4-page souvenir
125 years of the Sisters of St Joseph at Lochinvar
Sisters a big part
of our community
Message from Most Rev
MICHAEL MALONE,
Bishop of the Diocese of
Maitland-Newcastle
hen four Sisters of St
W
Joseph arrived in
Lochinvar on September
2, 1883, they were welcomed by
parishioners in these terms:
We hope, dear Sisters, that we
may ever profit by the lessons of
charity and self-sacrifice your
lives will teach us; and we trust,
too, that your holy prayers, ever
rising from our midst to the
throne of God, will fall back on
us and our children in showers
PROUD HISTORY: Some of the Sisters
of St Joseph.
This feature is proudly sponsored
by ex-student Lisa McGuigan of
Congratulating the Sisters of
St Joseph, Lochinvar
celebrating 125 years
N. J. RYAN Pty Ltd
Proud to be doing electrical work for the
Sisters of St Josephs Lochinvar for over 50 years
COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING SERVICES
Servicing Newcastle and the Hunter since 1951
63 Glenwood Drive, THORNTON NSW 2322 4966 8700
12 THE MAITLAND MERCURY Thursday, August 28, 2008
of heavenly
blessings. (Fr
Harold Campbell,
Centenary: The
Diocese of
Maitland 1866-
1966 p 155).
Todays lan-
guage is different, but there is
no doubt in my mind that the
diocesan and wider communi-
ties have profited from witness-
ing the lives of the many Sisters
of St Joseph who have followed
those first four: Sisters
Ambrose Joseph Dirkin,
Aloysius Cahill, Baptist Dugan
and Imelda Flood.
The showers of heavenly
blessings have come in abun-
dance. They include the min-
istries of primary, secondary
and tertiary education, adult
faith formation, outreach to
migrants and refugees, parish
pastoral care, spiritual direc-
tion, pastoral planning at a
diocesan level, care of those
affected by HIV-AIDS, and count-
less others. The recent launch
of Catalyst, an initiative to
bring university education to the
homeless, is an indication that
the Sisters are always alert to
new ways of serving.
Central to the Josephite
charism has been support of,
SISTERS OF ST JOSEPH TIMELINE
and solidarity with, the poor in
the spirit of founders Fr Julian
Tenison Woods and Mother
Mary MacKillop.
I am delighted to offer my
deep gratitude and warmest
wishes to the Sisters of St
Joseph, past and present, for all
that they have done, and been,
in the Diocese of Maitland-
Newcastle. May you be show-
ered with heavenly blessings by
our God who rejoices in these
125 years of generous service.
Proud to be associated with the
Sisters of Saint Joseph
Lochinvar
Congratulations on the 125 years anniversary!
467 High Street Maitland NSW 2320
Phone:4933 6344
email: mail@enrights-solicitors.com.au
www.enrights-solicitors.com.au
lift-out
Father Julian Tenison Woods (1832-1889)
was a man of remarkable and creative mind.
He was a gifted preacher, missioner, scientist,
educator, writer, public speaker, artist, musician
and founder of religious orders.
Ordained in 1857, Father Woods was
appointed as the Parish Priest in Penola, South
Australia.
He encouraged religious sisters to go into
remote parts of the colony and give proper reli-
gious instruction to poor, scattered children.
Father Woods met Mary MacKillop, who
helped establish the Sisters of St Joseph, also
known as the Josephites, order while she was
working as a governess to her uncles children
in Penola.
In 1866 Blessed Mary MacKillop and Father
Julian Tenison opened the first St Josephs
school in Penola, South Australia.
Mary was professed as a Sister of St Joseph
on August 15, 1867.
Mary moved to Adelaide in 1867 and more
ladies followed.
In 1872, at the request of Bishop Matthew
Quinn, Mary made a foundation in Perthville
near Bathurst, NSW.
In 1876, as a result of a conflict between
Mary and Bishop Matthew Quinn, all but two
sisters and nine postulants returned to
Adelaide with Mary.
Those who remained travelled to Perthville
near Bathurst, NSW, in 1876 with Mary and
formed the first Dioceasan Josephite
Congregation under the leadership of Sister
Hyacinth Quinlan. Sister Hyacinth, who had
been trained in Adelaide by Mother Mary and
Father Julian, trained new members in the
same spirit.
Lochinvar congregation started in 1883 by
Sister Ambrose Dirkin and the three other
sisters.
The first school was a converted inn.
1884 was when the first cottage was pur-
chased on the present site.
1893 was when the first brick convent was
built.
1900 Lochinvar Parish hall was built.
1911 New brick school was built.
1922 The chapel and cloisters were added
to the St Josephs, Lochinvar convent.
1933 was the year of Lochinvars Golden
Jubilee.
1940s St Cecelias music rooms and dor-
mitories were replaced.
1955 The old wooden classrooms were
replaced by a brick wing of the building.
1966 Further extensions to accommodate
the increase of day students.
1963 An indoor pool was built.
1967 A new building was created to accom-
modate 20 novice sisters.
1969 The rest home was built.
School staff comprised of all Sisters until the
late 1960s.
1981 The nursing home wing was added.
1992 The boarding school was closed and
the Tenison Woods Education Centre was
established.
2003 Nursing home closed and refur-
bished.
2008 125th year anniversary of the foun-
dation of the Josephite order and the
establishment of the two schools at the
Lochinvar site.
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