Australian Ministry

Compassionate missionary women, nurtured in times of reflectivity

“Filled with zeal, we witness and proclaim the gospel message of love, unity, peace and justice.” Constitutions Article 34

Education

Education has been at the centre of our Mission from our very first school in Western Australia in 1897. Within twenty five years of the first school our Congregation was so well established and had such a fine reputation for teaching that an invitation was issued to come to Victoria to establish a school and convent in Donald. So followed many years with schools flourishing in Western Australia and Victoria.

With a particular interest in education of aboriginal children, pioneering schools were founded in Wagin, Narrogin and Katanning in WA and later the Kimberley Diocese in Broome, Beagle Bay, Gibb River, Derby and Lombardina. The Sisters, true to their missionary heart, were called beyond barriers of race and discrimination to provide basic literacy, catechism and music. They always included aboriginal reserves on their pastoral visits.

Today, we maintain close contact with several schools in Perth and Melbourne and count many of our past students and families amongst our partners.

 

When charity and union of hearts reign in community the Lord is there

Formation

Our contribution now to formation is by bringing young Sisters from Asia each year for educational opportunities. Some come for English language learning in preparation for a 6 month international program in Davao prior to their final vows.

Other international student Sisters come for post-graduate studies. While others come to Sacred Heart Girls’ College Oakleigh, Victoria and Sacred Heart College Sorrento, Western Australia on a vocational training visa which allows them to remain in Australia for one year and participate in an immersion which enables them to broaden their perspective and experience in education. Many of these Sisters become Principals of large secondary colleges on returning to their home provinces.

All these student Sisters live in our communities, supported within their studies by our Australian Sisters and experience RNDM life in the Australian Province. All of the Sisters studies and living expenses are funded by the Australian Province, as we see this as our contribution to International formation for RNDM Sisters.

From this collaboration flows a richness and vitality

Become a Partner

You are invited to join us and become a partner in mission with the RNDM Sisters throughout the developing world, to provide opportunities of lifting people out of the poverty cycle through skills development, education, micro-credit projects and health care.

Prayer Partner

One who would pray for our missions across the world and be interested in attending our regular partners days.

Volunteer Partner

Some missions appreciate volunteers who will bring particular skills for a defined period to support and develop the project.

Financial Partner

You may wish to support our missions through a financial contribution.

Partner with us

Filled with zeal, we witness and proclaim the gospel message of love

Reach Us

Address

Doncaster Heights LPO
PO Box 439
DONCASTER EAST VIC 3109

Phone

03 9841 9823

SR Mary McInernery

Sr Mary McInernery

For over sixty years Mary has had many opportunities to walk in the footsteps of Euphrasie Barbier, reaching out to the vulnerable earth and peoples. An important part of her personal mission has been seeking of partners for support of children with disability enabling them to reach their full potential through access to education and medical care. As a returned missionary from 22 years spent in Kenya she hopes to continue to share charism and spirituality with our Sisters, partners and the wider community. Mary is fascinated by the history of the Congregation and hopes to find ways of making it more accessible. She enjoys reading and poetry.

SR Anne Noonan

Sr Anne Noonan

Born in South Perth, Anne celebrated her 90th birthday in July 2020. The eldest of nine, Anne was a born leader and lover of learning. After completing her BEd, she joined the RNDM’s. She was Principal for many years at Sacred Heart Primary School Highgate.Province Leader for Australia and Papua New Guinea twice over, Anne served on the Congregational Leadership Team in Rome, enthusing and animating Sisters and their missionary projects worldwide. Gaining a doctorate in spirituality in USA, Anne engaged extensively in spirituality work, first in Rome, and in Perth 1995-2012. Anne now resides in Margaret Hubery House, Shelley.

SR Marie Therese Ryder

Sr Marie Therese Ryder

Marie Therese is a West Australian by birth, but international by vocation! That nascent sense of having a heart and vision that embraces the world was fanned into a flame in her 40’s when she directed an International Renewal Programme for 9 years at Marino in Italy. There she came to know RNDM’s from across the world and to share vicariously in their missions. The Congregation leader at the time, Sr Marie Benedicte, often stayed with Marie Therese whilst writing a book on the spirituality of Euphrasie Barbier, our Foundress. Her sharing was a further source of enrichment. All of which continues today to nurture and expand her relationship with God, with RNDM’s across the world and with the whole cosmos.

