Eileen Rosaline O'Connor (19 February 1892 – 10 January 1921) was an AustralianRoman Catholic and the co-founder of the Society of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor (1913) – also known as the Brown Nurses – to provide free nursing services to the poor.[1][2] Eileen suffered from a severe curvature of the spine and was - at best - 115cm (3'9") tall, although for much of her life she could not stand or walk. It is now known that Eileen suffered from spinal tuberculosis (TB) and transverse myelitis (an inflammation of the spinal cord). It was through her own hardship that the idea of founding a nursing order for the poor came to mind. Both she and her fellow co-founder Fr. Edward (Ted) McGrath faced initial difficulties in recruiting others to their order but in the end managed to grow an order of nuns who were dedicated to their vision of care for the poor.[2][1] But allegations of misconduct between McGrath and O'Connor - later quashed - prevented McGrath's return to Australia which left O'Connor in the position of leading the group of nurses.
10 January 1921(1921-01-10) (aged 28) Coogee, Australia
O'Connor had been lauded as a saint in the decades after her death and there were calls for her beatification process to be introduced.[1] Initial steps were taken in 1974 and additional steps in 2018 in order to launch the official investigation into her reputation for holiness.
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]
Beatification processEdit
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 10 October 2019, Archbishop of SydneyAnthony 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.
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdef"Eileen Rosaline O'Connor". Saints SQPN. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
^ abcdefghij"O'Connor, Eily Rosaline (Eileen) (1892–1921)". O'Connor, Eily Rosaline. Vol. 11. Australian Dictionary of Biography. 1988. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
^Oswin McKinney (1992). A Remarkable Life: Eileen Rosaline O'Connor.
^Hosie, John (2004). Eileen: The Life of Eileen O'Connor, Foundress of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Strathfield NSW: St Paul's. pp. 65–8. ISBN1876295805.
^Boland, T P (1991). Eileen O'Connor: For the poor and the poor only. Homebush NSW: St Paul's. pp. 58–63. ISBN1875570004.
^"A Remarkable Woman: Miss Eileen O'Connor". The W.A. Record. Perth. 5 September 1914. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
^"Founders". Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
^ ab"Eileen O'Connor 1892-1921". 7 January 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
^"Nurses of the Sick Poor: Devoted group now a religious congregation". Catholic Weekly. Sydney. 26 February 1953. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
^"Official process for Australia's next saint begins". Catholic Outlook. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
BooksEdit
Boland, T P (1991). Eileen O'Connor: For the poor and the poor only. Homebush NSW: St Paul's. ISBN1875570004.
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. ISBN0731631528.
Hosie, John (2004). Eileen: The Life of Eileen O'Connor, Foundress of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor. Strathfield NSW: St Paul's. ISBN1876295805.
O'Connell, Mary (2009). Our Lady of Coogee: Eileen O'Connor and the founding of Sydney's Brown Nurses. Darlinghurst NSW: Crossing Press. ISBN9781876906054.
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. ISBN9781921472862.
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. ISBN9781925494372.
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
eileen, rosaline, connor, february, 1892, january, 1921, australian, roman, catholic, founder, society, lady, nurses, poor, 1913, also, known, brown, nurses, provide, free, nursing, services, poor, eileen, suffered, from, severe, curvature, spine, best, 115cm,. Eileen Rosaline O Connor 19 February 1892 10 January 1921 was an Australian Roman Catholic and the co founder of the Society of Our Lady s Nurses for the Poor 1913 also known as the Brown Nurses to provide free nursing services to the poor 1 2 Eileen suffered from a severe curvature of the spine and was at best 115cm 3 9 tall although for much of her life she could not stand or walk It is now known that Eileen suffered from spinal tuberculosis TB and transverse myelitis an inflammation of the spinal cord It was through her own hardship that the idea of founding a nursing order for the poor came to mind Both she and her fellow co founder Fr Edward Ted McGrath faced initial difficulties in recruiting others to their order but in the end managed to grow an order of nuns who were dedicated to their vision of care for the poor 2 1 But allegations of misconduct between McGrath and O Connor later quashed prevented McGrath s return to Australia which left O Connor in the position of leading the group of nurses Servant of GodEileen Rosaline O ConnorBorn 1892 02 19 19 February 1892Richmond Melbourne AustraliaDied10 January 1921 1921 01 10 aged 28 Coogee AustraliaO Connor had been lauded as a saint in the decades after her death and there were calls for her beatification process to be introduced 1 Initial steps were taken in 1974 and additional steps in 2018 in order to launch the official investigation into her reputation for holiness Contents 1 Life 2 Beatification process 3 References 4 Books 5 External linksLife EditEileen 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 Beatification process EditIn 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 References Edit a b c d e f Eileen Rosaline O Connor Saints SQPN 16 April 2015 Retrieved 23 March 2018 a b c d e f g h i j O Connor Eily Rosaline Eileen 1892 1921 O Connor Eily Rosaline Vol 11 Australian Dictionary of Biography 1988 Retrieved 23 March 2018 Oswin McKinney 1992 A Remarkable Life Eileen Rosaline O Connor Hosie John 2004 Eileen The Life of Eileen O Connor Foundress of Our Lady s Nurses for the Poor Strathfield NSW St Paul s pp 65 8 ISBN 1876295805 Boland T P 1991 Eileen O Connor For the poor and the poor only Homebush NSW St Paul s pp 58 63 ISBN 1875570004 A Remarkable Woman Miss Eileen O Connor The W A Record Perth 5 September 1914 Retrieved 21 October 2021 Founders Our Lady s Nurses for the Poor Retrieved 23 March 2018 a b Eileen O Connor 1892 1921 7 January 2017 Retrieved 23 March 2018 Nurses of the Sick Poor Devoted group now a religious congregation Catholic Weekly Sydney 26 February 1953 Retrieved 21 October 2021 Official process for Australia s next saint begins Catholic Outlook 22 March 2018 Retrieved 23 March 2018 Books EditBoland 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 9External links EditOfficial website Hagiography Circle Our Lady s Nurses for the Poor nbsp Saints portal nbsp Biography portal nbsp Catholicism portal nbsp Australia portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eileen Rosaline O 27Connor amp oldid 1168196398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
