The Congregation of St. John of God Sisters was sometimes referred to as "The Infirmarian Sisters" because of the fact that the first Sisters had all been members of the Congregation of Bon Secours of Paris. On October 7^th, 1871, seven sisters arrived in Wexford to establish a new congregation with the patronage and encouragement of the then Bishop Thomas Furlong of Ferns. The political and social circumstances of the period meant that the most urgent and demanding concerns centred on meeting the dire needs of the ordinary people of Ireland. The founding women were acutely aware of these needs. They were fired with a compelling desire to reach out to them in whatever ways would be available to them.

With little more than a profound faith in God, a desire to live the Christian gospel in a radical way and deep compassion for people, they established themselves in Wexford under the leadership of Sister Visitation Clancy. In Wexford and the surrounding towns, they served in the workhouses, nursed people in their own homes, taught children, visited the jail and in general became a comforting presence and powerful witnesses to Jesus Christ for the people.

In less than twenty four years, a request came far away in Western Australia for help to meet the needs of the exploding population of the new colony gripped in gold fever. The response of the community was as generous as it was self-sacrificing; out of their meagre resources and in spite of pressing local demands, eight volunteers set out for Western Australia in October, 1895. These eight pioneer women arrived in Albany on November 23^rd, 1895 and travelled to Perth by train where they enjoyed the welcoming hospitality of the Sisters of Mercy before taking up residence in Adelaide Terrace, Perth.

Before long, an urgent call by Kalgoorlie miners led to two of the Sisters going to the care for the miners who had succumbed to typhoid fever in Kalgoorlie. There, they shared the harsh conditions of the miners, just as the miners shared their meagre resources with them; the first home of the Sisters in Kalgoorlie was a hastily vacated miners tent! In the meantime, the Sisters in Perth were busy establishing a hospital at Subiaco which celebrates its centenary of service in 1998.

Before 1918, hospitals were also established at Ballarat, Victoria and Goulburn, New South Wales. Subiaco opened its first school of nursing in 1911. Primary schools were established at Subiaco, Kalgoorlie, Kalgoorlie North, Rosalie, Greenbushes and Lombadina. In 1907, eight sisters led by Sister Antonio O’Brien established the presence of St. John of God Sisters among aboriginal peoples in the Kimberley; a presence that was to make magnificent contributions to their physical and spiritual care.

The emblem of the congregation is an eloquent expression of the distinctive charism of St. John of God Sisters; a pomegranate and a cross. These rich symbols remind us of the two realities of human experience that have engaged the energies of the sisters from the beginning; human suffering and human healing. Human suffering in all its manifestations has evoked the compassion of St. John of God Sisters to respond with generosity, courage, ingenuity and creativity. Human healing is the encompassing goal of the efforts of the sisters; from global healing and reconciliation to personal healing and growth to fullness of life in Christ. The practical expressions of these efforts take different forms according to the needs of each age and place.

While the contributions of the sisters to educate and health care are substantial, the most significant contribution of St. John of God Sisters to Australia may be to the healing and shaping of a harmonious society. Through the provision of services for all people without distinction, the Sisters provided the first opportunity many people of other faith traditions had to come into contact with Catholics. It was in the Sisters’ hospitals, clinics and schools where many people unlearned their preconceived notions about Catholics.

References:

Daly, Mary Alphonsus Healing hands; memories and milestones of Derby Leprosarium.

Perth: Health Dept. WA, 1986.

Scally, John To speed with angel’s wings: Story of the Sisters of St. John of God.

Dublin: Columba, 1995

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

The Archivist

Sisters of St. John of God Province Centre

P.O. Box 473

WEMBLEY W.A. 6014

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.