On November 4, 1885, the s.s. Liguri steamed into Sydney Harbour. On board was the newly appointed and first Cardinal to Australia - Patrick Francis Moran. With him were three groups of sisters including the first members of the Little Company of Mary to set foot on Australian soil.

Australia’s “founding mothers” were Sisters Pierre Dillon, Pius Kelly, Josephine Wroughton, Rose Mowles, Raphael Byrne Farrar (Superior) and Brigid Rosser. Four days after their arrival, the sisters commenced their care of the sick. A Nettie D’Apice was ill in the suburb of Hunter’s Hill. Sister Rose went to nurse her.

The next day, another went to care for a young girl with typhoid fever. “Sick cases came quicker than our numbers could compete with”, wrote Sr. Brigid, “at the end of the second week, there was no one home but Mother Raphael and Mary Cullen”. Two months after their arrival, the first postulants came.

 In July 1886, the sisters had to move from their home in Roslyn Street, as it was being demolished to make way for St. Canice’s church. Moving to William Street in the city, they began a “soup kitchen” for the poor who surrounded them. Nursing cases kept pouring in, and pressure was being brought to bear to commence a hospital.

In August 1887, Lewisham commenced its work - initially as a hospital for blind children. In 1890, it was agreed to open a psychiatric hospital at Ryde - now Dalton Gardens

 In 1900, Calvary Hospital Adelaide was commenced its service to the people of Adelaide.

A foundation from Australia was made in Sth.Africa in 1904, and another in Christchurch in 1914. Three more houses were opened in Australia. Wagga Wagga in 1926, Hobart in 1938 and Melbourne in the same year.

Other foundations and new ventures followed: Cairns became a base for another  community in 1950. .A mission to Korea began in 1963 with Sisters Magaret Hedigan and Christine Astell as foundation members. In 1966 a Hospice was commenced in Kogarah. Care of the sick and dying continued in homes and hospitals throughout Australia

Expansion had been made possible by the young women who had followed the initial vision of the founder. From the first few months in Sydney, they had presented themselves for admission. Not all stayed, but those who did worked hard and long in the care of the sick and dying in their own homes and within LCM hospitals. To our foremothers we owe a debt of gratitude for the seeds they sowed in this land - and across the world. Those seeds have born their own fruit and it is the task of this generation to sow for a future yet unknown.

If you would like to know more of the Little Company of Mary, please contact us. If you would like to read of Mary Potter, and her journey, please, click here.