Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart facts for kids
The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart are a Catholic group of religious women. They are often called the Josephites or Brown Joeys. Saint Mary MacKillop (1842–1909) started this group. Members of the group use the letters RSJ after their names. This stands for Religious Sisters of St Joseph.
The Josephites were founded in Penola, South Australia, in 1866. Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods started the group together.
Today, the main center for the Josephites is at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney, New South Wales. Saint Mary MacKillop's tomb is there in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel.
As of late 2022, there are about 900 sisters. They live and work in Australia (in all states except Tasmania), New Zealand, Ireland, and Peru. The current leader of the Josephites is Sister Monica Cavanagh.
Besides the main center in North Sydney, the Josephites have "Mary MacKillop Centres" in other places. These include Penola, South Australia; Kensington, South Australia (a suburb of Adelaide); East Melbourne, Victoria; Annerley, Queensland; and South Perth, Western Australia. The Josephites were named after Saint Joseph. Other groups of Sisters of St Joseph in Australia and New Zealand are also part of this family. These include groups in Perthville and Lochinvar in New South Wales.
Contents
History of the Josephites
How the Josephites Started (1866)
Father Julian Tenison Woods was worried that many children in South Australia did not have a good education, especially a Catholic one. In 1866, he asked Mary MacKillop and her sisters, Annie and Lexie, to come to Penola. He wanted them to open a Catholic school there. Father Woods became the Director of Catholic education for South Australia. He and Mary MacKillop opened a school in an old stable. After their brother helped fix it up, the MacKillop sisters started teaching over 50 children. Around this time, Mary MacKillop decided to dedicate her life to God. She began to wear black clothes as a sign of this.
In 1867, Mary MacKillop became the first member and leader of the new group. It was called the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She moved to a new convent in Grote Street, Adelaide. That same year, when she was 25, she took the religious name "Sister Mary of the Cross." The bishop, Laurence Bonaventure Sheil, asked them to start a new school in Adelaide. This school was for the "Catholic education of poor children." The Josephites were the first religious group started by an Australian. Father Woods and Mary MacKillop wrote rules for the sisters to live by. These rules focused on living simply, trusting in God, not owning personal things, and being ready to go wherever they were needed. Bishop Sheil approved these rules. By the end of 1867, ten more women had joined the Josephites. They wore simple brown clothes. Because of this, people started calling them the "Brown Joeys."
Growing the Order (1866–1880s)
The Sisters wanted to provide "Catholic education for poor children," especially in country areas. They opened a school in Yankalilla, South Australia, in October 1867. By the end of 1869, more than 70 Josephite sisters were teaching children. They ran 21 schools in Adelaide and the countryside. Mary MacKillop and her Josephites also helped with an orphanage, neglected children, girls in danger, and elderly poor people. They also ran a home for the aged and the very sick.
In December 1869, Mary MacKillop and some other sisters went to Brisbane. They started the group there. They lived at Kangaroo Point. They would take a ferry or row across the Brisbane River to go to church. Two years later, she was in Port Augusta, South Australia, for the same reason. The Josephite group grew very quickly. By 1871, 130 sisters were working in over 40 schools and charities across South Australia and Queensland.
After getting a main house in Kensington in 1872, Mary MacKillop got ready to go to Rome. She wanted the Pope to approve the Josephites' rules. She traveled to Rome in 1873. Pope Pius IX encouraged her work. The leaders in Rome made some changes to how the Josephites lived simply. They also said that the main leader and her council were in charge of the group. They promised that the group and its rules would be fully approved after a trial period. These changes to the rules caused a disagreement between Mary MacKillop and Father Woods. He felt the new rules changed their idea of living simply. He blamed Mary MacKillop for not getting the original rules approved. Before Father Woods died in 1889, he and Mary MacKillop made up. But he did not work with the group again. Some sisters split off, becoming known as the "Black Josephites" because they wore black clothes. Mary MacKillop's sisters continued to wear brown and were called the "Brown Josephites."
While in Europe, Mary MacKillop traveled a lot to learn about different ways of teaching.
