Mary Glowrey (1887–1957) was an Australian born and educated doctor who spent 37 years in India, where she set up healthcare facilities, services and systems. She is believed to be the first Catholic religious sister-in-vows to practise as a doctor.[1] The Catholic Church is investigating her Cause for Canonisation and declared her a Servant of God in 2013.[2]
Mary Glowrey was born in the Victorian town of Birregurra on 23 June 1887.[3] Her family moved to Garvoc, then north to Watchem, in Victoria’s Mallee region. Her father, Edward Glowrey, operated the general store at Birregurra, then hotels at Garvoc and Watchem.
Education
In 1900 Glowrey came fourth of 800 entrants in a Victorian State Education secondary scholarship exam.[3] From 1901 to 1904 she attended South Melbourne College (SMC), in Bank Street, South Melbourne. She boarded at the Good Shepherd Convent in Albert Park. She matriculated at the end of her first year at SMC and won an Exhibition (scholarship) to study at the University of Melbourne.[4] Since she was too young to go to university, she continued studying subjects at SMC for the next three years.
In 1905 Glowrey completed her first year of a Bachelor of Arts course at the University of Melbourne. She was a student at Ormond College. In 1906, she transferred her course and scholarship to study medicine at the university. She attended the first year of the St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne Clinical School in 1910. She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1910.[5]
Glowrey later returned to the University of Melbourne to undertake higher medical studies, graduating with a Doctor of Medicine in 1919 in obstetrics, gynaecology and ophthalmology.[6]
Melbourne medical career
In 1911, Glowrey became the first female doctor at Christchurch Hospital and one of the first two women appointed to a residency position in New Zealand.[5]
She returned to Melbourne in 1912. Her medical appointments in Melbourne included positions at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital,[7] the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital.[5]
In October 1916, the Catholic Women’s Social Guild was formed at a meeting at Cathedral Hall, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.[6] Glowrey was the Guild's inaugural president. In that role, she gave lectures and wrote articles about some of the economic and social problems faced by women.[8]
Glowrey boarded at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from 1915 to 1919 and took on many of the medical duties of the male doctors who signed up to serve in the First World War. She also had a private practice in Collins Street, Melbourne during these years.[9]
Life in India
In October 1915, Glowrey read a pamphlet about the life of Agnes McLaren, a pioneering Scottish missionary doctor, and the need for women doctors in India, and felt called to serve as a medical missionary doctor there.[10]
Glowrey discreetly discerned this religious vocation over subsequent years with her spiritual director, Father William Lockington SJ.
Glowrey left Melbourne on 21 January 1920. She never returned to Australia. She arrived in Guntur, India on 12 February. She joined the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph[6] and became known as Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart JMJ. In 1922, after the completion of her religious training, Glowrey began practising as a doctor-Sister.
The basic dispensary where Glowrey began her medical mission work in Guntur grew into St Joseph’s Hospital.[11] Glowrey provided direct medical care for hundreds of thousands of patients, most of them marginalised women. She trained local women to be compounders (dispensers), midwives and nurses. In 1943 Glowrey founded the Catholic Health Association of India (then called the Catholic Hospitals' Association).[12] Today, its 3500+ members auspice the care of more than 21 million annually.[13]
Glowrey died in Bangalore from cancer on 5 May 1957 at 69 years of age.[14]
On the occasion of the Catholic Health Association of India's Platinum Jubilee in 2018, Liliane Fonds announced funding for Mary Glowrey - Liliane Brekelmans Disability Awards.[15]
The Mary Glowrey Museum in Melbourne published her partial autobiography with commentary in 2021.[16]
References
^Mary Glowrey was granted special permission by Pope Benedict XV practise as a doctor-Sister in 1920. Members of Catholic religious orders were not permitted to practise as doctors until 1936. Cf. Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Constans Ac Sedula.
^ abMary Glowrey, "God’s Good For Nothing: Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart", The Horizon (1 June 1987): 8.
^Mary Glowrey, “God’s Good For Nothing: The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart – Dr. Mary Glowrey,” The Horizon (1 October 1987): 8.
^ abcMary Glowrey, “God’s Good For Nothing: The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart – Dr. Mary Glowrey,” The Horizon (1 January 1988): 4.
^ abcMary Glowrey, “God’s Good For Nothing: The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart – Dr. Mary Glowrey,” The Horizon (1 February 1988): 7.
^Florence Swamikannu, A Nun Revolutionizes: Biographical Sketch of Mary Glowrey M.D. (Somajiguda-Hyberdad, India: Provincialite Society of JMJ, 1972), 77. Cf. Conellan, “Pioneer Medical Missionaries,” 10.
^Gervase McKinna, “Doctor-Sister Mary Glowrey: An Impossible Mission?” Melbourne University Mosaic: People and Places (Melbourne: The History Department, The University of Melbourne, 1998): 101. Cf. Ursula Clinton, Australian Medical Nun in India: Mary Glowrey M.D. (Melbourne: Advocate Press, 1967), 11.
^Ibid. Cf. McKinna, “Doctor-Sister Mary Glowrey,” 100.
^Glowrey, “God’s Good For Nothing,” (1 January 1988): 4-5. Cf. Mary Ryan M.A., Dr. Agnes McLaren (1837-1913) (London: Catholic Truth Society, 1915).
^Mary Glowrey, “God’s Good For Nothing: The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart – Dr. Mary Glowrey,” The Horizon (1 March 1988): 8.
^“History,” Catholic Health Association of India: Committed to Bring Health to All (2016): http://chai-india.org/?page_id=45, accessed 28 June 2017. Cf. McKinna, “Doctor-Sister Mary Glowrey, 106.
^“Achievements,” Catholic Health Association of India: Committed to Bring Health to All (2016): http://chai-india.org/?page_id=6079, accessed 28 June 2017.
