Religious Sisters

Description: The Canossian Daughters of Charity, a Catholic order founded in Italy in 1808, established their presence in the Darwin Diocese upon their arrival in Australia in 1970. Their initial mission was to create a residential children’s home, Bakhita Village, which operated from 1972 until its destruction by Cyclone Tracy in late December 1974. Despite this setback, the sisters remained committed to the Territory, shifting their focus to meet evolving needs. Over five decades of service in Darwin, they have provided vital support to NT people in Parish Pastoral work and catechesis, and more recently, extended their ministry to Youth Ministry and support social work on the Tiwi Islands. The Canossian Daughters of Charity continue to operate in Australia and internationally, with a profound dedication to making Jesus known and loved, especially among those in greatest need.

Link to web page: http://canossiansisters.org.au

The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) are women dedicated to a Spirituality of the Heart, centered on the boundless love of Jesus, with a special Marian dimension. Founded in France in 1874 by Fr. Jules Chevalier MSC, their mission is to make known the love of God revealed in the Heart of Jesus. Since arriving in the Territory, they have embraced a “mission without limits,” constantly adapting to the deep needs of the local communities.

Their work in the Northern Territory is diverse, impactful, and rooted in their core spirituality: Parish and Sacramental Work (Santa Teresa) that includes working with women and preparing school students for the Sacraments, ensuring the spiritual formation of the community; Leadership and Governance (Darwin City), contributing to the strategic direction and management of the Congregation’s work; and Compassionate Community Presence (Wurrumiyanga), providing direct and loving service through visiting the sick and community and providing care and company at the local Aged Care home.

Link to web page: Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart :: OLSH Sisters :: FDNSC

The Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate are women of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, rooted in a deep Portuguese heritage where their institute was founded in 1871. True to their “hospitaller” name, their charism focuses on hospitality and service, taking the Good Samaritan as their inspiring model. They first came to Australia in 1930 at the invitation of the Franciscan Friars in Kedron, Brisbane. This expansive vision allows them to engage in a wide variety of apostolates globally, with their current ministry in the Northern Territory strategically focused on the remote community of Wadeye (Port Keats), serving within the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish.

The Sisters’ work in Wadeye directly addresses the foundational needs of the community, blending practical support with spiritual care, providing spiritual guidance and community connection. This ministry is paired with general Pastoral work, ensuring the spiritual well-being of the school community.

Link to web page: Missionary Franciscan Sisters

The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) are a congregation of religious sisters dedicated to living a Gospel way of life, inspired by their Foundress, Hélène de Chappotin, and the simple, radical path of St. Francis of Assisi. They are distinguished by their commitment to a strong global network characterized by shared vision, resources, and leadership, enabling them to bring their mission to many corners of the world.

In the Northern Territory, their apostolate is focused entirely within Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Alice Springs, supporting the core operations and spiritual formation within the Parish: RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, volunteering at the St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) Store and undertaking administrative and secretarial support, offering a supportive and helpful presence to the community.

Link to web page: Franciscan Missionaries of Mary

The Missionaries of Charity Sisters, affectionately known as Mother Teresa’s Sisters, are a Roman Catholic religious community founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta in 1950 in India. Their entire life and ministry are dedicated to the “service of the poorest of the poor,” regardless of social class, creed, or religion. The Sisters deliberately choose to live right on the ground, sharing God’s concern for the lowliest and offering immediate, effective help until a more lasting solution can be found for those in need.

In the Northern Territory, the Missionaries of Charity’s outreach is vast and deeply personal, focusing on direct, compassionate service across both urban and remote areas. The Sisters’ Ministry extends across a wide geographic area and targets various forms of poverty and need; Outreach to the Homeless and Needy; Family Visitation, extending from the Darwin area all the way to Humpty Doo and the remote Daly River – Emu Point region, where they run a community mission. The Sisters are instrumental in religious formation, running Religious Instruction (RI) in State Schools, Catholic Secondary Schools, and Christian Colleges. They also facilitate the Sacramental Program at the Cathedral and their convent and lead the RCIA program at their convent. Their compassion extends to visiting hospitals and nursing homes, providing a domestic violence women’s refuge, giving Communion to the sick and visiting the homebound.

Link to web page: Missionaries of Charity – Missionaries of Charity serving the poorest of the poor

The Congregation of the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (MDHFN) was established in Spain in 1874 by Saint Josep Manyanet i Vives and M. Encarnación Colomina i Agustí. The founding mission was to address the critical needs of the time, specifically focusing on EDUCATION AND THE FAMILY. The Congregation strives to achieve “the formation of Christian families through the education and instruction of childhood and youth,” with the ultimate ideal that, following the example of the Holy Family, there will be “One Nazareth in every home.” This mission has since expanded globally across five continents.

The MDHFN provides a comprehensive range of services across the Northern Territory, involving direct teaching and extensive pastoral, liturgical, and welfare support. They are actively teaching at St John’s Catholic College, contributing directly to the instruction of youth. They serve at the Agape Youth Group at the Cathedral, providing essential spiritual and communal guidance to young people, and provide support and counselling in Darwin and in remote communities. The Congregation supports the community life of the local parishes. They are highly active at Holy Family Parish, Karama, where they lead the Children’s Liturgy and facilitate Sacramental Preparation. Their spiritual contribution extends to music ministry, and they play a crucial role in the African Community of St Josephine Bakhita, overseeing the children’s liturgy and providing spiritual guidance to the community council. Furthermore, one member serves as the Coordinator of Mission and Culture at Catholic Care, and they also make themselves readily available for other missions within the diocese when needed, such as engaging with youth during encounters or breakaway sessions.

Link to web page: WHO WE ARE | NAZARETH ENDE MISSIONARIES

The Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St Anne community was born in Zaragoza in 1804, when a group of twelve women whose Superior was Mother María Ràfols, arrived accompanied by Father Juan Bonal and twelve other men, to attend the Royal and General Hospital of Our Lady of Grace. First established their presence on the Australian continent on 1985, specifically settling in the city of Palmerston, Northern Territory.

The priority mission of the Sisters of Charity of St Anne in the Northern Territory is focused on early childhood education and care. The community’s primary service is operating a Nursery Education Centre, which is owned by the Congregation. This centre provides care for children This establishment underlines their commitment to foundational education and family support in the Palmerston area.

Link to web page: https://chcsa.org/

The Ursuline Sisters are members of an international community of Catholic Religious Sisters, wholly committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and living out their mission in the spirit of their Foundress, Saint Angela Merici. Their ministry is characterized by a flexible, dynamic approach that leads them to a diverse range of people and places, embracing “new possibilities” as they arise. The Ursulines are deeply “enlivened by our involvement with those who cross our paths each day,” learning from their faith, joy, struggles, anxieties, and hopes, particularly regarding issues of injustice.

Grounded in Gospel values and inspired by St. Angela’s original vision, the Ursuline Sisters’ work in the Northern Territory is focused within the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Alice Springs, emphasizing spiritual depth and formation. A major component of their apostolate is focused on helping others deepen their faith life. They facilitate Spiritual Direction, Supervision, and Retreat work through Thirsty Heart, a small retreat centre in Alice Springs. While their focus is spiritual formation, the Ursulines globally are committed to various forms of service, including working with young families, women, in health, in parishes, in schools, in general Pastoral Ministries, in care for aged sisters, and in advocating for the poor and marginalised. Their specific work in Alice Springs supports the parish by bringing these elements of care and formation to the local community.

Link to web page:  https://www.australianursulines.org.au/