The Eileen O’Connor Centre opens its doors.

On the 26th of May we opened The Eileen O’Connor Centre. The Centre honours the life’s work and legacy of Servant of God, Eileen O’Connor, Fr Timothy Edward “Ted” McGrath MSC and Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor (also known as the Brown Sisters). The Eileen O’Connor Centre is based in the grounds of the original home in Coogee.

Eileen established Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor in 1913 with Fr Ted. They both shared a deep devotion to Our Lady, and a desire to create a ministry of compassionate service to the sick poor in their own homes in Our Lady’s honour.

The Centre was blessed by the Most Rev Terence Brady Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sydney. Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor and the Sisters of Charity of Australia welcomed representatives of the Little Sisters for the Poor, Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, St Brigid’s Parish Priest Fr Thoi Tran, teachers from Eileen O’Connor Catholic College, past and present staff members of Our Lady’s Home, the local postulator for the cause for sainthood Fr Anthony Robbie, Coogee State MP Dr Marjorie O’Neill, and other friends of the congregation. 

Inside the centre, we have recreations of her bed and living space, as well as personal effects from her life, such as scrap books, a camera from the 1890’s that she frequently used, crucifixes, and even her manicure set.  We also have stories and artefacts of Fr Ted as well as artefacts from the work of the Nurses over the years.