HERITAGE

Julian and the Lochinvar Sisters of St Joseph: A particular tradition

While Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop founded the institute of Sisters of St Joseph together and are recognised today as cofounders, the four Lochinvar pioneer Sisters - Ambrose Joseph Dirkin, Imelda Flood, Aloysius Cahill and Baptist Dugan, had a special relationship with Julian. They all joined the Perthville institute after its separation from that at Adelaide, and were among those instructed by Julian at Perthville. As well as having the Rule and the Instructions which he wrote, they continued to correspond with him and kept and passed on his letters, which were rewritten, typed and retyped over the years. Thus the Lochinvar founding Sisters passed on a strong tradition of honouring Julian as Father Founder.