The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #Inspire Inclusion.

The Heritage Centre is proud to display historic images of sisters working in other cultures, sisters today and some of the staff and organisations who carry on the work of inspiring inclusion.

Image: Open Support, a work of St Vincent’s Health Australia, join their hands to #InspireInclusion. “When people are inspired to be included, there is a sense of belonging, relevance, empowerment and purpose.”

Our latest temporary exhibition ‘Welcome to school!’ provides a small glimpse into the remarkable history of the Sisters of Charity in Australian primary and secondary schools. Their outstanding contribution continues to be a living legacy.

The Heritage Centre is proud to display a nativity scene made by Myrna Lynch rsc for her community at St Mary’s Convent, Liverpool during the 1990s. We warmly invite you to visit us to view this very special piece and enjoy some Christmas treats.

Heritage Centre Manager Danielle Achikian reflects on the Sisters’ recent celebration of their Congregational Feast Day in the light of the upcoming referendum, and how we can all move forward together in the spirit of hope, compassion and humility.

Sr Libbey Byrne of the Congregational Council of the Sisters of Charity of Australia writes of the upcoming Feast Day of Mother Mary Aikenhead, and reflects on her recent pilgrimage to Ireland.

This month we send our heartiest congratulations to our neighbour, St Vincent’s College. The history of the College is one that sits at the very heart of the history of the Sisters of Charity of Australia.

This week, the Heritage Centre’s Concierge Kerry Sheehy writes about her personal connection to the Sisters of Charity which spans six decades.

This week, the Heritage Centre’s Education and Engagement Coordinator Dr Allison O’Sullivan explores the connections between the Sisters of Charity of Australia and a well-known philanthropist and champion of the needy from Australia’s colonial past, Mrs Caroline Chisholm.

A regular and welcome visitor to the Heritage Centre is Philippa Mcllroy, Group Mission Integration Manager, Formation and Ethics at St Vincent’s Health Australia. In this week’s blog, Philippa explains a little about formation and the potential for immersive experiences for staff sessions at the Centre and on-line. Philippa is an engaged member of the Heritage Centre community, and we are so grateful she was willing to share her thoughts and time with our readers and express so succinctly, the possibilities for future collaboration.

This week, Education and Engagement Coordinator, Dr Allison O’Sullivan discusses Tarmons, once a stately home given a new purpose and identity through the vision and work of the early Congregation.

This week’s blog is a short but thoughtful reflection by Heritage Centre volunteer and guide, Sr Eileen Browne. Sr Eileen is a beloved member of our Centre family, sharing her wit and warmth with every visitor she encounters. When the first Sisters of Charity arrived in 1838, Sydney was not the bustling city of today, but rather a challenging landscape in great need of their charitable labours. In this week’s piece, we are reminded of the legacy and sacrifice of the ‘Walking Nuns’, their work now and then, and the individual experiences of those who have contributed to this living history.

After a small hiatus, we re-launch the Sisters of Charity Heritage Centre blog with a piece by Archives Collections Registrar, Imogen Kennard-King.

Imogen discusses a very exciting behind-the-scenes development which has resulted in a rare opportunity to view a significant item from the collection of the Congregational Archives. If you are curious about how the history of the Australian Sisters of Charity intersects with the sagas of a notorious bushranger and you are infinitely curious about managing a collection, then this blog is your introduction to a much broader story.

In this week’s blog, Sr Anne Taylor discusses her experiences of Ignatian Spirituality and the gifts it offers to those who practice prayerful reflection in their everyday lives. How do we orient our lives? Are we grateful and do we share hope and optimism with those around us? In a busy world, this is a timely reminder to take stock of the small blessings in our midst.

This week we commemorate the upcoming 2022 International Day For Monuments and Sites with a blog by Collections Registrar, Imogen Kennard-King.

Following on from last week’s post by Dr Mark Copland from Toowoomba Hospital, our Engagement, Learning and Programs Developer, Dr Allison O’Sullivan reflects on her recent visit to the Archives in Toowoomba. As the centenary approaches, even the smallest discoveries add to the rich history of the site and the Sisters’ pioneering work.

In the centenary year of St Vincent’s Private Hospital Toowoomba, Mission Executive, Mark Copland reflects on the institution’s inclusive beginnings and its continuing focus on compassion and community.

Heritage Centre Manager, Rachel Mensforth provides a project update on the upgrades taking place on level 1. The outcome will be a tailored climate control system, preserving the Sisters’ extraordinary collection into the future.

Assistant Archivist, Carlos Lopez, provides a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Sisters’ mission in Fiji, from 1957 to 1966. He discusses the significance of the collection, the medium and the depths of research required to identify the individuals and places represented in this remarkable visual archive.