150 years of the Good Samaritans

In 1845, eleven years after arrival from Ireland’s County Cork, Geraldine Henrietta Gibbons became a member of the Irish Sisters of Charity – the only Catholic group of Sisters in Australia at that time. She was to receive Scholastica as her religious name.

Mother Scholastica Gibbons (pictured below) ministered with selfless zeal and compassion for the women in her care at the Good Shepherd Refuge in Pitt Street Sydney. Some years following she was invited to become co-foundress of the first Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict. So began the realisation of a dream with five women of varied backgrounds formally received on 2 February 1857.

Mother Scholastica

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan take their name from the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke’s Gospel. Today they continue to live out the values of compassion and hospitality which the gospel story illustrates.

The original name given to the Order was The Sisters of the Good Shepherd, with their first home in Pitt Street Sydney demolished to make way for the Sydney Central Railway Station.

Toxtech Bouse B & W

In 1901 historic Toxteth House at Glebe Point (above) became their new residence, along with a name change to The Sisters of the Good Samaritans. The 80 year old mansion (in state of disrepair) was named St Scholastica’s, in honour of the fifth century woman of prayer, vision, purpose and strength. She is reputed to have been a twin sister to St Benedict whose Rule was given to the Good Samaritans by their Founder Archbishop John Bede Polding – a Benedictine.

Polding was reputed to strive for justice and compassion in the new colony, with his focus on the dehumanising condition of the convicts and Aboriginal people.

Benedict

An extract from Fr Michael Casey’s Homily at the Good Samaritan’s 150th Anniversary Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney 2 February 2007……..

“What Archbishop Polding asked of those original sisters, 150 years ago, remains a valid mandate for today – to show forth the gentleness and compassion of the Good Samaritan in applying themselves to every charitable work with a view to restoring souls to the fold of Jesus Christ. This means especially respect, care and love for each person, zeal for their wellbeing and being proactive in taking the initiatives others have ignored”.

The path envisaged by the founder to lead to the realisation of this ideal was the living of a fervent spirituality grounded on the Rule of Saint Benedict.

This involved three avenues of dedication:

  •  fidelity to the common way of life, marked by simplicity, humility and obedience
  •  the lifelong commitment to community with all its consolations and challenges
  •  the practice of prayer, particularly the attentive celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours.”

Sisters of the Good Samaritans traditionally are recognised for their vision along with their attention to beauty in its various forms. From the beginning many excelled in needlework, calligraphy and painting. Handwritten vows were exquisitely enriched by their individual artistry. Archbishop Polding, an Englishman with a love for the fine arts and good taste, often brought gifts for the Sisters on his return from Europe.  Prior to demolition of the Pitt Street residence in 1901, permission was granted for a collection of stained glass windows and other effects to be removed for relocation to Glebe Point. That recognition of fine art continues today, with convents and places of worship proudly maintained in keeping with tradition. Furthermore 150 years on, they continue to fulfil the mission given to them in communities scattered across Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Kiribati.

Anne Slattery

Parish Team Member

References: Fr M Casey’s Homily – 150th Anniversary Mass St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney 2/2/07 The Treasures of Saint Scholastica’s – Jacinta Shailer sgs Judith Foster sgs 2002

“The little plant has become a noble tree and it has grown not by human effort and contrivance But under the unmarked breathing of God’s grace. Thus, as ever, there is no room for us to boast, but a loud, loud call for thankfulness.  And such future co-operation by gift and prayer as we shall have the grace to offer. “The Lord has done great things for us: We are to become very joyful”

Thank God for the workers, dearly loved and thank God for the work.

(John Bede Polding OSB, 1870)”

 

Pictured Below:  Sr Marg Carmody at St Mary’s Hamilton’s Celebration of 150 of Good Sams – 2007

