Trish Panton was the International Oblate Coordinator for 12 years and for many years was the Australian Oblate Coordinator. Her loving guidance, her leadership and wisdom has given encouragement and inspiration to so many of us. We give thanks for her life of dedicated, generous, compassionate service to all on this path. She exemplified
courage, perseverance, unswerving attention, unflagging effort and gracious acceptance of any responsibility or task placed before her.
Her dedication to raising awareness of and supporting Oblates throughout the world has been a unifying force within the Oblate community at large. She remains a faithful and loving presence to us all, a shining light that shows us the true meaning of living in and for the love of Christ, embodying the Rule of St Benedict, as summarised in that beautiful line from our closing prayer: “to serve all who come, and to receive them as Christ Himself”. Her tireless commitment to building John Main’s vision of our community of love is a profound testament to the power of that ‘moment of Christ’ that has changed all of our lives.
So many oblates mentored over so many years, and more yet! Prior to and since the First World Congress of Benedictine Oblates held in September, 2005, in Rome, Trish has at each congress, been a committed presence opening this way to many and representing and interpreting our Monastery without Walls to the wider Oblate world. Rest in peace with your Beloved dear Trish.