1855
• Later joined his
brother James in
Adelaide
• Journalist in
Adelaide
• Ordination: Bishop
Murphy
• Connections with science and life made through
his observations after a bushfire.
3. Looking through the
eyes of
Julian Tenison Woods:
Mission preacher;
Co-founder;
Scientist;
ecologist
4.
5. ‘Julian Tenison Woods was truly filled
with the fire of his love of God’. This God
he found, not only in the Church and the
people he served, but in the very rocks,
trees, skies, pla
nts and animals
of our world ...
the whole of
creation’.
Symphony of Life
6.
7. ‘Julian reminds us that:
• we have a responsibility to cherish the sacredness of all
creation.
• we don’t merely live on the earth ... We are part of this
planet, creations of the earth.
• we need to be
nurturers and
healers of
creation, not
destroyers of the
earth.
• We search for the
divine mystery in
every aspect of life
and creation.
Symphomy of Life
8. Activity 1: Garden walk
• Experience the wonder of God.
• Allow yourself to be sensitive with your
eyes, heart and ears to the presence of God.
Activity 2: Small
Group Discussion
• What particular
aspects of creation
bring about an
appreciation of
God’s work as
Creator in me?
10. What is my biggest challenge as I strive to
nourish and care for the earth?
How do we begin to address some of these
issues?
11. The Glory of the Heavens
“The brilliant stars
which strew the skies on
a still clear night, and
look like so many
diamonds set in ebony;
the remote clouds of
nebulae, whose very
distance is as much a
marvel to us as their nature and
purpose; the universe, such as we know it, may all have been
unfolding its grand destiny in the mysterious epoch, darkly
alluded to in the Hebrew as ‘beginning’.
(JTW, Modern Science and Ancient Records, Southern Cross and Catholic Herald, 29th November 1867),
12. “The presence of God does not
consist of thinking of God but in a
sense of the presence of God in
every” thing.
Prayer-Chats with Julian
13. “Such observations held a life-lesson for me: if
we are in harmony with nature and the way
God wishes us to live we “will find full
happiness and purpose. I urged the Sisters not
to waste what they used, ‘for it is not yours, it is
our Lord’s’. All the beauties of this world and
the glories of the next world I used to say, ‘are
lost to those whose lives are out of harmony
with the design of the Creator’”.
Symphony of Life
There is an echo in the harmonies of nature which
penetrates the soul, and lures it on like the sound of
distant music, until it has no eye or ear for aught
except the works of its Creator.”
Prayer Chats with Julian
14. Julian’s reverence for the
beauty and mystery of
creation drew from his pen
detailed and reflective
descriptions.
Activity 4: Journal
Through
writing, drawing, poetry …..
Give your thanks for all the
wonders of the universe
15. Activity 5:
Rainbow Group
Task
Using different
bright
colours, draw a
large rainbow of
all the ways you
see yourselves as
prophets. Each
colour represents
an aspect of
Creation.
16. Activity 6:
You are invited to choose one element of
creation … soil, wood, flower [earth];
rain, ice [water]; breeze, your breath [air];
flame, sun [fire].
Sketch or draw the symbolic element you
have chosen .
How can you reverence this element of
creation in your everyday life?
17. “Beneath the soil, carpeted by various flowers which herald forth the
beauty of a world to come, are secrets which are only known to us in
part.
But these revelations, small as they are, stretch far beyond our
comprehension. We learn that the dust we tread upon was once
alive, that the rock on which we stand has lived and died – has been a
thing of life, and is now a stone: and this is a time which reaches so far
back as only to be understood by the One who was from eternity …”
JTW 1862 Geological Observation in South Australia.
18. Activity 7:
Back at school explore the approaches of:
• Ian Kiernan
• Mollison
• Diarmuid O’Murchu
• Joan Chittister
Bring your findings to our next gathering. Be
prepared to share your findings.
19. ‘He spent many hours
exploring, examining and
explaining the wondrous
world he had made his
home’.
• What can Julian teach
me about putting
dreams into action?
• In my own life, right
now, what are my
dreams?
• What gifts do I have that
I can use for others?
• What action do I feel
called to?
Symphony of Life
20. We conclude by making
a gesture, physically or
in the heart of your
being [upraised
hands, deep bow, a turn
to the four directions of
the earth]… as a
recognition of the
sacred mystery at the
centre of all creation
[including human].
21. Acknowledgements:
Symphony of Life Julian Tenison Woods Sisters of St
Joseph [Federation and Central]
Prayer – Chats with Julian Sr Mary Cresp rsj
Images: courtesy: Sr Mary Ryan rsj
Google
Editor's Notes
Born in London, fifth surviving child. James Dominic Woods- Father; Henrietta Maria St. EloyTenison- Mother; both parents of Irish descent. siblings Edward, James, Nicholas, Henrietta- older siblings; Terence, John and Charles- younger siblings; Julian was plagued by ill health for most of his life which affected him becoming a priest with the Passionists in England and later the Marists in France. Julian was educated in a range of schools, but majority was through tutor and/ or his father. In April, 1853, Julian entered the Marist Novitiate in Lyons, France, whilst there met religious women, Sisters of St. Joseph of Le Puy, and their simple practical lifestyle that inspired his founding with Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St. Joseph in Australia.