SR Margaret Spain

Sr Margaret Spain

Margaret was born in Victoria in 1946, receiving her schooling from the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions at the local parish school. In 1968 Margaret began full-time study at the University of WA, at the same time attending Secondary Teachers College. Following her Final Vows she returned to Victoria as a teacher at Sacred Heart Girls College Oakleigh. Then followed six years at Nulungu College in Broome WA. The last half of 1985 was spent in Rome as part of an international RNDM group focused on Mission studies. From 1986 to 2016 she was part of the Senegal Mission. She now enjoys teaching adults English as a second language in Perth and relaxing in her spare time.

SR Mary Goretty Kim Dung Vu

Sr Mary Goretty Kim Dung Vu

Mary Kim was born in 1946 in North Vietnam and entered religious life in 1966. Mary Kim spent time on mission in Vietnamese communities, then in 1993 she was missioned in Perth, and worked with the Vietnamese Catholic Community for liturgy, with children for catechist and LOTE program and with women in faith accompaniment. Then a move to Melbourne, where she worked for the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association. Through her ministries, she learned to respect, to love, and to serve people. Her favorite loved ones are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. She feels blessed for being able to accompany them on their difficult life journey as a friend who has shared the bread of life and the hope for a better future. Now retired, Mary Kim keeps them company in her thoughts and prayer.

SR Lorna Brown

Sr Lorna Brown

Lorna began her schooling at Good Shepherd Convent School in Chadstone, Victoria. Following secondary school at St Mary’s Donald, Lorna worked for two years in Melbourne as a Junior Clerk. She entered the Novitiate in Perth in 1945. Lorna’s missionary experience has been long and varied in primary and secondary schools in city and country Western Australia and Victoria. After three years in Papua New Guinea and nine very fulfilling years as Pastoral Associate, three years in Rome became preparation for retirement. This was interrupted just once by a short time in Kenya. Lorna now enjoys spending her time writing letters to young Sisters on Missions overseas, book clubs, reading and knitting.

SR Tar Clifton

Sr Tar Clifton

Maureen Faye Clifton is the eldest child of Kitty and Laurie Clifton. She grew up in Moreland, Victoria. In 1937 – aged 11 she became a victim of the polio epidemic which left her with a life-long disability. This however did not deter her from following her dream to become an RNDM, she travelled to Perth to enter the novitiate in 1945. She was skilled with figures and the intricacies of book-keeping. Whether teaching in Western Australia or Victoria she endeared herself to everyone. She enjoyed her retirement at Mt Eliza where her presence at the Senior Parishioners Club and Vincent de Paul activities was much appreciated. Friends from these days are faithful visitors to St Catherine’s Aged Care where she continues her mission of prayers for all. Always with a smile. She enjoys cricket, reading and visits from family, Sisters and past pupils.

SR Maureen Dwan

Sr Maureen Dwan

A New Zealander from Christchurch, Maureen was educated by the Sisters and felt drawn toward the missionary aspect of our Congregation. Maureen spent 29 years on mission in Papua New Guinea working alongside the Capuchin Friars of the USA, when the diocese was still in the early stages of development. From 2002 Maureen had six years in Rome on the Congregational Leadership Team followed by two years in Sturry, England setting up a Heritage Centre in memory of the life and mission of our foundress Euphrasie Barbier. A move to Australia included working in the International Mission Office and setting up a Sponsor a Child Programme which she now runs from the Australian Mission Office.

SR Catherine Brabender

Sr Catherine Brabender

Catherine Brabender was born and educated in Oakleigh at both Sacred Heart Primary and Sacred Heart Girls College. Early years in ministry were in Primary education as teacher and Principal. She then moved into Adult faith formation, organisational development and Province Leadership. For the past ten years was Director of the International Mission Office. It was during these years that she was privileged to visit most Provinces and Missions of the Congregation to assess their needs and then approach funding agencies in Europe and other parts of the world seeking support to enable these great missionary projects among some of the world’s most marginalised peoples, to continue. Through her passion for Mission she inspired many to become Partners in RNDM Mission. One of the highlights was bringing Papa Oo from St Therese’s Orphanage Myanmar to Australia for reconstructive surgery on her ears and as a result a cochlea hearing aid was fitted. This has given Papa the opportunity of an education and hope for the future. Catherine enjoys reading, walking, cooking and catching up with family and friends.

