Servant of God.
Co-founder of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor.
Candidate as Australia’s 2nd Saint.

Eileen Rosaline O’Connor (1892–1921) was born in Burnley, Melbourne, on 19 February 1892, the eldest of four children to Irish parents Anne and Charles O’Connor. Anne née Kilgallin was from Sligo and Charles was from Boherbue in Co Cork.

From an early age, Eileen suffered from the effects of Potts Disease and transverse myelitis, which caused her to develop a severe curvature of the spine. She lived her life in constant pain and was paralysed for several years from the condition.

At the age of 10, Eileen and her family moved to Sydney, settling first in Surry Hills and then Redfern, whereupon she attended school at Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Waterloo. Eileen also attended boarding school for a short time at Mount St Bernard’s, Pymble.

Following the death of her father Charles in 1911, Eileen and her family faced financial difficulties, however it was during this time that she met Fr Timothy Edward McGrath, the priest in charge of Coogee. Eileen and Fr McGrath shared a deep devotion to Our Lady, and both shared a desire to begin a ministry of compassionate service to the sick poor in their own homes in Our Lady’s honour. At the time, there was no Government healthcare assistance, meaning that illness was an added burden for the poor.

Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor began its ministry in April 1913, from a home at 35 Dudley Street, Coogee, later known as ‘Our Lady’s Home’. Over the following months and years, seven women entered Our Lady’s Home. The foundation nurses and those that followed became affectionately known as the ‘Brown Nurses’ because of their distinctive brown cloaks and bonnets, chosen by the founders in honour of St Joseph.

Despite their good work, Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor faced unexpected opposition from church authorities in its early years. Nevertheless, Eileen continued to guide the work of the Nurses, who faithfully served the poor of Sydney. Eileen died at Our Lady’s Home on 10 January 1921, aged just 28 years.

The chapel was originally Eileen’s bedroom and was consecrated on 23 August 1932. Eileen’s remains were transferred to the chapel in 1936.

In 1953, Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor was officially recognised as a diocesan congregation. Ministries were established at Brisbane in 1956 and Newcastle in 1962.

Today, the mission of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor remains as important as ever. Assisted by the ongoing generosity of benefactors and volunteers, the Sisters continue to support the sick poor in Sydney and Macquarie Fields.

The work is also continued by ‘The Brown Nurses,’ an independent ministry of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor, who work amongst the poor and disadvantaged in the local government area of Sydney.