Story of the Australian Province
In May 1944, 18 Holy Spirit Sisters, survivors of the Japanese prison camps and death ships in PNG, arrived in Brisbane. They joined 5 others who had come earlier, after trekking for months across the mountains and valleys of PNG. 54 of their Sisters had died tragically during the World War 2 years in PNG. Their bodies were sick and weary, their spirits sad and laden with heavy memories. But they were grateful to be alive, and had the will to continue living and serving.
They were from different countries of the world, and all had a fire in their hearts – to share the love of the God they each knew personally with others. The then Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, James Duhig, invited them to stay and open a Novitiate house. He offered them the Raff Farm property at Aspley, originally owned by Thomas Carseldine. There they set up their first Holy Spirit Convent in Australia. They soon became involved with the local people around them, and became a vital part of that area in Brisbane.
Late 1946, they bought the former Lister Hospital on Wickham Terrace, and set up the first Holy Spirit Hospital. In 1953, 4 Sisters opened St. Flannan’s Primary School in Zillmere. Holy Spirit Home was established in 1962, and Our Lady of the Way School at Petrie in 1963.
Over the years, the Sisters have been involved in many ministries – among our aboriginal people, with refugees and migrants, prisoners, Pastoral Assistants in Parishes, Hospitals & Aged Care, with Youth, Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care, trafficked women, Inter-Faith, Retreats and Spirituality Ministry. Communities are currently in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Fiji. Members have served in other countries of the world, and received Sisters from many different countries. Our newest members come from the Pacific. A truly multi-national mix!
Founded by German priest, Arnold Janssen and two German women, Helena Stollenwerk and Hendrina Stenmanns, in 1889, this world-wide group is now in almost fifty countries, with more than three and a half thousand members.