SR Patricia Keogh

Sr Patricia Keogh

Patricia Anne Keogh was born in Ashby de la Zouch England in 1944, and her family migrated to Australia in 1951. Pat entered in 1962 and longed to go on the missions, eventually going to Beagle Bay, WA in 1987. Working with the Indigenous people was a very enriching experience. The children taught her much about the environment such as naming the animal tracks, the bush foods and the sea creatures. Pat went twice to Kulaman in the Philippines to help the Sisters and Teachers to teach English to the Primary School children. Today she still enjoys helping adults to learn English.

SR Veronica Martin

Sr Veronica Martin

Veronica was born in West Perth in 1936 to a very down to earth Catholic family, the second of four siblings. In 1961 Veronica entered the convent and after formation and a year at training college she taught at various schools in WA, Act and Victoria plus a two year stint on the motor mission in south west WA. For Veronica her ten years on mission in Peru, South America during the time of ‘Sendero Luminosa’ were challenging yet life giving. She is now fortunate to have part time work in a parish and in her spare time she loves to read.

SR Maureen Belleville

Sr Maureen Belleville

Maureen was born in Donald, Victoria in 1929 and grew up on the farm with her parents and five siblings. After Primary School she boarded with our Sisters and was greatly impressed by their wonderful spirit and this led her to enter the Congregation is 1947. During Maureen’s seventy plus years in Religious Life she taught for almost 50 years in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Commencing in 2004 and concluding in 2010 she had the privilege of teaching English to our Sisters in Vietnam. Since then Sisters from Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar have come to study here and live with her. She is grateful to God for so many happy years in the Congregation. She now visits and writes to elderly people in their homes and enjoys reading.

Sr Helena Brabender

Born in Melbourne, Helena’s earliest missionary interests was inspired by the Sisters who taught her at Sacred Heart Primary School Oakleigh. With 25 years spent in Broome teaching Art and Fashion Design at Nulungu College, she was able to encourage the indigenous students to be proud of their aboriginality and incorporate symbols from their rich cultural heritage into fabric design as well as gain self-confidence and pride in themselves which led to them winning many awards at the State Teenage Fashion Awards. The Indigenous Youth Art Gallery run by the students was another great accomplishment of Helena’s time in Broome. As well as her role as Province Bursar, Helena enjoys continuing her interest in Aboriginal Spirituality, Art and Fundraising as well as spending time with family and friends.

SR Madeleine Barlow

Sr Madeleine Barlow

Madeleine was born in Oakleigh, Melbourne where she went to school and first learnt about the life of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. Over more than 50 years Madeleine has had rich experiences as an RNDM Sister visiting so many of our Sisters engaged with poor disadvantaged people in many countries. Over the last ten years Madeleine has enjoyed regular visits to the Philippines with teachers and students of Sacred Heart Girls’ College Oakleigh – making personal contact with Menubo Tribal People in Mindanao and families living on the streets of Manila, and feels privileged to see their welcome smiles of recognition as she returns with a new group of people each year.

Sr Patricia Byrne - RIP

Patricia, the eldest of six siblings, was educated by RNDM’s. On leaving school she completed her BA at University of Western Australia before becoming an RNDM herself. She was a gifted language teacher and in the course of further studies she gained a scholarship to the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1972 Patricia became private secretary to the Congregation Leader in Rome, during this time she went to visit Sisters in Vietnam. For over 30 years from 1984 she was a pastoral carer for Vietnamese refugees arriving in Perth. Her profound love for them, she would have said, was abundantly rewarded over the years. Patricia passed away peacefully in Perth on 4th August 2020.

Barlow, Shelley

Sr Shelley Barlow

Shelley Barlow was born in seaside Mordialloc in 1941 and grew up in Oakleigh Victoria. Shelley taught at her Alma Mater Sacred Heart Girls’ College Oakleigh, but her teaching, parish and motor mission ministry was mostly in WA. Short-term Ministry in the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar was a great joy for her. The heightened experiences of interculturality and finding the face of God in the other, have been bright highlights in her life. Currently Province Vicar she also enjoys pursuing her passion for creation spirituality through retreats and book clubs.