Leslie Massey
The Sisters of Charity of Australia, inspired by the life of St. Vincent de Paul, were founded in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead in Dublin, Ireland, with the mission to serve the poor and the sick. In 1838, five Sisters of Charity were selected to travel to Australia, where they began their ministry by assisting convict women in the female factory at Parramatta. The Sisters of Charity became independent of the congregation in Ireland in 1842 and have since been involved in various ministries, including hospitals, schools, and social welfare activities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of foundation in Australia | 1838 |
| Founder | Mary Aikenhead |
| Place of origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Year of foundation | 1815 |
| Vow 1 | Poverty |
| Vow 2 | Chastity |
| Vow 3 | Obedience |
| Vow 4 | Service to the poor |
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What You'll Learn
- Mary Aikenhead founded the Sisters of Charity in 1815
- The Sisters of Charity arrived in Australia in 1838
- They opened St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney in 1857
- The Sisters of Charity have been working in Australia for over 100 years
- The Sisters of Charity have been involved in schools, hospitals, prisons and social welfare activities
Mary Aikenhead founded the Sisters of Charity in 1815
In 1815, Mary Aikenhead founded the Sisters of Charity, now known as the Religious Sisters of Charity. Aikenhead was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1787 to a Protestant father and a Catholic mother. She was the eldest of four children and enjoyed a comfortable and privileged life. At the age of 15, she was received into the Catholic Church. Twenty years later, at the invitation of Archbishop Murray of Dublin, Aikenhead travelled to York to receive training at the Bar Convent with the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Upon her return to Dublin in 1815, Aikenhead founded the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity. The constitutions of the congregation were approved by Rome in 1833. At the time, religious sisters typically stayed within their convents. However, Aikenhead's congregation was dedicated to serving the poor and marginalised, providing healthcare, education, and social services that were not offered by the state. This included visiting the poor and sick in their homes, establishing schools and hospitals, and caring for orphans. Aikenhead believed that education was a powerful tool in the fight against poverty.
In 1827, the sisters began constructing new school and convent buildings in Gardner Street with a bequest of £4000 from the Archbishop of Cashel. The reputation of Mother Xavier, the principal of the Gardner Street schools for 40 years, inspired many others to establish schools across Ireland and England. In 1830, Aikenhead opened a Catholic school for underprivileged children. In 1835, she achieved another significant feat with the opening of St Vincent's Hospital, which she described as a place where "the poor could be given for love what the rich obtain for money".
In 1838, five Sisters of Charity arrived in Australia, marking the beginning of their ministry in the country. They had been sent by Mary Aikenhead in response to a request from Bishop Polding, who later became the Archbishop of Sydney. These pioneering women started their work in Australia by assisting female convicts in Parramatta. Over the years, the Sisters of Charity in Australia have continued their dedication to serving those in need through hospitals, schools, prisons, and social welfare initiatives.
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The Sisters of Charity arrived in Australia in 1838
The Sisters of Charity first arrived in Australia in 1838, having been founded in Ireland in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead. Aikenhead's dream was to work with the poor, and the Sisters of Charity took four vows: poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poor.
In 1834, Dr John Polding, then Vicar-Apostolic of New Holland and later Archbishop of Sydney, requested that Mother Mary Aikenhead send a community of Sisters to care for the convicts at the Female Factory in Parramatta, as well as the children at the Parramatta Orphan School. In response, five Sisters were selected to take part in the Australian mission. These pioneers left Ireland in August 1838 and arrived in Sydney on 31 December. They were the first Religious Institute of women to arrive in Australia.
The Sisters of Charity have been impelled by their commitment to the community and have stood courageously against Church and civil structures that limited their freedom. They have educated, healed, and advocated for the poor and marginalised, creating long-term solutions to emerging needs. Over time, they have established a significant network of health services, schools, social agencies, and advocates along the Eastern Seaboard of Australia.
The Sisters of Charity have operated independently of the congregation in Ireland since 1842. They founded St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney in 1857, and St Vincent's School a year later. In 1925, they ventured to Queensland, Australia, to open a school, Mt St Michael's College, originally known as Grantuly until 1941. The Sisters have also been involved in other initiatives, such as founding hospitals, psychiatric centres, aged care facilities, and providing housing and support for asylum seekers, survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking, and those experiencing disadvantage or isolation.
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![An Outline of the Life of the Very Rev. Antonio Rosmini, Founder of the Institute of Charity ; Tr. from the Italian by Sister of the Convent of Our Lady at Greenwich / Ed. by 1856 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
They opened St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney in 1857
The Sisters of Charity first arrived in Australia in 1838, after being invited by Bishop Polding to help the most neglected members of the Catholic Church in the country. Five Sisters of Charity pioneers left Ireland in August 1838 and arrived in Sydney on 31 December of the same year. They were the first Religious Institute of women to arrive in Australia.
