When the first Brigidine Sisters arrived in Echuca in 1886, a crowd of over 500, including Bishop Crane and the Mayor, gathered to greet them and escort them to their new home, Apsley House. The following day, the four young nuns were again welcomed with a large reception, culminating in a Pontifical High Mass at St Mary’s Church.
140 years later, the Brigidines gathered with the people of Echuca, St Joseph’s College pupils past and present, parishioners and friends to honour their 140-year legacy in Echuca and the anniversary of St Joseph’s College. The milestone was marked with a weekend of celebrations from 27-29 March, including a Foundation Day Liturgy, historical tours, a Gala Dinner, Commemorative Video and a Brigidine Remembrance Ritual led by Brigidine Sister, Cecilia Merrigan, the last Brigidine to have served in the Parish.
On 4 January 1886, in response to Bishop Martin Crane’s request, four Brigidine Sisters, Srs Borgia (Hayden), Benedict (Moore), Thomas (Healy) and Vincent (Brennan), left Tullow, in rural Ireland, to cross the seas “with unwavering faith, open hearts and courage", arriving in Echuca on 27 February 1886.
The 21,000 km journey from the cold and green of Tullow to the dusty heat of Echuca in the height of Summer must have been quite a shock, especially considering their heavy woollen serge habits. Although the four sisters had the example of fellow Brigidines, who had established themselves in New South Wales three years before them, they must have been remarkably courageous women with unwavering faith, a strong sense of mission and open hearts, to have achieved what they achieved in their early years in Echuca.
In her speech at the Anniversary celebrations, Congregational Leader Louise Cleary, remarked that “celebrating foundations reminds us that ‘thinking big’ or ‘dreaming big’ is not an idle pastime”.
“Maybe the dream of travel and the excitement of exploring new places was there?” said Sr Louise, “But there must also have been a bigger dream — responding to the call of the Gospel ‘to go to the ends of the earth’ (Matt 24:14).”
The Sisters got to work on their mission. Nine days after arriving, they were teaching in the parish primary school and on 22 March, less than a month after their arrival, they opened a high school with eight pupils and later, on 4 May, a boarding school.
In her speech, Sr Cleary summarised the annals of these women: inspiring, courageous, pioneering women of deep faith who built up trust and networks of support amongst locals, built an esteemed educational institution and who “called forth the generosity of generations of other young women … to continue the mission (more than 30 women joined them in the first ten years in Echuca)."
“But what is missing are stories of how the sisters felt, what they enjoyed, the struggles, the pathos about what they would clearly be missing. These four must have been stoical! The endurance and ‘strength’ of our motto (strength and kindliness) is written in between the lines,” said Sr Cleary.
“Our founding Brigidine Sisters in 1886 – Borgia Hayden, Benedict Moore, Thomas Healy and Vincent Brennan could hardly have imagined where the seeds of their good work would have grown!”
The Brigidine Sisters’ legacy is defined by a pioneering spirit and creative persistence, expanding Catholic education through day and boarding schools, including new foundations across Victoria and beyond in response to post-war growth. As the Church and society changed, they adapted – embracing the more participatory and inclusive vision of Vatican II and extending their mission into parish life, pastoral work, and teaching in universities and theological colleges.
In recent decades, this has broadened to advocacy for refugees and vulnerable people, and Care for Creation. With greater opportunities for women has come a strengthened responsibility to confront inequality and injustice – an ongoing call that continues to shape their witness today.
“As Brigidines today, we know we are ‘standing on the shoulders’ of strong and inspirational women,” said Sr Cleary, who acknowledged the support given to the Brigidine Sisters throughout their journey.
“Right from the foundations here in Echuca, the Brigidines have been grateful for the trust of families and collaboration with the many colleagues who have worked with us over the years … This has truly been a gift throughout these 140 years!”
“As Brigidine sisters, a smaller, older group, working towards the completion of our mission, we are in a blessed place!
Image top right: The Four Foundresses, Mother Vincent (Brennan), Mother Thomas (Healy), Mother Borgia (Hayden), Mother Benedict (Moore) and their first two novices M. Josephine (Chalk) and M. Stanislaus (O’Keane) circa 1886. _
Image above: This Photograph depicts Bishop Stewart with ten religious Nuns, Brigidines, two of whom are seated in a Goddard Buggy thought to be the buggy presented to Bishop Reville on his return to Australia circa 1911. the Brigidines outside Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo.
Image left: The Founding Brigidine Sisters outside their convent, Apsley House, 1886. The convent served as the foundation for what is now St Joseph's College, which was established by the Sisters in 1886.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Brigidine Sisters, you can visit their website.
Interesting fact: the daughter of Echuca’s mayor, who welcomed the four sisters on their arrival, later became a Brigidine herself – Sr Brigid Nolan.