Packed to the Rafters - Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor Centenary Mass
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
12 Apr 2013
12 Apr 2013
Eileen O'Connor
It will be 'standing room only' as Sydney's very own religious order, Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor, celebrates its centenary with a Thanksgiving Mass being held tomorrow at 10 am (13 April 2013) at St Mary's Cathedral.
Already, more than 700 immediate and extended family and friends join with the 13 remaining sisters of this tiny but much-loved congregation to celebrate a unique chapter in Australia's history.
For 100 years, the order - fondly known as the Brown Nurses - has quietly provided in-home healthcare, advocacy and friendship for the poor and marginalised throughout Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle and Wollongong.
Even now, its work is largely unknown except those who require its services.
The Thanksgiving Mass will be co-celebrated by Bishop Terence J Brady DD VG, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, six bishops, two monsignors and 56 priests from throughout Australia.
They include representatives from the Archdioceses of Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra Goulburn and the Dioceses of Maitland Newcastle, Broken Bay and Wollongong.
They include Darwin-based Fr John Kelliher msc, who grew up close to Our Lady's Home - the congregational headquarters - at 35 Dudley Street, Coogee.
A special address will be given by the Most Reverend Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the recently-appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.
The UK-born and educated Archbishop Gallagher has been a member of the Holy See diplomatic service for almost 30 years.
He has held posts in Tanzania, Uruguay, the Philippines and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg before serving as Apostolic Nuncio - the Holy See's ambassador - to Burundi, Guatemala and now Australia.
Also in attendance will be a wide representation of Catholic orders and organisations, including the Catholic Women's League, Knights of the Southern Cross and St Vincent de Paul.
Other dignitaries attending include:Official Secretary and Chief of Staff to Her Excellency the Governor of NSW, Brian Davies; NSW Attorney General and Member for Epping, Greg Smith; Federal Member for Berowra and Former Federal Attorney and Minister for Immigration, the Honourable Philip Ruddock; NSW Legislative Council members, the Honourable Sophie Costis and Luke Foley; Randwick Mayor, Tony Bowen, and City of Sydney councillor, Linda Scott.
The OLN Sisters will process into the Cathedral behind well-known indigenous musician, Glen Doyle, preceded by a "Welcome to Country" by Gadigal Elder, Charles Madden.
Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor was founded in Sydney in 1913 by a young Australian woman,
Eileen O'Connor
Eileen O'Connor
OLN Congregational Leader, Sister Margaret Mary Birgan, says the congregation is humbled by the enthusiasm shown by the community for the centenary.
"Our mission has always been low-key so this response has been simply overwhelming," she says.
"We've had replies from people who have had experiences, associations and friendships with the sisters or who are devotees of 'Little Mother' and Fr Ted from all over Australia.
"Even those who can't join us have written lovely reminiscences of their memories of their connection with the sisters.
"We are particularly thrilled that so many members of the O'Connor and McGrath families will also be in attendance."
Other special guests include John Hosie, Dr Mary O'Connell and Jocelyn Hedley, authors of various biographies of Eileen O'Connor and Fr Edward McGrath.
Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor was founded in Sydney in 1913 by a young Australian woman, Eileen O'Connor, whom many consider to be Australia's next saint-in-waiting, and a Missionaries of the Sacred Heart priest, Father Edward McGrath.
Both shared a deep devotion to Our Lady and the desire to establish a ministry of compassionate service to the sick poor in their own homes in her honour.
At the time, there was no Government healthcare assistance, meaning that if poor people were ill they could not afford to see a doctor, let alone go into hospital.
A number of young women arrived at Coogee to undertake their mission amongst Sydney's sick poor, many of whom lived in squalor.
They quickly became affectionately known as the 'Brown Nurses' because of their distinctive brown cloaks and bonnets.
In 1953, the Society of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor was recognised as a religious order.
Soon afterwards, ministries were established in New Farm, Brisbane and then Merewether, Newcastle.
At one stage, its community boasted almost 40 religious sisters and novices, all trained or training as registered nurses.
Today, the mission of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor remains as important as ever. Assisted by the generosity of their benefactors and volunteers, the Sisters continue to assist the sick poor in Sydney, Newcastle and Macquarie Fields.
The Sisters' mission for the poor and disadvantaged in the local government areas of Sydney, Randwick and Leichhardt is conducted by an organisation called the Brown Nurses.
Based at Glebe, a small team of registered nurses continue to minister to the sick poor in the tradition of the Sisters.
Many of their clients are suffering the debilitating effects of mental illness, physical disability, chronic addictions or a combination of all three.
Being in the care of the Brown Nurses may be their last chance to live independently.
Amazingly, Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor and the Brown Nurses remain completely.
Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor would visit the poor and sick in their homes, helping with household work,
taken care of children, cooking and looking after the sick. SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
taken care of children, cooking and looking after the sick. SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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