A former ABC journalist in Toowoomba has a new career as a nun in the Canadian city of Toronto. Nancy Webb has joined the strongly pro-life Sisters Of Life and is now known as Sister Rose Patrick.
She told The Catholic Weekly that a religious life had always been her dream. “Everything else was only while I was waiting to enter, but I loved journalism. I also worked as a violin and piano teacher for a bit, and I just enjoyed the beautiful community of Toowoomba. I would have been happy never to leave it for the rest of my life, but God called me to the other side of the world, so he has a sense of humour,” Sister Rose Patrick explained
Her current mission is helping pregnant women in a crisis situation and supporting those who are suffering after an abortion.
She first met the Sisters of Life at World Youth Day in Sydney 15 years ago when she was 11. “They gave me a flyer that had the words: To lay down one’s life so that others may live. When I saw those words I thought ‘That’s the most beautiful thing in the world!”
It was at the same event that aspiring Olympic rugby sevens player Jessica Langrell also met the Sisters of Life. The Sydneysider later gave up a sporting career to join the ‘Sisterhood.’ She also worked in the Toronto convent before moving back to New York where she recently took her final vows as Sister Mary Grace.
Both the Australian sisters are blessed with smiles that reflect their joy in their new roles serving the Lord.
Photo: Facebook – Sister Rose Patrick O’Connor
