PERPETUAL ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, SISTERS OF

(RPA) 1874

 

Fr. Julian Tenison Woods founded this Australian congregation in Brisbane in 1874. The distinctive charism of the congregation, as emphasised by Fr. Woods was of "Prayer and Poverty".

 

A group of six women made up the first congregation. One of their number was Catherine Gaffney who at the age of eighteen responded to Fr. Wood’s invitation in Deloraine, Tasmania, to consecrate her life to God. She joined the small group already living a quiet life in Sydney while waiting to commence religious life in Father Julian’s planned Eucharistic Order. Travelling to Brisbane to make a start, the girls assembled in a small rented house on June 15th, 1874. They supported themselves by needlework which was to be their mainstay for many a year. They laboured and prayed in great simplicity and poverty. Fr. Julian directed the Sisters, urging and exhorting them, in unity, to greater progress in prayer and charity.

 

Catherine Gaffney took the religious name of Sr. M. Stanislaus and was appointed by Fr. Julian as Superior in 1882. She remained in that position till her death in 1914. On the suggestion of Bishop Dunne, Sr. M. Stanislaus and another sister entered a novitiate of an established Convent of Perpetual Adoration in Wexford, Ireland, after 22 years as a religious most of which as a leader, Sr. M. Stanislaus became a novice.

 

Looking after the poor and needy around them, the Sisters established a hostel for Aged Ladies which in time became their second apostolate.

 

The Sisters pronounce the three vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. The foundational facets of their prayer are Adoration, Thanksgiving, Reparation and Petition.

 

Boland, T.P. Quiet women. Deception Bay: Refulgence, 1970.

 

If further information is required about individual Sisters, the following address is given:

The Archivist

Mother House

Convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration

Villa Maria

171 St. Paul’s Tce

Fortitude Valley

Brisbane, 4006.

 

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.