Our school was founded in 1858 by an order of nuns.These were the Brigidines.These nuns were the followers of St. Brigid a patron saint of Ireland.
In 1807, when only “hedge schools” could teach the Catholic religion because of government restrictions, the bishop of Kildare, Daniel Dulaney, founded the congregation of St. Brigid, beginning with six catechists dedicated to Christian education.The order has now grown to some 800 members.In 1884, Cardinal Moran was appointed as Archbishop of Sydney; he made a special trip to Cologne, a once famous centre of Irish missionary activity, to obtain a relic of Brigid for his Brigidine nuns in Sydney.The Sisters are now organised in three provinces, one for Ireland and Britain, and two for Australia and New Zealand.


Brigid was a beautiful, holy woman, with a kind and loving heart, and was beloved by many.After Saint Patrick, Brigid of Kildare is the most famous of the Irish Saints.Writers often refer to Brigid as “The Prophetess of Christ,” “The Queen of The South,” “The Mary of Gael.”Irish missionaries have carried her name and devotion to Scotland, to England, and to the Continent.She died about 524 a.d and there is a tradition that, along with Patrick and Columba, she is buried at Downpatrick in Co. Down.The Shrine of St. Brigid’s shoe is preserved in the NationalMuseum in Dublin.


St. Brigid


Brigid was born in the mid-fifth century, in Co. Kildare.Both her father, Dubtach, and her mother, Brocseach, came from nobleLeinster Families, both apparently, Christians.

As a child Brigid displayed noticeable generosity to the poor: on one occasion so great was her kindness that her mother’s supply of butter was entirely emptied.Conscious that her mother would be taking stock young Brigid prayed to God and the butter was miraculously replenished.

Monasteries


It is most likely that her first convent was founded in Kildare, on a piece of land given to her by the king of Leinster, and marked by a large and conspicuous oak tree, which gave its name to the spot “The Church of the Oaktree”.This was to become the principal church of  the Kingdom of Leinster.The monastery at Kildare was unusual for Ireland in that it was a “double” monastery – one part for nuns, the other for monks – and ruled over by an abbess and the abbot-bishop.

Brigid and The Sick


Brigid has earned an enormous reputation for healing the sick and especially the Lepers.There is a story that on one occasion she was visited by two Lepers; the saint blessed some water and instructed them to both bath in it, when one was healed of his leprosy he refused to help his fellow companion and therefore as a just reward for his pride his leprosy was restored to him.

St. Brigid’s Cross


One day while Brigid was tending to a dying pagan chief she sat down and began praying to god while plaiting some rushes that were near to her.When the chief opened his eyes he was amazed at what she was doing and watched her until she was finished.After she was finished he asked her what it meant, she explained it to him.He was so impressed, he asked to be baptised before he died.