The Sisters of Charity were founded in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead in Dublin, Ireland. Aikenhead's dream was to work with the poor, and the Sisters took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, as well as a fourth vow of service to the poor.
In 1857, the Sisters of Charity opened St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. The hospital was approved by the Senate of the University of Sydney as a teaching hospital and clinical school in 1923. The Sisters' work in Australia continued to expand, and in 1925, they ventured to Queensland to open a school, Mt St Michael's College, in Ashgrove.
The Sisters of Charity have had a significant impact on the development of health services, schools, social agencies, and advocacy networks along the Eastern Seaboard of Australia. They have been committed to serving the poor and marginalised, providing care, hope, dignity, and assistance in hospitals, schools, prisons, and social welfare activities.
St Vincent's Hospital itself has continued to expand, with the establishment of the Stroke Unit in 2003, the Lowy Packer Building as the St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research in 2008, and the merger with the Mater Hospital North Sydney in 2001. The Sisters of Charity's work in healthcare has extended beyond St Vincent's Hospital, with the opening of Mt Olivet Hospital in Brisbane in 1957, now known as St Vincent's Private Hospital.
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The Sisters of Charity have been working in Australia for over 100 years
In 1834, Dr. John Polding, then Vicar-Apostolic of New Holland and later Archbishop of Sydney, requested that Mother Mary Aikenhead send a group of Sisters to care for convicts, orphans, and the poor in the colony. In response, five Sisters were selected and arrived in Sydney on 31st December 1838, marking the beginning of the Sisters of Charity's work in Australia. These pioneering women started by assisting convict women at the female factory in Parramatta.
Over the years, the Sisters of Charity have made significant contributions to the welfare of Australians. They established St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney in 1857 and St. Vincent's School a year later, forming the foundation of a network of health services, schools, and social agencies along the Eastern Seaboard of Australia. The Sisters have also been involved in various initiatives, including the establishment of hospitals, hospices, aged care facilities, and schools across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
The Sisters of Charity have remained committed to their values, standing against structures that limited their ability to serve those in need. Their work has inspired generations of Australians to join them in their pursuit of justice and service to the marginalized. The Sisters of Charity Foundation, established to promote their mission, continues to provide practical assistance to disadvantaged and isolated individuals in Australia.
In 2019, the Sisters of Charity opened their Heritage Centre and Archives in Potts Point, Sydney, where they proudly share their story and continue their dedication to making a positive impact in Australia.
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The Sisters of Charity have been involved in schools, hospitals, prisons and social welfare activities
The Sisters of Charity first arrived in Australia in 1838, beginning their ministry by assisting the convict women in the female factory at Parramatta. Since then, they have been involved in a wide range of activities, including schools, hospitals, prisons, and social welfare initiatives.
Schools
The Sisters of Charity have been involved in founding and supporting several schools in Australia. In 1925, they ventured to Queensland to open a school, Mt St Michael's College, in Ashgrove. The school was originally known as Grantuly until 1941. In 1928, they established St Finbarr's Secondary College, also in Ashgrove, which later became a part of Mt St Michael's College.
Hospitals
The Sisters have a long history of managing hospitals in Australia, with St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney being a notable example. Founded by the Sisters in 1857, St Vincent's Hospital has expanded over the years and now includes various campuses and specialised centres, such as the Stroke Unit and the Lowy Packer Building for medical research. They also established St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, which became the site of Australia's first clinic for the care of alcoholics and the study of alcohol in 1964.
The Sisters of Charity have also been involved in other healthcare initiatives, such as the establishment of the Caritas Psychiatric Centre in Sydney in 1962, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in 1963, and the acquisition of Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital in 2001.
Prisons
The Sisters of Charity have a history of ministering in prisons in Australia. While specific details of their involvement in prisons are scarce, it is known that they began their work in prisons as early as 1838 when they assisted convict women in Parramatta.
Social Welfare Activities
The Sisters of Charity Foundation, established in 2000, has launched several initiatives to support those in need. These include the Community Grants Program, which aims to support existing groups that are making a difference to those in need. They have also addressed issues such as the low university attendance rate of young people from out-of-home care backgrounds by launching a Tertiary Scholarship Program in 2012.
Additionally, the Sisters of Charity have provided support to asylum seekers, who often lack government support and are at risk of homelessness. In 2014, they launched the Asylum Seekers Housing Program and purchased Providence House in Sydney to provide safe accommodation. More recently, in 2020, they launched the Modern Slavery Transitional Housing Program to assist survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
The Sisters of Charity were founded by Mary Aikenhead in Dublin, Ireland in 1815.
The Sisters of Charity arrived in Australia in 1838. Five Sisters were selected to take part in the Australian mission, leaving Ireland in August 1838 and arriving in Sydney on 31 December 1838.
The Sisters of Charity of Australia have operated independently of the congregation in Ireland since 1842.
The Sisters of Charity's mission is to serve the poor, particularly those who are sick. In addition to the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, the Sisters take a fourth vow of service to the poor.
