The Australian Women's Register

The first six nuns to arrive in Broken Hill came from Singleton in the Diocese of Maitland, and founded the St Joseph’s Convent in February 1889. They were: Ann Agnes Callen (Sister Mary Josephine), Margaret Hennessy (Sister Mary Clement), Sarah Gallagher (Sister Mary Gertrude), Ellen Dwan (Sister Mary Patrick), Margaret Morris (Sister Mary Ita) and Mary Griffin (Sister Mary Evangelist). Sister Mary Josephine was appointed Reverend Mother of the Sisters of Mercy by Bishop Dunne. Under her leadership, they visited the sick and poor of Broken Hill, provided a home for orphans, and opened five schools in the town by 1896.

Mary Griffin grew up at Balranald, New South Wales, and was possibly working as a pupil-teacher at the Loreto Convent School in Melbourne when she met the Sisters from Singleton who were on their way to Broken Hill. She joined the group and taught at Broken Hill high schools until she was appointed Superior of the Mt Barker Convent in 1924. Sister Mary Evangelist spent several years as Superior of the Sisters’ Rest Home at Sans Souci, and as leader of the Deniliquin Community.