Priests at St Mary’s

  • 1847 Fr Patrick Geoghegan – Vicar of Port Phillip visited the area
  • 1848 Fr John Kavanagh – “The Clerical Tramp”
  • 1849 Fr John Roe – Visited over four years
  • 1853 Bishop Goold – Selected land for a Church
  • 1856 Fr John Cronin – Oversaw construction Fr Ronald Rankin – Relieving Priest
  • 1857 Fr Shinnick, Fr J Moloney, Fr E McCarthy
  • 1862 Fr John O’Connell – 1st Parish Priest
  • 1864 Fr Michael Farrelly – 2nd Parish Priest
  • 1871 Fr R F Fennelly – 3rd Parish Priest Fr P J Cavanagh
  • 1875 Fr Thomas Raleigh, Fr J Fitzgerald
  • 1876 Fr John Hoyne – 4th Parish Priest Fr P N Moore
  • 1877 Fr Jas Farrell 1879 Fr J Herbert
  • 1880 Fr J D Sullevan 1881 Fr N Crane
  • 1882 Fr Peter O’Hare 1883 Fr John Cleary
  • 1886 Fr Michael J Shanahan – 5th Parish Priest -“Grand Old Man of Hamilton”
  • 1888 Fr M Lynch 1890 Fr H W Cleary 1895 Fr D Foley
  • 1896 Fr R Scanlan 1900 Fr D Lenihan
  • 1901 Fr P Kennedy 1902 Fr J H Davis
  • 1903 Fr R J Riordan, Fr W Cain
  • 1906 Fr C Kelly, Fr J Sheil, Fr M J Daly
  • 1909 Fr McGowan
  • 1910 Fr M F Quinn
  • 1911 Fr S O’Rourke
  • 1912 Fr J O’Brien
  • 1916 Fr J Timmons 1917 Fr P J Phelan
  • 1920 Fr S O’Rourke
  • 1921 Fr T Scanlan
  • 1923 Fr P O’Dowd
  • 1924 Fr John McAuley
  • 1925 Fr J E Leyden, Fr T P Hussey
  • 1928 Fr G Payne, Fr M Philbin
  • 1929 Fr W McGrath, Fr M H Gaffney
  • 1931 Fr John Kerin – 6th Parish Priest Fr T P Hussey
  •  1933 Fr M Glennen 1934 Fr P McMorrow
  • 1935 Fr McGloin – 7th Parish Priest
  • 1937 Fr Roy V Sullivan 1938 Fr L J Monk
  • 1940 Fr T Hussey 1941 Fr V Sproules
  • 1942 Fr W N Close – 8th Parish Priest Fr M Philbin
  • 1943 Fr M Edwards, Fr J B Kehoe
  • 1945 Fr J Russell
  •  1948 Fr McKenzie
  • 1949 Fr E V Ryan – 9th Parish Priest
  • 1951 Fr R Sullivan, Fr M L Edwards
  • 1952 Fr R Dunworth – 10th Parish Priest, Fr Linane
  • 1953 Fr D Meagher
  • 1956 Fr D Heath
  • 1958 Fr D Boylan, Fr P Culligan
  • 1959 Fr P Bohan
  • 1960 Fr F McKenzie, Fr M D Delahenty
  • 1962 Fr Patrick Flanagan to May
  • 1964 1963 Fr D Heath
  • 1964 Fr P Culligan , Fr J F O’Farrell
  • 1968 Fr Patrick Flanagan to Jan 1973
  • 1970 Fr P Murphy
  • 1973 Fr Tom P Russell – 11th Parish Priest Fr Des O’Shea, Fr P Taffe
  • 1975 Fr Dan Torpy
  • 1976 Fr Norm Yodgee
  • 1979 Fr P J Colley, Fr W O’Halloran
  • 1980 Fr R J Bowd
  • 1981 Fr Eugene McKinnon, Fr M Linehan
  • 1982 Fr J Woodford
  • 1984 Fr Patrick Flanagan to Jan 1992 – 12th Parish Priest Fr Leo McCormick, Fr Paddy King
  • 1985 Fr J Monaghan 1987 Fr Peter Elder
  • 1989 Fr A McInerney, Fr G Murphy
  • 1990 Fr D Murphy
  • 1991 Fr P Sherman, Fr Jim Tung
  • 1992 Fr Peter Hudson – 13th Parish Priest, Fr W O’Connell
  •  2003 Fr Patrick Mugavin – 14th Parish Priest
  • 2012 Fr John Corrigan                                                                                       Anne Slattery
  • Parish Team Member

Parish logo

Our Parish Logo was designed by Sr Dorothy Woodward who is a Lochinvar Sister of St Joseph.  The logo incorporates images from our district.

