Transport yourself to the streets of Sydney over 150 years ago – for some a place of excitement and new beginnings and for others a place of poverty and degradation. Life was extremely difficult for women either on their own or struggling to support a family. There was no social welfare, limited state education and for some nowhere to live.
Anxious to help the destitue women of Sydney, Archbishop John Bede Polding, an English Benedictine monk and Australia’s first bishop, founded the Congregation in 1857. There were five young women in the first group - women who were keen to make a difference.
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan identified the need to support and protect women and their children on the streets of Sydney. In the early years a major focus on education developed and the Sisters established one of the first schools in Sydney in 1861.
This tiny seed was to grow into a flourishing tree!
Over the years the work of the Sisters developed into programmes that benefit many communities in Australia and overseas. Where a need has arisen they have tried to do what is possible to answer the call and help 'a neighbour'.
The main ministries or projects include:
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Providing refuge and safe housing in Australia for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
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Endeavouring to 'break the cycle of violence' - educational programmes designed to build confidence, self esteem and social skills.
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Community based ministries - Kinder School for children of very poor families in the Philippines and feeding programmes for these children.
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Early Childhood Centre for communities in Kiribati, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean.The Centre provides education for children in very low socio economic areas.
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The continuing presence of the Sisters in Japan, which began in 1948 when the Sisters were invited to go to Nagasaki. The Japanese Sisters still minister in Nara. They work in many aspects of pastoral care and in the Nara kindergarten.
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Being Good Samaritan in Timor Leste (East Timor) where education for children is critical for the future of a newly independent Nation.
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Ten incorporated colleges across Australia educating over 10,000 students.
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Some 100 communities of Sisters active in a variety of ministries.
The essence of the mission, caring for vulnerable people continues today. Education and reaching out to those who are socially disadvantaged remains as strong today as it did more than 150 years ago.
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Make a difference today.
