HERITAGE

Founding Sisters at Lochinvar

SISTER MARY ALOYSIUS CAHILL

Sister Mary Aloysius Cahill was born in Stokestown, County Roscoe, Ireland in August 1861, the daughter of John Cahill and Anne Emerson. She came to Australia to visit her brother who had settled in Brisbane in Queensland. While in Brisbane she met Father Julian Tenison Woods and through his influence she entered St Joseph's Convent Perthville in January 1883. In August of the same year she left with three companions to make the new foundation at Lochinvar.

During her long life as a member of the Lochinvar congregation she worked in many places and carried many burdens. In 1885, at the age of 23 she went as sister in charge to the first branch house at Merriwa, accompanied by two novices. She was a foundation member of other houses also. She worked at Lochinvar, Dungog, Aberdeen, Cessnock, Krambach, Burwood, Port Macquarie, Wingen and Kurri. She was very active among the people in the parishes where she worked as well as a thorough and dedicated teacher. In her latter years she was a very hospitable portress at Lochinvar. Despite a long illness and many infirmities she lived a long life, dying in the infirmary at Lochinvar in June 1947. The Maitland Mercury described her as " a cultured woman who hated publicity - a brave woman who did hard things quietly walking hidden paths."