To mark the significant place Perthville played in the Lochinvar story, a group of Josephite Sisters from Lochinvar participated in the farewell ceremony marking the end of the Perthville era.
On Sunday 23rd March 2025, the chapel and grounds of St Joseph’s Convent Perthville were filled with a throng of many hundreds of people – the Sisters of St Joseph and their Companion members, ex-students and ex -boarders, co-workers and good friends.
All gathered on the site of the first foundation of Josephites in New South Wales. We retold the history of that graced beginning in 1872 and rejoiced in the wonder of the blessings that led to over four hundred young women coming to Perthville to join the Josephite way of life.
We remembered the joys, struggles and triumphs of 153 years of spirit-filled dedication, of education and compassionate care. We came to say farewell to this hallowed place as the changing times draw us onward.
In the morning ceremony, we focused on this blessed history, taking time to pause, reflect, rejoice and grieve. Great care was taken to help us hold carefully this work of God, while we were encouraged to walk on in faith.
Reference was made to the many foundations of new communities that branched off from Perthville to Whanganui in New Zealand, Goulburn, Lochinvar and Tasmania.
For those who have lived and worked at Lochinvar, this was our origin story. Therefore, a group of us, Lochinvar Josephites went to add our prayers of thanks for the great spirit of the place, our country home.
In the afternoon, Bishop Michael McKenna and a representative group of Bathurst clergy celebrated the Mass of Remembering, Thanksgiving and Farewell. The chapel was full of sunlight, song and vibrant faith…and yes, some tears were shed as we sang:
‘There’s a time for remembering, a time to recal
The trials and the triumphs, the fears and the falls.
There’s a time to be grateful for moments so blessed,
The jewels of our memory where love is our guest.’
It was hard to leave such a blessed place of God’s choice and God’s blessing.
Sr Carmel Moore rsj
Photo of St Joseph’s Convent Perthville © 2025 Trustees of the Sisters of Saint Joseph Used with permission
