BRIGIDINES, SISTERS OF ST. BRIGID, NSW
(CSB) 1883
The Brigidine Sisters were founded in Tullow, Ireland in 1807 for the purpose of providing education to the Catholic population which was just beginning to experience the first relaxation of the crushing Penal Code. Their founder was the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Daniel Delany, who was anxious to affiliate this new congregation with the ancient order of nuns founded by St. Brigid. Hence he gave them her name and they came to be known as the Brigidines.
In 1883, six Brigidines set off from London on board the Chimborozo and made the long journey to Australia. They went to the small outback settlement of Coonamble on the black soil western plains of N.S.W. Coonamble, at that time, was in the Maitland diocese and they came at the invitation of Dr. J. Murray, Bishop of Maitland. Three years later, in 1886, another four Brigidines left Ireland. They boarded the Austral at Tilbury Docks and went, at the invitation of the Augustinian, Dr Martin Crane, Bishop of Sandhurst, to the busy river port of Echuca on the Murray River. These two places: Coonamble in N.S.W. and Echuca in Victoria, were to become the foundations of the two Australian provinces, one based in N.S.W., the other in Victoria. The N.S.W. province eventually spread to New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia and Papua New Guinea while the Victorian province founded Convents and Schools in South Australia, Papua New Guinea and Northern Territory.
The motto of the Brigidines is Fortiter et Suaviter: With Strength and Gentleness, and this motto expresses succinctly their spirit. Until the many changes that affected Religious Life after Vatican II, the work of the Brigidines was exclusively in education and they established many schools, educating always rich and poor, boys and girls alike. Since the 1960’s their work has diversified but has kept a solid base in education of all kinds.
Further Suggested Reading:
Hundred Years of Brigidine Sisters in Coonamble 1883-1983. Coonamble NSW, 1983
If further information is required about individual Sisters the following address is given:
The Archivist
Brigidine Provincialate
93 Carrington Road
Ranwick NSW 2031
In writing to the Archivist, it would be appropriate that a financial contribution be made for the Archivist’s time and expertise.
Religious Orders or Congregations have released the details on their members. It is understood that the copyright of any material (including the listing of the names of the Sisters) relevant to a particular Order or Congregation in this publication remains with the relevant Order or