In 1991 Catherine O’Brien rsc, started her work in the Diocese of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. She writes of one night, lost in the bush, that she will never forget!

October 18, 2026 marks 100 years of World Mission Sunday. We are marking this special time with a new exhibition, Celebrating Overseas Mission that explores the extensive overseas missionary work of the Sisters of Charity. 

The image of Mary Aikenhead is explored in many different ways. In this post we explore the beauty of her image depicted in stained-glass.

The 1844 portrait of Mary Aikenhead, painted by the Irish artist Nicholas Joseph Crowley, was overlaid with images of students and staff at St Columba’s College in 2022. Pictured here is a section of the whole artwork on display now at the Heritage Centre.

Portrait of Mary Aikenhead, painted by J.A. 1880 [Image courtesy of The Sisters of Charity Congregational Archives]

Brianna, Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, Australian National University and Sisters of Charity Foundation scholarship recipient.

This month, we are joined by Jane Smith, the Heritage and Archives Lead and Pandora Bevan, Marketing and Communications Specialist, at St Vincent’s Hospital, Toowoomba. They share the incredible story of Dr Margaret Sheehy, the hospital’s first Resident Medical Officer.

This month, Barbara Cytowicz, archivist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne takes us through the fundraising work carried out by Mother Berchmans Daly, foundress of St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

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.