ST

ST. JOSEPH OF THE SACRED HEART, SISTERS OF

(RSJ) 1866

The Institute of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart was founded at Penola, South Australia in 1866, by an English missionary priest, Julian Tenison Woods and an Australian teacher, Mary MacKillop who yearned to devote her life to God in the service of the poor. Both were acutely aware of children in remote areas growing up without Catholic education or religious training. Under God, these two people realised that, with the bishop’s consent, a religious institute of providing Catholic education and care of isolated and neglected children of the lowest strata of Australian society in the second half of the 19^th Century, could be possible. In December 1868, Bishop L.B. Sheil of Adelaide approved for his diocese the rule of life for such an institute, written by Fr. Woods.

At the time, many young women from the colonies having the same desire to consecrate their lives to God in religious life, responded to the work of Catholic schools for the poor. These young women who joined Mary MacKillop as Sisters of St. Joseph were prepared to follow farmers, road and railway builders, miners in small settlements, living as they lived, sharing their hardships, while providing Catholic education and religious training for their children. Within a few years convents and schools were founded in South Australia, Queensland and Bathurst (NSW). Besides schools, the sisters opened refuges and orphanages, called `Houses of Providence’ for the homeless and destitute.

In 1873-74, Mary MacKillop, who by now was called Mother Mary of the Cross, went to Rome to seek approval for Fr. Woods’ original rule. The significant outcome of this visit was that the foundress returned with Constitutions for this new and different kind of religious institute, clearly defining an administrative structure specifically suited to Australian conditions. This unique structure for a religious institute of women was considered necessary for Australia. It allowed for the sisters to leave their convent and serve the poor in the districts where they lived. In effect, Rome approved of cloisterless women religious for Australia. The Constitutions provided for groups of convents and schools arranged in provinces administered by a Superior General with a Council. Each of the provinces is administered by a provincial, delegate of the Superior General. This form of administration, known as central government, is distinct from other institutes under diocesan control, with the bishop as ecclesiastical superior.

The Institute spread to all States of Australia and to New Zealand animated with the original spirit of compassion for people in need and dependence on God’s providence, serving the poor in education and social welfare, wherever they could do so. The Sisters always believe they are on a mission of charity in justice to the poor, and continue to accept only that government aid which does not interfere with the freedom to maintain the spirit of their institute.