Sister Dorothy Woodward is a former a former Secondary school teacher and subsequently a member of the Religious Education team of the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools Office. From as far back as her memory goes, art and life have been inseparable for Dorothy. Art has been for her, a form of communicating and interpreting reality, of discovering connections and exploring ideas. Liturgical Art in particular has led her to explore the use of symbols, to experiment with universal, as well as Australian images. Dorothy has designed over fifty lead light windows in hospitals, chapels, schools and Churches throughout Australia. She has worked extensively in the designing of logos, school crests as well as liturgical banners. Dorothy’s Religious Images include Stained Glass Windows, Banners and Australiana images.

Dorothy can be contacted on email: emmausau@bigpond.com

Monivae College

Monivae College is a progressive and expanding Catholic independent co-educational day and boarding school. The school is located in the Hamilton parish, but it is privately owned and conducted by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Monivae College provides Catholic education which encourages all to realise their unique potential in a caring environment.

The graduate of Monivae is a life long leader who is a competent, confident and compassionate citizen with spiritual awareness and the ability to lead. The Monivae Teacher is a life long learner who is a competent, confident and compassionate citizen with spiritual awareness and the ability to lead students to reach their full potential in the knowledge that Jesus loves them.

For more information, visit the school website.

St Vincent de Paul Society

The St Mary’s Conference is part of the Glenelg Region which also takes in Casterton, Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool (Four Conferences – St Joseph’s, St Anthony’s, St Pius and Our Lady Help of Christians).

In the region there are also three Centres of Charity where second-hand goods are sold or given away to people in need when the occasion arises. The money from these shops is used to fund the Welfare work done by Conference members.

We welcome new members (male and female) to either join our Conference or work as volunteers in the Cox Street Centre, which is open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

The Conference members work from the front offices at the Maryknoll building every day except Tuesday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. We also meet on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 5.00pm in the Maryknoll building.

Anyone interested can contact the Parish Office on 5571 1161 to obtain the following numbers:

Regional President: Irene Donne

Conference President: Bob Roache

Centre Manager:

St Joseph’s Primary School

[caption id="attachment_506" align="alignright" width="300"]2012 school photo[/caption]

St Joseph’s Parish School in Penshurst is a small rural school with a great capacity for assisting students to be empowered to grow strong and independent within a warm, loving environment, prepared to be members of the society of the 21st century.

Seventy-two percent of the students live within the township of Penshurst with the remaining twenty-eight percent living on farms surrounding the township.

Penshurst is a town that has experienced the demise of small rural communities where centralization has become the force behind political decisions. This has meant that the town has lost businesses, banks and its Shire Offices — but not its schools!

St Joseph’s is well-resourced due mainly to the efforts of a highly committed and active team of parents. The parents are an integral part of the school, involving themselves with policy formulation through the School board. They have a strong sense of the school they wish for their children and work diligently to maintain it. The parents are always involving themselves in the education of their children through active involvement within the classroom.

For more information, visit the school website.

How Do I Become A Catholic?

A New Start

The avenue to exploring the possibility of becoming a Catholic is to undertake a short journey called RCIA.

RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is a process that assists people who desire to be fully initiated members of the Catholic Church. The process, often times referred to as a journey, is designed to meet people where they are at in their faith life, and bring them into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.

The RCIA journey climaxes at the Easter Vigil, where those on the journey are brought into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Along the road of the RCIA journey, those participating are introduced to the Catholic faith through teaching, scripture study, prayer and worship. Participants also build relationships with people in the faith community.

RCIAWhat is involved?

RCIA is a journey taken with members of a Catholic parish towards the time at which those seeking entry and the community decide they are ready to take on full membership of the community. This ‘journeying period’ is one of exploring; if the person feels that it is not the right time or place for them, there is no obligation for them to continue.  They meet  regularly with the small group, one of two people chosen by them and two or three chosen by the Parish Team.Together they share their understanding of what it means to follow Christ as a Catholic. This is a spiritual journey for all involved. The program is flexible to meet the need and ‘place’ of those who are engaged in the journey. Prayer, Scripture and the beliefs of Catholic Church are explored together.

If you are interested in finding out more about the RCIA program contact Fr Paddy Mugavin on  5571 1161.

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