Sr Mary Carroll was born in 1936, and today at age 86, we are sad to announce her passing.
Sr Mary entered the Good Shepherd Sisters at the age of 20, and supported women in prison for over 30 years as a Prison Chaplain.
She embodied our values of compassion, respect and inclusivity, and she believed in the inherent dignity of each and every individual she encountered.
“One time a woman said to me: 'Well I must let you go, I have taken enough of your time.' My response was: 'Do you know, that at this very time, the most important person in my life is YOU.'
Pastoral care for me is to be present to the person I am with and to support and help to bring meaning and purpose to her life. It is to believe in the ultimate value of the human person before God.” – Sr Mary Carroll, Good Shepherd website.
Photo: Sr Mary Carroll in the St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne gardens (photo by Fiona Basile)
One Person is of more Value than the World."
Saint Mary Euphrasia
In 2011, Sr Mary was presented with the inaugural St. Mary Euphrasia Award which recognises a person who, in their compassionate approach to work and life, epitomises the spirit of St. Mary Euphrasia.
A song by the name ‘The Presence You Are’ is a beautiful representation of Sr Mary Carroll and her presence in prisons, supporting and empowering women:
It’s not what you do, but how you do it.
It’s not what you see, but how you see.
It’s not what you say, what you know or achieve,
but it’s the Presence, the Presence you are.
- Jan Novotka
Liz Gellel | Marketing Coordinator – Digital Lead