Three Professed - Sr Mary Ursula Frayne

Sr Mary Catherine Gogarty

Sr Anne Xavier Dillon

Three Novices - Sr Ignatia de la Hoyde

Sr Baptist O’Donnell

Sr Aloysius Kelly

One Postulant - Catherine O’Reilly (Sr M Evangelista)

The arrival in Perth on 9 January 1846 of this sombrely clad group aroused varying reactions - from positive delight through to total disinterest to absolute displeasure. They were fortunate to be under the leadership of Mother Ursula Frayne, a woman of exceptional courage, strength and resourcefulness. As no place had been prepared for them, the Sisters boarded for a short period with a kindly Methodist lady, Martha Crisp. They then rented a cottage in St George’s Terrace which was placed under the patronage of the Holy Cross; it was blessed by Bishop Brady on Saturday 17 January 1846 which from thence forward was considered by Ursula as the foundation day of the Order in Perth.

It was from this same convent that, on Sunday January 25, Sr M. Ignatia de la Hoyde accompanied by her community, proceeded to the little Cathedral of St John the Evangelist for the first Profession of a Sister of Mercy in Australia. The cottage was large enough to accommodate their first school, opened on Monday 2 February 1846. It was a disappointing beginning for an event to which the Sisters had looked forward with enthusiasm and hope; their efforts to attract pupils only netted one student on that historic day! However, the Sisters were not discouraged, especially as five further students appeared before the close of the day.

There were problems, difficulties and misunderstandings in abundance, but the little group persevered cheerfully with the tasks which they had undertaken. Soon they were trudging out into the untamed bushland to visit the sick and neglected in their isolated cottages. One of their greatest trials in those early years was the serious illness of Ursula’s Assistant, M. Catherine Gogarty, a woman of great faith and promise. She died on 30 July of that first year at the age of twenty nine.

The blessing and opening of their first permanent convent on 3^rd May was a joyful achievement for all concerned. Already accommodation was at a premium, particularly as the Sisters initiated the Benevolent Institution for residential care of isolated children of European parents, and for the reception of female Aboriginal children.

During 1848, a Branch convent/school was established in Fremantle, a short-lived venture as far as the Sisters were concerned; by order of Bishop Brady the Sisters were withdrawn in May 1849, on the excuse that the Mission could no longer afford it. That same year saw further developments as, encouraged by the arrival from Ireland of the talented Sr Mary Francis Goold and two postulants, the Sisters opened the first Pension School in September 1849. By the early 1850’s there were four thriving schools:

* St Joseph’s Assisted School

* Our Lady of Mercy Pension School

* St Mary’s - Middle School

* Holy Angels - Infants

In the mid-nineteenth century Guildford owed much of its importance to its standing as a convict station. Soon the Catholics of the district were pleading for the presence of some Sisters whose convent/school would bring them the additional advantage of a Mass centre. Hence the founding on 8 September 1855 of St. Teresa’s Branch Convent; as well as providing education for free and pension students, it proved to be a haven of peace in the midst of the serious problems which Ursula and her community were experiencing through the tempestuous outbursts of the Administrator, Bishop Serra.

Eventually, Ursula felt that the only hope for peace in the future was for her to resign, which she did in July 1856; in the same month Sr. M. Baptist O’Donnell was appointed Superior in the vain hope that the relationship between Bishop Serra and the Community would improve. In mid-1855 Bishop Goold of Melbourne had written to Ursula requesting the establishment of a Mercy Community in his Diocese. In typical Mercy fashion, Mother Ursula stepped out to enable her Sisters to extend their sphere of influence, confident that those remaining at Holy Cross would have the strength and endurance to cope with the situation there. Preparations were soon completed and by January 1857, M. Ursula Frayne, Anne Xavier Dillon and Joseph Sherlock were on their way to Melbourne where the Foundation was made in March 1857; they were later joined by Sr. M. Francis Goold.

