For the poor & the poor only

For more than 100 years, Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor – fondly known as the Brown Nurses – has performed a unique ministry of healthcare, advocacy and friendship for the sick poor and disadvantaged.

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SERVANT OF GOD

Australia’s ‘saint in waiting’, Eileen O’Connor, has been recognised as Servant of God by the Holy See.

Eileen's Story

THE BROWN NURSES TODAY

Eileen O’Connor’s legacy of serving the sick poor in their own homes continues today via the Brown Nurses, an independent ministry of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor.

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2024 MASS OF THANKSGIVING

10 January 2024. More than 300 devotees of Eileen O’Connor shared a love-filled Mass of Thanksgiving held at St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Coogee, to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of her death.

Sister Margaret Mary Birgan oln

November 9, 2023. It is with deep sadness that Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor has announced the death of Sister Margaret Mary Birgan oln in her 58th year of religious life.

 

Sr Margaret Mary Birgan old

300 faithful attend special Mass

10 January, 2023. More than 300 faithful attend a special Mass at St Brigid’s Church, Coogee, to celebrate the anniversary of the death of our co-foundress and Servant of God, Eileen O’Connor.

10 January 2023

Sister Patricia Byron oln

April 30, 2022. It is with deep sadness that Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor has announced the death of Sister Marjorie (Patricia) Byron oln in her 68th year of religious life. Visitors to Our Lady’s Home after the funeral and interment included Sr Patty’s great nieces, Leonie and Paula Tierney (standing left), cousin Jan and Peter Mears (standing middle), cousin Patsy (sitting right) and Allan Phillips (standing right) and friends Rick Goodwin (standing second from right), Georgie Jones (sitting left) and Margaret Sutherland (sitting middle).

Sr Patty Byron's relatives and friends

Brisbane’s faithful mark the centenary of Eileen’s death

July 24 2021. A Thanksgiving Mass to mark the centenary of the death of Servant of God and Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor co-founder, Eileen O’Connor, was celebrated at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane, on July 24. 

Brisbane Mass

Mural honours Eileen O’Connor

13 July 2021. A striking mural depicting Servant of God and co-founder of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor, Eileen O’Connor, has been unveiled at Our Lady of Mount Carmel primary school in Waterloo, where Eileen attended school in the early 1900s.

Waterloo mural

Sr Anne O’Shaughnessy OLN

19 July 2021. It is with deep sadness that Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor has announced the death of Sister Anne O’Shaughnessy OLN in her 59th year of religious life.

Sr Anne O’Shaughnessy

Eileen O’Connor Catholic College celebrates Eileen’s birthday

February 19 2021. Eileen O’Connor’s birthday (February 19) was marked with a very special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at St Thomas Church, Lewisham for the students, staff and parents of Eileen O’Connor Catholic College, Lewisham.

Eileen O’Connor Catholic College

Eileen O’Connor: Little Mother Down Under

10 January 2021. Eileen O’Connor: Little Mother Down Under is a a wonderful 32-page children’s book that describes the inspiring life of Eileen O’Connor to young readers.

Eileen O’Connor: Little Mother Down Under

Faithful celebrate the centenary of the death of Eileen O’Connor

10 January 2021. A small group of marked the centenary of the death of Servant of God and Co-Founder of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor, Eileen O’Connor, with a Mass of Thanksgiving at St Brigid’s Church, Coogee.

Mass of Thanksgiving at St Brigid’s Church, Coogee

Hidden in the shadow of love

28 September 2019. Bishop Anthony Randazzo launches Dr Jocelyn Hedley’s new book, Hidden in the Shadow of Love, which examines the life of Mother Theresa McLaughlin and the early years of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor.

Hidden in the shadow of love

Official opening of the Cause

20 February 2020. Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP, celebrates a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, to officially open the Cause of Beatification and Canonisation of Servant of God, Eileen Rosaline O’Connor.

FrAnthonyRobbieArchbishopAnthonyFisher