In October 1854, Southwark, England, a chance meeting with Bishop Robert Willson changed his life. Julian accpted the Bishop’s invitation to accompany him to Hobart Town. Two weeks later they set sail and landed in VD Land in early 1855. Things didn’t work out and before the end of the year Julian left the island and joined his brother James in Adelaide. He was going to return to England and in order to earn his passage his became a journalist for a Adelaide newspaper. One night in 1855, he met Bishop Murphy and discussed his desire for priesthood. In early 1856 he went to Seven Hill to complete his study under the Jesuits, prior to ordination for the Adelaide diocese. He was ordained on the 4th January, 1857, and was assigned to Penola. Two months later he went to Penola in the South East. He regularly ministered to the scattered Catholics and with the support of the people built Churches and preist houses and in Penola a School Room. He contributed to the life of the local community through many of his writings. He wrote about the state of the Aboriginal people, the state of roads and erratic mail service. Connections with science and life made through his observations after a bushfire- rejuvenation of plant life- resurrection link
Fr Julian Woods lived in South Australia from 1855 to 1871. He felt deeply concerned for people suffering in any way – women forced into prostitution, the badly treated Aboriginal people, orphans, the elderly, prisoners, and people living out in the bush away from any chance of education. Julian’s parish measured approximately two hundred miles by one hundred miles in size with the people very scattered throughout this area. He often travelled on horseback through vast unexplored areas of land.
Julian constantly pondered the establishment of a religious order of teaching sisters whose members should go into the remote parts of the colony and give proper religious instruction to the poor scattered children. He wanted the sisters to live as the poor lived – in makeshift houses and tents with the sisters begging in the streets and accepting vegetables and meat as school fees. He wanted the sisters to go to isolated areas in harsh conditions without daily Mass.In 1866 Julian and Mary in Penola began the Sisters of St Joseph. Think of the tremendous step in faith taken by Julian and Mary who lived in a small country town in the middle of nowhere.Later on more women joined the Sisters especially in Adelaide where Julian and Mary opened many other schools.Julian believed it was better to solve a situation than to do nothing. ‘It’s easy to have good intentions which very often go no further than mere words.’
‘As the old man walked the beach at dawn he noticed a youth ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Finally, catching up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. “But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish”, countered the old man. “How can your effort make any difference?”The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it to the safety of the waves.“It makes a difference to this one,” he said.[Anon]
‘Every rock, every leaf, every insect has something beautiful, nay wonderful to tell ... The flowers will unveil the hidden secrets of their beauty; the stones reveal their crystalline structure, and the tiniest insect display wonders of mechanism ... All new, all varied, all instructive, and all tending to raise the mind to higher and nobler conceptions of what creation does to declare the glory of its author. JTW 17th July 1880
To God belongs the earth and all it contains the World and all who live there. Psalm 24 v 1 – Julian’s Text for Homily.
Student are encouraged to complete activity 1 in silence on their own with teachers supervising (5 mins) Round table discussion- 5 groups of 5 plus a teacher/ and MCC student to support/ break open with students. (Allow 10 mins)
Still in silence on your return to Bethany or the Education Room use the next couple of slides to journal about your being a nurturer and healer of creation (5 mins)
Return to whole group and discuss the implications for sustainable practice. How do we begin to address this need? (e.g. Unit group/ whole school assemblies, reminders, student groups, SRC etc..)
On his initial journey to Australia, Julian took full advantage of the excellent opportunities provided by the long nights at sea to gain first-hand experience of astronomy, and of the boundless space surrounding him.
The Sacred Essence at the heart of life fascinated Julian. He spent many hours exploring, examining and explaining the wondrous, world he had made his home. The expanding edges of this world gave expression to Julian’s clearest acknowledgement of the divine mystery at the heart of all life. Julian was very much in touch with his God, through his experiences of wonder and awe in Creation.
Julian connected the relationships he experienced in the environment as revealing of life’s meaning and our relationship with God. When we harm the earth we are breaking our relationship with earth, God and each other.
(10 mins)- Round tables
(10 mins)- keep students on taskUse butcher’s paper for this activity and coloured pencils. Prophet: A person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God: "the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah". The Jews saw Jesus as a prophet. Julian
Draw in RE Book. (10 mins) Now looking at how we can commit to sustaining our environment for future generations. For example, “soil”- composting, not dropping rubbish; “water”- not wasting it, not using pollutants etc; “air”- aerosole sprays, riding bike/ walking rather than car.
Encourage the children to write down the names of these people to research so their understanding of today’s content is increased. It will be interesting in their sharing at the 2nd day the different aspects each student has gleaned from this experience.
What can Julian teach me about putting dreams into action?In my own life, right now, what are my dreams?What gifts do I have that I can use for others?What action do I feel called to?
There may be a focus in the centre of the group with the group in a circle around it that they gesture to or they may want to go back into the garden and make a gesture of reverence there. The whole group would need to be totally in one or other space for supervision purposes.
