Sister Jane Livesey CJ, of Newnham College, General Superior of the Congregation of Jesus, will preach the University Sermon in Great St Mary's, the University Church, at 11.15am on Sunday, 27 January 2019.
Jane Livesey first read law at the University of Bristol, but interrupted study to begin her formation with the Congregation of Jesus, before resuming study in Cambridge in 1977 and reading History and Divinity prior to teaching for a short period at St Mary's Ascot and acquiring a PGCE. In 1982, she moved to St Mary’s School Shaftesbury where, from 1985 to 1998, she was the Head. After a period of Chaplaincy in Mary Ward schools, she was first Superior of the English Province of the Congregation, before her election as General Superior in 2011, a position she will hold until 2020.
As General Superior Jane Livesey leads just over 1,500 Sisters world-wide. Devoted at the outset to education, the community was founded in the early Seventeenth Century by the Venerable Mary Ward, a Yorkshirewoman, in defiance of the Council of Trent and of the Church hierarchy (which attempted to suppress it and almost succeeded). Initially, the community educated the daughters of English Catholic families and it was notable not only for its pioneering work in educating women, but also for its rejection of the enclosed life. Early on, the Sisters adopted the title 'The Institute of Mary', and as 'The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary' the community finally received recognition by the Church in 1877; however, only in 2002 did it take its present name in fulfilment of Mary Ward's vision.
The Congregation continues to empower women and girls, furthering Mary Ward's assurance that ‘there is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things…In time to come it may be seen that women can do much.’ This includes not only educating, but also helping women victims of trafficking and modern slavery, or those who are in hospital, prison or other vulnerable situations.
An occasional writer and broadcaster, Sister Jane Livesey has also led various retreats and workshops and been a governor of several schools.
All are welcome and there will be a drinks reception afterwards. Members of the University attending should wear their gowns.