THE BENEDICTINE NUNS
(OSB) 1849
The Benedictine Community, now resident at Jamberoo, N.S.W., was founded by Archbishop John Bede Polding, a monk of Downside Abbey, on February 2nd, 1849. The first two nuns, Dame Magdalen le Clerc of Stanbrook Abbey, Worcester, England, and Dame Mary Scholastic Gregory, of Princethorpe Priory, Rugby, England, came to Australia, with Archbishop Polding on February 6th, 1848, and lived at St. Mary’s in Sydney, until a suitable property was purchased by Archbishop Polding. A property of 700 acres, bounded by the Parramatta River on one side, was eventually purchased for five thousand pounds. The property was owned by Hannibal MacArthur and his family. It was here, at Subiaco, as it came to be called, that the community lived until 1957.
The beginnings of the community in some ways reflect the struggles of the English/Irish conflict of the Catholic Church in Australia during the first century. This, combined with many deaths of young nuns (and clergy) from illnesses such as tuberculosis, made the beginnings of the community and the first few decades extremely arduous.
A school for young ladies was opened in March 1851, and closed in 1921. Papal Enclosure was introduced in 1921. From 1849 until 1903, the Constitutions of Princethorpe Priory were used, with modifications approved by Archbishop Polding. The use of the Beuronese Constitutions were approved by Cardinal Moran in December 1908.
In 1957, the community moved to Pennant Hills, west of Sydney, to escape the industrial growth around them at Rydalmere on the Parramatta River. This monastery was home to the community until 1988, when a third move was undertaken, this time to Jamberoo, on the south coast of New South Wales. The community settled into a new Abbey, built on 140 acres of land, under the Illawarra escarpment in 1988, and has since extended its accommodation to cater for more women who are responding to a call of Benedictine Monastic Life. Since the move to Jamberoo, the community has been able to live out, as fully as possible, its charism of Hospitality, by providing accommodation for 24 guests at a time, welcoming all who join the community for the Liturgy of the Hours seven times daily, and by organizing retreats and giving spiritual direction to all who come seeking God.
The Benedictine vows are Obedience, Stability and Conversion of Life. The motto of the Benedictine Order is PAX (shortened from Pax inter Spinas).
The community earns its living making Liturgical Crafts. Throughout its brief history, other works have included the making of Vestments, and the production of altar breads.
The community at present has two hundred Oblates, lay men and women who have made a commitment to the community, and to fidelity to daily prayer and "lectio divina".
References:
Malone, Marie Therese Benedictine Nuns - obituary list.
Tjurunga: Australian Benedictine Renewal.
Vol. 28. 1985. Pp.35-80. Volume 29 (1985) pp.47-71.
Volume 30 (1986) pp 74 - 80; Volume 41 (1986) pp58-78
Malone, Marie Therese Sr. Mary Bourke OSB
Tjurunga Volume 33 (1987) pp 74-5.
Forster, M. Gregory `Australian Benedictine Women, 1849-1989,
typescript (copy, Institute of Religious Studies, Sydney), 1989
Forster M.G. `Fragment of a Diary: kept by Sister Mary Scholastica Gregory on
her voyage from Liverpool, England, to Sydney, Australia,
1847-1848’. Tjurunga,, 1986,Volume 26, pp52-72.
Forster, M.G. `Magdalene le Clere’, Tjurunga, ,1974,Volume 8, pp259-335.
If further information is required about individual Sisters, the following address is given:
The Archivist
Benedictine Abbey,
Mountain Pass
Jamberoo, N.S.W. 2533
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 Congregation.