Eileen Rosaline O'Connor

Eileen Rosaline O'Connor was born in 1892 in the Richmond suburb in Melbourne to the clerk Charles Fergus O'Connor and Annie Kilgallin.[1] Eileen may have had TB from birth which is why she was still in a pram in 1895, which she fell out of, and her spine was damaged. This meant that she spent most of her life in a wheelchair. Despite several operations, no cure could be found to alleviate her constant pain.[2] It was sometime later that radiologists discovered that her spine was at an abnormal angle that would prevent her from ever being able to walk again.[1]

O'Connor attended the Richmond parish school on occasions when her condition allowed for it and had few friends growing up. In 1902 the O'Connor's moved to Surry Hills, then Redfern in inner city Sydney. They then moved to the New South Wales coast where her father died in 1911 leaving her mother in a state of financial hardship. To that end her mother sought aid from a priest friend who introduced Eileen to the Coogee parish priest Edward McGrath from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.[2] McGrath noted O'Connor often lapsed into unconsciousness during intense bouts of pain and noted that he felt on some occasions she would die due to the sheer pain she experienced. O'Connor even claimed to have had a Marian visitation sometime in her teens in which the Mother of God encouraged her to accept her pain for the good of others.[2]

O'Connor told McGrath of her encounter with the Blessed Mother while McGrath shared with her his desire to found an order dedicated to the nursing of the poor. The two decided to together see that vision achieved.[2]

But despite her condition, O’Connor proved to be an indefatigable organizer and teacher whose love and faith-inspired her own and later generations of nurses. On 15 April 1913 in Coogee, the pair co-founded the Brown Nurses with the aim of that religious congregation being able to serve the sick and poor as well as the destitute in their homes and on the streets.[3][4][5] The two launched the order at their rented house in Coogee but this venture did not prosper when all the recruits save for her left the house. But it soon expanded. [2][6]

But great difficulties faced the pair going forward after some Sacred Heart Missionaries alleged that there existed an improper relationship between McGrath and herself. This led to McGrath being prevented from officiating as a priest.[2] McGrath appealed to Rome and she - with the aid of a nurse - accompanied him there and to London in 1915 to support his case since she too was involved and named in the allegations. The pair also met Pope Benedict XV who ruled in McGrath's favor and reinstated him. But McGrath was not permitted to return to Australia for around three decades.[2] McGrath was likewise ordered to cease involvement with the order while she herself was threatened with ex-communication if she proceeded with legal action for defamation.[7]

O'Connor died in 1921 in New South Wales from spinal tuberculosis and her maternal uncle presided over her funeral.[1] Her remains were interred in Randwick but were later exhumed and transferred in 1936 to her old bedroom that had been converted into a chapel; her remains were found in a state of perfect preservation after the sealed lead casket and the inner pine lid were removed.[2] Her remains were found in a blue gown with her hair still intact though the skin appearing off-color.[8]

The work of the order was continued and expanded by Eileen's successor, Theresa (Cissie) McLaughlin, and official recognition of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor as a religious congregation came in 1953.[9]

In 1974, the order sent a letter to Cardinal James Freeman asking for approval to instigate proceedings for the beatification process. Freeman made no move to launch the cause but Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy in 1990 allowed for initial work to be done that could contribute to the cause.[8]

On 21 March 2018, the Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Colin Fisher appointed the Roman priest Anthony Robbie as postulator for the cause.[10]

On 10 October 2019, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher published his edict to petition the cause of beatification. Calling upon any and all of the faithful of Sydney who may have useful information regarding the Servant of God, to bring such information to his attention. On 20 February 2020, the mass to officially open the cause for beatification was held at St Mary's Cathedral Sydney.

• Boland, T P (1991). Eileen O'Connor: For the poor and the poor only. Homebush NSW: St Paul's. ISBN 1875570004.
• Oswin McKinney (1992). A Remarkable Life: Eileen Rosaline O'Connor 19.2.1892 - 10.1.1921. Coogee NSW: Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor.
• McMahon, John F (1996). Eileen O'Connor and Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Waverley NSW: Waverley Press. ISBN 0731631528.
• Hosie, John (2004). Eileen: The Life of Eileen O'Connor, Foundress of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Strathfield NSW: St Paul's. ISBN 1876295805.
• O'Connell, Mary (2009). Our Lady of Coogee: Eileen O'Connor and the founding of Sydney's Brown Nurses. Darlinghurst NSW: Crossing Press. ISBN 9781876906054.
• Hedley, Jocelyn (2011). And Here Begin the Work of Heaven: The spirituality of Eileen O'Connor, co-founder of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Strathfield NSW: St Paul's. ISBN 9781921472862.
• Hedley, Jocelyn (2019). Hidden in the Shadow of Love: The story of Mother Theresa McLaughlin and Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Strathfield NSW: St Paul's. ISBN 9781925494372.
• Ditesa, Rob (1999) updated (2018). Eileen O'Connor - A Saintly Inspiration. Randwick NSW. News Diary ISBN 978-0-646-59765-2
• Lightbody, Dolores (2021). Eileen O'Connor - Little Mother from Down Under. Strathfield St Paul's. ISBN 978-1-925494-67-9

• Official website
• Hagiography Circle
• Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor