Because Melbourne already possessed a system of Catholic primary schools, the bishop of the time, James Goold, asked Mother Ursula to provide a secondary education for those who could afford it. Mother had reservations as she believed that the Sisters were founded primarily for the poor and she preferred to remain with them. On the basis that a select boarding Catholic school was needed, Mother Ursula agreed to Goold’s request. The school began in Nicholson Street, Fitzroy in 1857. A House of Mercy provided accommodation for unemployed women as well as provided domestic training. Mother Ursula would meet immigrant girls at the wharf, providing food and accommodation and education until employment was found. The orphans were cared for, school for the poor was opened, the sick in hospital and benevolent homes were visited as well as those in goal.

With the withdrawal of government assistance for the education of Australian children in 1872, the Sisters were called upon more and more to staff the parish primary schools. This they did generously. Students from the Nicholson convent high school began sitting for examination to the University of Melbourne in 1874. With these efforts students of the Sisters entered into the professional classes in ever increasing numbers. A branch convent was established in Kilmore in 1875.

During this time the Sisters of Mercy had already been established since 1859 in Geelong. The capable Superior at Baggot Street, Mother M. Xavier Maguire with five volunteers set sail for Geelong. Through generous support of the community, dowries from the Sisters and a good business management of Xavier Maguire an extensive building programme began. A day school, a middle class school, a finishing school, boarding facilities, training for teachers, an orphanage, an industrial school for girls, either sentenced by the courts, abandoned or considered uncontrollable were all conducted by the Sisters.

In 1870 Bishop Goold requested the Sisters of Baggot Street to establish a community in Warrnambool, a western part of Victoria. Mother Philomena Maguire, the sister of the Geelong foundress, and seven other volunteers arrived in 1872. Soon the Sisters were conducting a day and boarding school, the parish primary school, visit the sick and poor, and caring for orphans.

The Sisters of Mercy from Swinford, Co. Mayo provided a foundation in the city of Bendigo in 1876. Their leader, Mother Aloysius Martyn opened a select day school, later taking boarders and took charge of the large girls’ primary school.

Another independent foundation was made from Ireland in 1890 by four Sisters of Mercy from Wesford. This time the foundation occurred on the Murray River town of Yarrawonga. Once again the endeavours of the Sisters centred on conducting the parish primary, secondary and boarding schools.

Because of local requests for a foundation of Sisters of Mercy at Mansfield, Archbishop Carr asked Carrick-on-Suir convent in County Tipperary to make such a foundation. A successful educational enterprise was begun at Mansfield in 1891 by Mother Ignatius Walsh. Visitation of the sick and dying became a noted feature of this community, together with boarding care of orphaned children.

Early in the present century it was seen to be advantageous for independent convents which followed the same rule to amalgamate in Victoria. The five Victorian Mercy foundations made from Ireland combined with the Melbourne foundation and other Mercy houses in Victoria and Tasmania to form one centralised congregation with its mother house being in Melbourne in 1908. The well established foundation at Ballarat decided to remain independent. A novitiate and state recognised teacher training college for the Melbourne based congregation was established at Ascot Vale.

Suggested Further Reading

Allen, Marie G. Labourers’ friend: Sisters of Mercy in Victoria & Tasmania Melbourne: Hargrees, 1989

Anonymous Mercy Teachers’ College: 75 years of Catholic teacher education Melbourne: Inst. Catholic Ed.,

1984

Murray, Dawn Gem of the diocese Latrobe TAS: Murray, 1993

O’Brien, M. Mildred Mother Mary Patricia O’Neill Melbourne: RSM, 1976

Anonymous Mercy centenary record, 1831-1931 … brief account … Vic & Tas. Melbourne Advocate, 1932

Larkins, Mary Francis Mercy way of life: Colac, 1888-1988 Colac: Herald Press, 1988

O’Sullivan, M. Ignatius Wheel of time: Mercy Sisters in Victoria 1857-1953 Melbourne: Advocate, 1954

Waters, P.M. `The Foundations of the Schools attached to the Convent of Mercy, Nicholson Street

Fitzroy, 1857-1907, thesis (B.Ed.), University of Melbourne 1976

McKenzie, Monica Margaret Catholic religious women educations 1849-1994 Fitzroy, Melbourne. (M.A.) thesis.

Monash University 1994

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

The Archivist

Melbourne Congregation Sisters of Mercy

P.O. Box 5067

ALPHINGTON VIC 3078

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.