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Testimonials

On a personal level, I think it has given me a greater sense of confidence in my own strengths and abilities. I perhaps don’t dwell so much on my limitations which is quite different from accepting them. It has been, at the risk of seeming vain, quite confidence building/affirming for other strong, capable, amazing women to tell me that they admire something that I do – that what I think is ‘just ordinary’ might not be. The programme has given me the confidence to be a bit stronger/more affirmative in some life/work decisions. (CM 2006)

My journey through the Catherine McAuley Award programme has offered me the time and space to reflect and learn in an environment of amazing and inspirational women. I am aware that my perspective of so many issues is broader and that my understanding of the impact of this is not yet clear but I know that this experience has been life changing. The year has provided an opportunity to explore the context of women in leadership and service through reflection, spirituality, creativity, seminars, ritual, sharing experiences, and from the contribution and experiences of other women. This eclectic learning environment has been refreshing and revitalising and I feel grateful and privileged for the opportunity to be part of the program. There is a sense of wanting to honour this experience by being the best I can be and to walk humbly and proudly in the tradition of Catherine McAuley. (KJ, 2006)

For me the programme offered a place where there was an opportunity to explore and experience the brilliance of who each of us could be. The women in the programme shared their knowledge, ideas, experience, fears and frustrations generously and freely and my personal learning and growth has been enhanced significantly by that sharing. During the formal programme we have had the opportunity to debate significant political, social and spiritual issues with recognized community leaders. The opportunity to engage at this level has been a privilege and has challenged me personally and intellectually to critically review and evaluate my current life choices and examine where I might most usefully make a contribution. (AW, 2000)

My experience as a recipient of the Catherine McAuley Award for the year 2001 has helped me to adjust my personal definition of the word “leadership”. Prior to my participation with this group, I thought of leadership as a natural progression in one’s professional life. In other words, I simply thought that if I worked hard, and made the appropriate advances professionally, that leadership would be an expected side effect of my career path. I had not given much thought to my deeper self, my spiritual and intellectual self, and how a keen awareness, acceptance and nurturing of these can also lead to leadership, an even more exciting kind of leadership. The various activities that were encouraged as part of the Award, the reflection, the sharing with others, the exploration of self and the rituals, were not only stimulating and challenging for me, but they also led me to understand myself that bit better. It has been very important for me to understand and accept ‘Who I Am’, my personality traits, my strengths and weaknesses, my hopes, dreams and desires. I feel that I can now use of all these to become the kind of leader that I should be. Not just someone who supervises others in a professional capacity, but someone who shares enthusiasm for what is right and good, someone who imparts knowledge and skills, and someone who inspires others to recognise and utilise their own potential. (MMK, 2001)