Records of the Sophia Prayer and Study Group, Blue Mountains

MLMSS 11673

fonds

1985-2020

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera

9664804

4 boxes of textual material

In 1984 a group of Catholic women in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, became dissatisfied with the status of women in the Catholic Church and decided to come together to study and discuss the theological and historical reasoning behind this attitude. Their aim was to bring about change through education of other Catholic women and through dialogue with the hierarchy. They held their first meeting in February 1985 and named the group ‘Sophia’, after the female personification of wisdom in the Bible.

Reference:
Library acquisition file

This collection contains records of meetings which can include meeting notes, schedule of meetings for the year, pamphlets, poetry, newspaper clippings, journal articles, photographs and correspondence.

The collection also includes a history of the group, submissions, conference photographs, paraliturgies, prayer themes and discussion topics.

BOX 1

Folder 1
History and description of the Sophia Group called ‘The Things We Did’.

Folder 2
Records of meetings, 1986-1987

Folder3
Records of meetings, 1988

Folder 4
Records of meetings, 1989-1992

Folder 5
Records of meetings, 1993-1994

Folder 6
Records of meetings, 1995-1996

BOX 2

Folder 1
Records of meetings, 1997-1999

Folder 2
Records of meetings, 2000-2001

Folder 3
Records of meetings, 2002-2004

Folder 4
Records of meetings, 2005-2006

Folder 5
Records of meetings, 2007-2009

Folder 6
Records of meetings, 2010-2014

BOX 3

Folder 1
Records of meetings, 2015-2020

Folder 2
Photographs including of conference, ‘Liberating Women’

Folder 3
Remembering the Sophia Group, 1985-2005. Sophia Birthday Reflections, 2005. Sophia Weekend, Bilpin September 1997

Folder 4
Newspaper cuttings, 1990s

Folder 5
Submissions to Bishop Bede Heather, 1988, Participation of Women in the Catholic Church, 1996-1997 and the Plenary Council, 2019

Folder 6
Record of Paraliturgies, 1985-2000

Folder 7
Prayer times and themes

Folder 8
Prayer times and themes

BOX 4

Folder 1
Canticle to the Cosmos by Brian Swimm

Folder 2
Sophia Library list, discussion topics

Folder 3
A study on the ‘Sophia Thesis’, 1991

Folder 4
Sophia Group Birthday Celebrations, 2005, ephemera from ABC radio

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder
Reproduction Restricted: Using the surnames of group members, aside from Elizabeth Lonergan, in any publications in not permitted until 2027.