During this time, the Josephites also started working in New South Wales and New Zealand. Mary MacKillop moved to Sydney in 1883. This was because Bishop Reynolds of Adelaide told her to. When she came back in January 1875, after almost two years away, she brought good news. Rome had approved her sisters and their work. She also brought materials for her school, books for the convent library, several priests, and 15 new Josephite sisters from Ireland. Even with her success, she still faced problems from some priests and bishops. This did not change even after she was chosen as the main leader in March 1875.
The Josephites were special for two reasons. First, the sisters lived among the people, not always in convents. Second, the group's rules said they should be led by a main leader, not by the local bishop. This was very unusual then. Because of this, the group had to leave Bathurst in 1876 and Queensland by 1880. This was because the bishops in those areas did not agree with their leadership structure.
Despite these problems, the group grew. By 1877, they ran over 40 schools in and around Adelaide. They also had many schools in Queensland and New South Wales. With help from friends and supporters, the Josephites, led by Mary MacKillop, continued their religious and good works. This included visiting prisoners in jail.
Sister Bernard Becomes Leader (1883)
Sydney's Archbishop Roger Vaughan died in 1883. Patrick Francis Moran became the new Archbishop. He had a somewhat positive view of the Josephites. However, he removed Mary MacKillop as the main leader. Sister Bernard Walsh took her place.
Pope Leo XIII made the Josephites a religious group with "Pontifical right" in 1885. This meant their main office was in Sydney and they reported directly to the Pope. He gave final approval to the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1888.
Even though they still lived on donations, the Josephite sisters were very successful. In South Australia, they had schools in many country towns. These included Willunga, Willochra, Yarcowie, Mintaro, Auburn, Jamestown, Laura, Sevenhill, Quorn, Spalding, Georgetown, Robe, Pekina, and Appila. Mary MacKillop continued her work for the Josephites in Sydney. She tried to support those in South Australia as much as possible. In 1883, the group successfully started in Temuka in New Zealand. Mary MacKillop stayed there for over a year. In 1889, they also started in Victoria.
During these years, Mary MacKillop helped Mother Bernard manage the Sisters of St Joseph. She wrote letters of support, advice, and encouragement. By 1896, Mary MacKillop was back in South Australia. She visited fellow sisters in Port Augusta, Burra, Pekina, Kapunda, Jamestown, and Gladstone. That same year, she traveled again to New Zealand. She spent several months in Port Chalmers and Arrowtown in Otago. While she was in New Zealand, the Sisters of St Joseph opened a school in the South Island. In 1897, Bishop Maher of Port Augusta arranged for the Sisters of St Joseph to take over the St Anacletus Catholic Day School in Petersburg (now Peterborough).
Mary MacKillop founded a convent and base for the Sisters of St Joseph in Petersborough on January 16, 1897. She arrived with four other sisters to take over the school. They were met by Father Norton, who took them to their new convent.
Mary MacKillop's Later Years and Death (1889–1909)
After Mother Bernard died, Mary MacKillop was again chosen as the main leader in 1899. She held this position until her own death. In her later years, she had many health problems. She suffered from rheumatism. After a stroke in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1902, her right side became paralyzed. For seven years, she had to use a wheelchair. But her speech and mind remained sharp. She continued writing letters after learning to write with her left hand. Even after her stroke, she inspired the Josephites so much that she was re-elected in 1905.
Mary MacKillop died on August 8, 1909, at the Josephite convent in North Sydney. The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Moran, said, "I consider this day to have assisted at the deathbed of a Saint." She was buried at the Gore Hill Cemetery. People kept taking earth from around her grave. So, her remains were moved on January 27, 1914. They were placed in a vault in front of the altar of the Virgin Mary in the new memorial chapel on Mount Street, Sydney. A friend, Joanna Barr Smith, who was Presbyterian, gave the vault as a gift.
The 20th Century
The many schools and community help groups started by the sisters kept growing throughout Australia, New Zealand, and other places during the 20th century. While fewer people joined religious groups in Australia in the late 20th century, the Josephites' work continued. Mary MacKillop becoming a saint in 2010 brought them worldwide recognition.
