THE SOCIETY OF MARY, MISSIONARY SISTERS OF

(SMSM) 1861

These Sisters trace their origins to a valiant French woman, Francoise Perroton, who in 1845 ventured alone to work on the Marist Fathers’ missions in the Pacific. She began in Wallis, and later moved to Futuna. Her example led to other French women also going to the Pacific, three to join her in 1860, others to New Caledonia.

This tiny beginning, eleven women between 1845 and 1862 who hoped the church would accept them as Religious, are referred to as the PIONEERS. In 1881 the Marist Fathers found a good woman to organise some religious formation for the many other young women who desired to join them, and eventually they became the Third Order Regular of Mary (TORM). This name was kept until 1931 when Pontifical approbation was given with a new name - Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary.

Some of the Pioneers spent a few days or a few months in Australia while awaiting boats for the Pacific. Eventually one, whose health required it, came back from the islands to Australia, and worked for the Marist Fathers at Clydesdale, Sydney for two years – 1863 -1865. Another came back in 1865 and so started the association with Villa Maria, the Marist Fathers’ house at Hunters Hill, Sydney. She stayed there for sixteen years. Thus started the Sisters’ house on the property there and their history of domestic duties for the Fathers which continued until 1949.

This house served as a home for all the Sisters en route to the islands, or returning for medical treatment. The next convent in Australia was at Killara where the Sisters opened a small hospital in 1948.

Australian women joined from the earliest days. Numbers increased with the opening of a novitiate in New Zealand in 1934.

The Sisters see themselves as being missionary for the whole of our lives, regardless of where they may be living. In Australia today they are working with aboriginal people, refugees, immigrants, country children, the sick, the poor, the poorest of the poor, according to the Marist spirit in humility, obedience, forgetfulness of self, love of neighbour and love of God.

Mary is their mother, their first and perpetual superior. The Sisters try to keep Mary before their eyes, learning to think, speak, to act like her and to live, as it were, her life.

References:

O’Brien, Claire To celebrate my son: a history of the Marist Missionary Sisters.

Sydney: SM 1989

de Mjolla, M.C. Origins in Oceania: Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary 1845-1931.

Rome:

1984

Our Pioneer Sisters: from correspondence 1836-1885, 4 vols. 1973, Missionary Sisters of Mary. Rome.

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

The Archivist

Marist Missionary Sisters

Provincial House

P.O. Box 1032

NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060

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.