- Religious Women's Institutes

Organisations & Services

Religious Women's Institutes

Brigidines - Sisters of St Brigid (CSB)

Founded by Bishop Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Ireland, in 1807 in Tullow, Ireland. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Maitland from Ireland by Bishop James Murray and Mother John Synan CSB in 1883. First WA community established at Wembley from Sydney in 1942.
Carmelites - Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (OCD)

Carmelite Nuns are called to strive to live a life of union with Jesus Christ, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their life is one of prayer and contemplation for the Church and for all people. - A life of sisterly communion, in silence, solitude, work and recreation: lived, apart from necessities, within the monastery enclosure.
Cenacle Sisters - Religious of Our Lady of the Cenacle (rc)

Founded by St Thérèse Couderc and Fr Stephen Terme in 1826 in La Louvesc, France. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Brisbane at the invitation of Archbishop Francis Rush in 1980. First WA community resident at Nedlands in 1993.
Dominican Sisters of WA - Federation of Dominican Sisters of Australia (OP)

As Dominican Sisters we live our motto: "To Contemplate and give to others the fruits of our Contemplation". We do this by active participation in the life of the Church in WA by offering support at different levels in - Teaching Theology in adult education. - Ministry to the sick, the poor, the disadvantaged. - Spiritual discernment, pastoral supervision and hospitality. We affirm that the driving truth in all we do is the principle of the dignity of the human person, the cornerstone of authentic education as modelled by the Person of Jesus.
Good Samaritan Sisters - Institute of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict (SGS)

Founded by Archbishop John Bede Polding OSB in 1857 in Sydney, Australia. First WA communities established at New Norcia and Mount Magnet in 1986. We the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, are religious women whose desire is to seek God. Our spirituality, nourished by the ancient Rule of Benedict and the Good Samaritan parable, is expressed in our commitment to community life, prayer, justice, hospitality and compassionate service. We take seriously Jesus' Gospel command to go and be neighbour.
Good Shepherd Sisters - Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (RGS)

Founded by Sr Euphrasie Pelletier in 1835 in Angers, France. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Melbourne from Angers, France, by Archbishop James Goold OSA in 1863. First WA community established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth, from Abbotsford, Victoria, in 1902.
Little Sisters of the Poor (LSP)

Founded by St Jeanne Jugan in 1839 in Saint Servan, France. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Melbourne from France by Archbishop James Goold OSA in 1884. First WA community established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth, from Sydney, NSW, in 1920.
Loreto Sisters - Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM)

Founded by Mary Ward in 1609 in St Omer, Flanders. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Ballarat from Ireland by Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry IBVM in 1875. First WA community established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth, from Ballarat, Victoria, in 1897.
Missionaries of Charity (MC)

Founded by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta in 1946. First WA community established in 2002. Apostolic works here are street ministry among the homeless and those with addictions, visiting the poor in their homes to give spiritual, emotional and material help, sacramental programmes for children and adults.
Our Lady of the Missions Sisters - Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM)

As a religious missionary congregation we understand that the Trinity is the source of all our missionary activity. We participate in the Divine Missions, God's universal love manifested in creation, in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and in the mission of the Holy Spirit out poured at Pentecost - our principal feast. Our missionary life is essentially a union of contemplation, communion and mission. Filled with zeal, we commit ourselves to witness and proclaim the gospel message of love, unity, peace and justice and freely, as disciples of Jesus to go wherever we are sent in our own country or beyond. Mary of the Visitation inspires us to find God in daily encounters and challenges and to respond with generosity and love to the sufferings, joys and hopes of our world.
Presentation Sisters - Congregation of the Presentation Sisters (WA) Inc (PBVM)

Founded by Honora (Nano) Nagle in 1775 in Cork, Ireland. The WA Congregation was formed in 1969 by the union of two former autonomous congregations: Geraldton (founded in 1891 from Sneem, Ireland, by Mother M Joseph O'Connell) and Perth (founded in 1900 in Southern Cross from Hay, New South Wales, by Mother M Angela Treacey).
Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary - Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary (ISSM)

Secular Institute founded by Fr Joseph Kentenich in 1926 in Schoenstatt, Vallendar, Germany. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Geraldton from Schoenstatt, Germany, in 1951. First community in Perth Archdiocese established at Tardun in 1951 and at Wandering in 1953.
Servite Sisters - The Congregation of Mother of Sorrows Servants of Mary (OSM)

The Congregation was founded on 8 December 1854 by mother Maria Soosai Natchatrammal in Trichirapalli, India. In the first group there were five sisters including her. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Perth from India by Fr Christopher Ross OSM in 1970. First community established at Wanneroo, Perth WA. Our Charism is "Compassion". Contact Person - Sr Maria Lourds Chitra
Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate (SSMI)