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School in Rooty Hill, Western Sydney, opened in 1907. The Sisters of St Joseph ran it. The Sisters would travel to the school from a nearby suburb until they bought a horse and cart for their journeys. The Sisters of St Joseph ran the school until 1969. Then, the Franciscan Monks of Mary took over.
The 21st Century
Since 1979, the Congregations of St Joseph, which includes all the Sisters of St Joseph and their helpers worldwide, have worked with the United Nations. They are a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). In 1999, they gained special access to other UN programs and agencies. As an NGO, they focus on helping people in poverty, empowering women and children, caring for the environment, and helping immigrants.
Fewer sisters are teaching in schools now, and fewer people are joining religious groups in Australia. However, the Josephites have started new projects to meet today's needs. These include:
- Mary MacKillop Today – This group runs projects that change lives in Australia. They also have community development projects in Timor Leste, Peru, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji. They also have a fair trade company in Australia called ethica.
- Good Grief – This group offers education programs and workshops about change, loss, and grief. Programs include Seasons for Growth, which helps children and young people after natural disasters. Stormbirds helps children and young people after natural disasters. Seasons for Healing is a special program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.
- St Anthony's Family Care – This group helps families and children.
- MacKillop Community Rural Services – This group serves people in country areas of New South Wales.
The Sisters' work continues through thousands of everyday people. These people lead and serve in the ministries. They also direct the focus by being on the boards of the community groups. One group started by everyday people is Josephite Community Aid. It began in 1986 to involve young people in helping refugees and others. It also runs other volunteer programs. Mary MacKillop Centres were created as places for special visits, learning, and spiritual growth.
By the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the Josephites reported about 850 sisters. They were working in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland, and Brazil. The sisters continued to work in education, aged care, and in country areas. They also worked with Indigenous Australians, refugees, families, homeless people, and in general church ministries. The South Australian Province Reconciliation Circle started meeting regularly in 2003. This group of Josephite and Carmelite women, with Aboriginal mentors, works for fairness and reconciliation for Indigenous people. In 2006, the Josephite Justice Office was set up to speak up for justice in the community.
Between 2012 and 2014, several other Sisters of St Joseph groups joined with the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. These included the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Tasmania, Goulburn, Whanganui (Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth), and the Perthville Congregation.
Mary MacKillop Becomes a Saint
In 1925, the leader of the Sisters of St Joseph, Mother Laurence, started the process for Mary MacKillop to be declared a saint. Archbishop Michael Kelly of Sydney set up a special group to move the process forward. After more investigations, Mary MacKillop's "heroic virtue" was declared in 1992. This meant she lived a very good and holy life. Her canonisation (being declared a saint) was announced on February 19, 2010. It happened on October 17, 2010. About 8,000 Australians were in Vatican City to see the ceremony.
Important Members
Irene McCormack
Irene McCormack (born August 21, 1938 – died May 21, 1991) was an Australian Sister of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She worked as a missionary in Peru. She was killed there in 1991 by members of Sendero Luminoso ("Shining Path"), a rebel group.
In October 2010, Australian news reported that Sister Irene McCormack might also become a saint after Mary MacKillop's canonisation. The Daily Telegraph said that Catholic leaders in Peru and Australia planned to ask the Vatican to consider her for sainthood.
The leader of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sister Ann Derwin, said that people in Huasahuasi, Peru, already thought of Sister McCormack as a saint. She explained that people who are judged to have been martyrs (killed for their faith) do not need proof of miracles to become saints.
Schools Started by Josephites
Schools founded by the Josephites include:
- Mount Carmel College, Rosewater, Adelaide; its main school was opened by Mary of The Cross and Father Tennyson Woods in 1868.
- St Joseph's School, Russell Street, in Adelaide city centre, was founded when the sisters took over an existing school in 1877. It closed in 1965.
- Mary MacKillop College, a girls' high school in Kensington.
- St Benedict's College, Newton, Auckland founded in 1884.
