Our Beginnings
First steps The story began in 1956 when there was an approach made to Rev.M General Sr.M.Caterina Galieti to supply the parish of North Sunshine with a team of nuns who would be involved in various parochial activities. Following much correspondence from His Lordship Bishop Fox, it was decided to allow the establishment of the first Augustinian convent in the Parish of St.Bernadette’s Parish, North Sunshine. Therefore, in 1957 the first community of Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary arrived in Melbourne. As many people know, beginning in a new country has its difficulties. The sisters arrived yet the convent had not been completed. Fortunately the Sisters of St.Joseph (Josephites), under the care of Sr.John Forrester, in the Maidstone community, made room in their convent for the first Augustinian community. This ‘boarding time’ was to extend to 10 months. The Augustinian Sisters are forever grateful of the kindness and assistance shown to us by the Sisters of St.Joseph. December, 1957: The sisters move into their convent at 59a Westmoreland Road. Since our coming to Australia, the congregation has had houses in: North Sunshine 1957 – (re-located to new convent, June 2011) Broken Hill 1964 – 1970 Frankston 1970 – 1982 Avondale Heights 1986 – In all these parishes, the sisters have been involved in: Ø Education Ø Pastoral care: visitation, bereavement ministry Church ministry: sacristan/home visitation to St.Bernadette’s Parish Ø Adult education for those preparing to enter the Church; marriage preparation, catechism classes. Ø Organising and leading Parish Communion services for the many times that there are no priests available for weekly mass. Ø Running retreat days for young adults and parish groups, spiritual direction 
St Bernadette's Primary School
administered by the Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus & Mary
c.1965
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Where are they now?
Since our beginnings in Australia, there have been many sisters who have ministered here in Australia. Some now enjoy the peace of eternal life, others ministering in other countries: Sr.Evodia Bonnici (rip) Sr.Leonide Caruana Malta Sr.Blandina Pace (rip) Sr.Alessina Tabone (rip) Sr.Eugenia Sammut (rip) Sr.Paulina Zahra (rip) Sr.Generosa Apap Malta Sr.Renata Cross ~ Australia Sr.Teresa Aquilina ~ America Sr.Navigia Sammut (rip) Sr.Agostina Ancilleri ~ England Sr.Candida Manche (rip) Sr.Marlene Falzon ~ Australia Sr.Connie Mamo ~ Australia Sr.Nancy Bezzina ~ Italy Sr.Carmen Bugeja ~ (rip) Sr.Pierina Apap ~ Italy Sr.Angelica Bajada ~ Malta Sr.Lorraine Testa ~ Australia Sr.Anna Chircop ~ Australia Sr.Damiana Micallef ~ England Sr.Atanasia Buhagiar ~ Malta Sr.Emma Micallef ~ Malta Sr.Yolanda Canja ~ Malta Sr.Ninette D'Amato ~ Italy Sr.Cresilda Villas ~Australia Sr Sola -Dona Al~Australia |
You are all to live together,one in mind and one in heart,and honour God in one another,because each of you has become his temple.(Rule of St Augustine no. 8)