Founded by Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska SSMI in 1892 in Ukraine. Introduced to Australia in Bell Park, Victoria, by Bishop Peter Stasiuk CSsR, Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics, in 1994. First WA community established at Eden Hill in 1996.
Sisters of Mercy - Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (RSM)

The Order of the Sisters of Mercy was established by Venerable Catherine McAuley in Dublin in 1831. The first Australian Foundation was in Perth in 1846. Over subsequent decades, many other foundations were made throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Sisters of St John of God (SJG)

Founded by Bishop Thomas Furlong in 1871 in Wexford, Ireland. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Perth from Wexford, Ireland, by Bishop Matthew Gibney in 1895. First community and health care facility (St John of God Hospital) established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth.
Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition (SJA)

Ours is an Incarnational Spirituality. That is, we are committed to witness to the presence of Jesus and His love for the Father and humanity, alive and active in our world today.
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (RSJ)

Founded by St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods in 1866 in Penola, South Australia. First WA community established at Northampton in 1887.
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN)

Founded by Blessed Mary Frances Siedliska in 1875 in Rome, Italy. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Brisbane from the USA by Archbishop James Duhig in 1952. The Congregation is present in NSW since 1952 (Marayong, Sydney area) and that across three states.
The Congregation of The Lovers of The Holy Cross Thu Thiem

As Lovers of the Holy Cross of Thu Thiem we imitate Jesus Christ Crucified through a life of contemplation, sacrifice, and service. In the spirit of simplicity, we aspire to live a life following the spirituality and charism of the Founder to direct our minds and hearts completely toward Jesus Christ Crucified, the One Object, and to live as disciples through evangelizing to all people as well as participating in building the local Church. We devote ourselves to apostolic works of serving others, especially women and the youth in the areas of education, social work, health care, morality, and faith.
Ursuline Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (OMSC)

Founded by M Maddalena Molinari in 1575 in Parma, Italy. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Perth from China by M Assunta Franzelli in 1952. First communities established at Guildford and Wandering Brook.

Organisations & Services

Religious Women's Institutes

Founded by Bishop Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Ireland, in 1807 in Tullow, Ireland. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Maitland from Ireland by Bishop James Murray and Mother John Synan CSB in 1883. First WA community established at Wembley from Sydney in 1942.

Founded by St Thérèse Couderc and Fr Stephen Terme in 1826 in La Louvesc, France. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Brisbane at the invitation of Archbishop Francis Rush in 1980. First WA community resident at Nedlands in 1993.

Founded by Sr Euphrasie Pelletier in 1835 in Angers, France. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Melbourne from Angers, France, by Archbishop James Goold OSA in 1863. First WA community established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth, from Abbotsford, Victoria, in 1902.

Founded by St Jeanne Jugan in 1839 in Saint Servan, France. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Melbourne from France by Archbishop James Goold OSA in 1884. First WA community established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth, from Sydney, NSW, in 1920.

Founded by Mary Ward in 1609 in St Omer, Flanders. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Ballarat from Ireland by Mother Mary Gonzaga Barry IBVM in 1875. First WA community established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth, from Ballarat, Victoria, in 1897.

Secular Institute founded by Fr Joseph Kentenich in 1926 in Schoenstatt, Vallendar, Germany. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Geraldton from Schoenstatt, Germany, in 1951. First community in Perth Archdiocese established at Tardun in 1951 and at Wandering in 1953.

Founded by Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska SSMI in 1892 in Ukraine. Introduced to Australia in Bell Park, Victoria, by Bishop Peter Stasiuk CSsR, Eparch for Ukrainian Catholics, in 1994. First WA community established at Eden Hill in 1996.

The Order of the Sisters of Mercy was established by Venerable Catherine McAuley in Dublin in 1831. The first Australian Foundation was in Perth in 1846. Over subsequent decades, many other foundations were made throughout Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Founded by Bishop Thomas Furlong in 1871 in Wexford, Ireland. Introduced to Australia in the Diocese of Perth from Wexford, Ireland, by Bishop Matthew Gibney in 1895. First community and health care facility (St John of God Hospital) established at Adelaide Terrace, Perth.

Ours is an Incarnational Spirituality. That is, we are committed to witness to the presence of Jesus and His love for the Father and humanity, alive and active in our world today.

Founded by St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods in 1866 in Penola, South Australia. First WA community established at Northampton in 1887.

Founded by Blessed Mary Frances Siedliska in 1875 in Rome, Italy. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Brisbane from the USA by Archbishop James Duhig in 1952. The Congregation is present in NSW since 1952 (Marayong, Sydney area) and that across three states.

Founded by M Maddalena Molinari in 1575 in Parma, Italy. Introduced to Australia in the Archdiocese of Perth from China by M Assunta Franzelli in 1952. First communities established at Guildford and Wandering Brook.