Meanwhile the remaining nine Sisters carried on valiantly in the schools at Perth and Guildford. Unfortunately, the latter had to be closed in 1861 owing to the illness of M. Baptist O’Donnell whose premature death in June 1862 was a severe blow to the struggling community. During the eight years previous to 1861, no postulants had entered the Novitiate. Hence the arrival of Mary Brennan in June of that year must have been a heartening sign for the little community, saddened by the imminent death of their Superior. There was a further sign of hope in Mary’s entrance, as she was the first Australian-born Postulant, a product of their own school, and was to be followed by a number of others from the early 1870’s onwards.

The Sisters by now would have been well aware of the vast distances in this Western Colony and, indeed, of their isolation from other parts of Australia. They gladly responded to this aspect of the situation by making their first country foundation in York, 1876, as well as increasing numbers in the Perth schools, absorbed more and more Sisters. However, the Sisters were not forgetful of the needs in distant country areas. Hence the decision in 1882 for two Sisters to return to Ireland and plead their cause.

The response was generous beyond all expectations; they returned in early 1883 with three professed Sisters, one novice and eleven postulants. Within that same year two new foundations were established - Geraldton in May; Bunbury in June, while Newcastle (Toodyay) first welcomed the Sisters in 1884. The final impressive development of that era was West Perth in May 1888. The latter was the first to become independent, July 1896, followed by Bunbury, December 1897. Guildford (reopened in 1881, York and Toodyay became separate communities in 1900. Their status as such was to be short-lived; illness, lack of personnel, etc. forced them to revert to their former Branch House status in 1911/12.

In the meantime, owing to the initiative of Bishop Gibney in his endeavour to cater for the ever increasing population, following the discovery of gold, two flourishing foundations had been established - Coolgardie in 1898 from Adelaide; Victoria Park in 1899 from Derry. These two communities, together with that of Bunbury, amalgamated with Perth in the 1930’s.

The early decades of the 1900’s were years of solid progress; already in the 1890’s it had become necessary to provide two extra schools in the Perth campus - a precedent for the development that has continued to the present time which has seen a massive building programme to cater for the growing needs of over seven hundred students. All of this has been part of a state-wide pattern of Mercy Developments with new schools and extra accommodation being provided in many areas, particularly in the growing suburban districts. Remarkable within this pattern were the new ventures into Nursing at St. Anne’s Mercy Hospital, Mt. Lawley, and the Boarding facilities at Santa Maria College, Attadale. Thus the years continued, with ever greater calls on the Mercy Sisters’ resources. Vocations came in abundance. Indeed, right through, even to the 1950’s and 1960’s there seemed to be an inexhaustible wellspring, both locally, especially from their own schools, and from overseas, mainly Ireland.

It will be noted that the Western Australian Mercy Sisters have concentrated their efforts primarily in the south west of the State and through to the Goldfields. For an area so isolated by distance from the large Mercy centres in the Eastern States, a welcome development in the 1950’s was the formation of the Australian Union of the Sisters of Mercy which the Perth Mercies joined in 1954. That trend has continued in the present day. The seventeen Congregations of Sisters of Mercy in Australia form "Mercy Australia" which has been a source of inspiration and strength, as well as a challenge calling them to be involved in far-flung ministries.

In the pre-Vatican II years their efforts were concentrated mainly on Education, Health Care and Child Welfare. Today the range of ministries seems endless, involving the Mission in Pakistan, Refugee Camps in Malaysia, Thailand and Angola; Aboriginal centres in the North West, and pastoral work in the mining area at Newman. This widespread involvement is an inheritance from the strong pioneering spirit which has always been part of their story. In spite of it being an ageing group, they have retained a readiness to step forward with the same initiative, faith and courage which were such powerful factors in the lives of the pioneering Sisters.

Further suggested reading:

McLay, Anne Women out of their sphere: Sisters of Mercy in West Australia from 1846. Perth. W.A, 1992

Byrne, Geraldine Valiant women: letters from the foundation Sisters of Mercy in WA. 1845-1849. Melbourne: Polding 1981. 1845-49

M. Leonie, Sister A History of the Convent of Mercy, Victoria Square (1896-1900) 1962.

Austin, M. Sister A history of the Convent of Mercy Victoria Square (1900-60)

In writing to the Archivist, it would be appropriate that a financial contribution be made for the Archivist’s time and expertise:

The Archivist

Congregation Administration Centre

P.O. Box 74

WEMBLEY W.A.. 6014

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.