News from the Association

by Fr. Kevin Canty (National Director)

I have been asked to offer some reflection on Sr Marie Westblade and her association with the Australian Association of the Miraculous Medal.   In 2000, I moved across from Adelaide to Sydney, to take up the role of Provincial Director of the Australian Province of the Daughters of Charity. Not long after my arrival in Sydney, I was approached by Sr. Peggy Maher, one of the Sisters.  She had set up an Association of the Miraculous Medal in St Anthony’s parish, Marsfield, and she asked me to be the Director of this AMM.   I had replaced Fr. Leo Conlon as the Provincial Director, and he had previously been the director of this AMM.   Fr. Leo presented me with copies of two letters.  One of these letters was his request to Cardinal Clancy the Archbishop of Sydney, at the time, requesting permission to set up the AMM in the Sydney Archdiocese.   The second letter was the reply of the Cardinal granting this permission.

As a result, the AMM here in Sydney had an early and healthy beginning.   At that time, the main event for the AMM was the celebration of the Feast Day in November.   This had taken place in the chapel of the SVD community in Epping Road.  I am not sure how and why that happened as Fr. Tim WIllaims, the Parish Priest of St Anthony’s parish, asked me why thay were not using St Anthony’s, which is what eventually happened and where our Feast Day Eucharist has been celebrated ever since. In those early days as Director, I understood that there would not be a membership fee but a donation was suggested and this amount would be $10. It has since been the tradition that each year before the Feast Day celebration in November, members donate their $10 although many offer more.   My recollection regarding the early days was one of the Sisters had a very small room, within the area of the Archives, where she spent some time sticking a miraculous medal on the back of a card for distribution among parishioners.   I am unsure of the reason why she was unable to continue with this service but another Sister became available to be involved with AMM and this was Sr. Marie.  

When the Marian office in Daughters of Charity’s Elizabeth House became available, Sr. Marie carried out her role as National Coordinator of Australia’s AMM with remarkable dedication. From this office she maintained the national membership registry, received and processed applications from new members, and personally prepared and sent the beautiful membership certificates that welcomed each one into the Association. She also prepared and published the AMM Bulletin, ensuring that members living far from Sydney remained connected and informed about AMM news and activities. In addition, she managed correspondence with the international secretariat and responded to the many enquiries about the AMM that came her way.

We have truly been blessed to have had Sr. Marie among us. Her commitment to fostering devotion to Mary—especially Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal—was unwavering. She played a vital role in the development and approval of our national Statutes, supported our national assemblies and the election of our national executive, and offered continual encouragement to the parish of St Catherine Labouré in Gymea. She guided the formation of our members and nurtured the growth and involvement of our core group as we worked to spread the message of the Medal and the Way of Life, always grounded in our dedication and consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Even after she was no longer able to serve as National Coordinator, Sr. Marie remained a steadfast presence, supporting us in every way she could.