Tenison
This refers to Father Julian Tenison Woods who was born in London on 15 November 1832. He was one of eleven children and came from a family that encouraged a love of learning, nature and the outdoors. In 1855 Julian arrived in Tasmania. He was ordained a priest in Adelaide and was sent to work in the Parish of Penola in South Australia. As Julian described it, this parish included 56,000 square kilometres of country, more than half of which was desert. The remaining portion was taken up with sheep and cattle runs. Julian was an Englishman in a largely Irish Church, a friend of leading Establishment figures, a founder of two religious orders, a gifted missionary priest, scientist, writer, musician and popular lecturer. In 1861, Julian met Mary MacKillop and together in Penola in 1866, they founded the Sisters of St Joseph dedicated to the Catholic education of the children of the poor and to other pressing social needs. Later that year, Julian was appointed Director of Catholic Education and asked Mary to come to Adelaide to assist him in developing an organised system of Catholic education with schools staffed by the Sisters of St Joseph. After four years as Director of Catholic Education, Julian continued working as a scientist and missionary priest in New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland. In 1883, he spent three years travelling through Asia, exploring and reporting on the mineral and coal deposits of the Malayan Peninsula and other nearby countries. He returned to Sydney in 1886 and was later awarded the prestigious Clarke Medal for distinguished contribution to Natural Science. He died in Sydney on 7 October 1889 at the age of 57.
His Passion – Woods worked tirelessly to extend the reign of God in his times. Creatively and innovatively he used his considerable gifts to add to the ‘edifices’ of Church and Society. Underpinning all that he strove to be and all that he did was his unshakeable belief that the Providence of a loving God guided him and pervaded all creation.
The Link with GYC – The branch of the Sisters of St Joseph that he began are responsible for Sacred Heart College, Moonah. Sr Louise Cotton, a Josephite Sister, was a staff member in the early days of Guilford Young College.
An Implication for GYC – The value that Fr Tenison Woods gave to education and his great scientific work can invite us to use the educational opportunities that we have and, as well, to appreciate and preserve the wonders of our environment.