^"CHAI hosts the 2019 Mary Glowrey - Liliane Brekelmans Disability Award". CHAI. 12 December 2019.
^Franklin, Irene (2022). "Autobiography of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey 'God's Good for Nothing'" (PDF). Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society. 43: 201–2. Retrieved 3 Jan 2022.
External links
Mary Glowrey Museum
Glowrey, Mary at The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia
January 07, 2023
mary, glowrey, 1887, 1957, australian, born, educated, doctor, spent, years, india, where, healthcare, facilities, services, systems, believed, first, catholic, religious, sister, vows, practise, doctor, catholic, church, investigating, cause, canonisation, de. Mary Glowrey 1887 1957 was an Australian born and educated doctor who spent 37 years in India where she set up healthcare facilities services and systems She is believed to be the first Catholic religious sister in vows to practise as a doctor 1 The Catholic Church is investigating her Cause for Canonisation and declared her a Servant of God in 2013 2 Servant of GodMary GlowreyJ M J ReligiousBorn 1887 06 23 23 June 1887Birregurra Victoria AustraliaDied5 May 1957 1957 05 05 aged 69 Bangalore Bayalu Seeme India Contents 1 Early life 2 Education 3 Melbourne medical career 4 Life in India 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditMary Glowrey was born in the Victorian town of Birregurra on 23 June 1887 3 Her family moved to Garvoc then north to Watchem in Victoria s Mallee region Her father Edward Glowrey operated the general store at Birregurra then hotels at Garvoc and Watchem Education EditIn 1900 Glowrey came fourth of 800 entrants in a Victorian State Education secondary scholarship exam 3 From 1901 to 1904 she attended South Melbourne College SMC in Bank Street South Melbourne She boarded at the Good Shepherd Convent in Albert Park She matriculated at the end of her first year at SMC and won an Exhibition scholarship to study at the University of Melbourne 4 Since she was too young to go to university she continued studying subjects at SMC for the next three years In 1905 Glowrey completed her first year of a Bachelor of Arts course at the University of Melbourne She was a student at Ormond College In 1906 she transferred her course and scholarship to study medicine at the university She attended the first year of the St Vincent s Hospital Melbourne Clinical School in 1910 She graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 1910 5 Glowrey later returned to the University of Melbourne to undertake higher medical studies graduating with a Doctor of Medicine in 1919 in obstetrics gynaecology and ophthalmology 6 Melbourne medical career EditIn 1911 Glowrey became the first female doctor at Christchurch Hospital and one of the first two women appointed to a residency position in New Zealand 5 She returned to Melbourne in 1912 Her medical appointments in Melbourne included positions at Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital 7 the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and St Vincent s Hospital 5 In October 1916 the Catholic Women s Social Guild was formed at a meeting at Cathedral Hall Brunswick Street Fitzroy 6 Glowrey was the Guild s inaugural president In that role she gave lectures and wrote articles about some of the economic and social problems faced by women 8 Glowrey boarded at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital from 1915 to 1919 and took on many of the medical duties of the male doctors who signed up to serve in the First World War She also had a private practice in Collins Street Melbourne during these years 9 Life in India EditIn October 1915 Glowrey read a pamphlet about the life of Agnes McLaren a pioneering Scottish missionary doctor and the need for women doctors in India and felt called to serve as a medical missionary doctor there 10 Glowrey discreetly discerned this religious vocation over subsequent years with her spiritual director Father William Lockington SJ Glowrey left Melbourne on 21 January 1920 She never returned to Australia She arrived in Guntur India on 12 February She joined the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph 6 and became known as Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart JMJ In 1922 after the completion of her religious training Glowrey began practising as a doctor Sister The basic dispensary where Glowrey began her medical mission work in Guntur grew into St Joseph s Hospital 11 Glowrey provided direct medical care for hundreds of thousands of patients most of them marginalised women She trained local women to be compounders dispensers midwives and nurses In 1943 Glowrey founded the Catholic Health Association of India then called the Catholic Hospitals Association 12 Today its 3500 members auspice the care of more than 21 million annually 13 Glowrey died in Bangalore from cancer on 5 May 1957 at 69 years of age 14 On the occasion of the Catholic Health Association of India s Platinum Jubilee in 2018 Liliane Fonds announced funding for Mary Glowrey Liliane Brekelmans Disability Awards 15 The Mary Glowrey Museum in Melbourne published her partial autobiography with commentary in 2021 16 References Edit Mary Glowrey was granted special permission by Pope Benedict XV practise as a doctor Sister in 1920 Members of Catholic religious orders were not permitted to practise as doctors until 1936 Cf Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide Constans Ac Sedula Declaration of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey as Servant of God http www jmjgunturprovince org maryglowrey htm Society of Jesus Mary Joseph Guntur Province accessed 26 July 2017 a b Mary Glowrey God s Good For Nothing Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart The Horizon 1 June 1987 8 Mary Glowrey God s Good For Nothing The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Dr Mary Glowrey The Horizon 1 October 1987 8 a b c Mary Glowrey God s Good For Nothing The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Dr Mary Glowrey The Horizon 1 January 1988 4 a b c Mary Glowrey God s Good For Nothing The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Dr Mary Glowrey The Horizon 1 February 1988 7 Florence Swamikannu A Nun Revolutionizes Biographical Sketch of Mary Glowrey M D Somajiguda Hyberdad India Provincialite Society of JMJ 1972 77 Cf Conellan Pioneer Medical Missionaries 10 Gervase McKinna Doctor Sister Mary Glowrey An Impossible Mission Melbourne University Mosaic People and Places Melbourne The History Department The University of Melbourne 1998 101 Cf Ursula Clinton Australian Medical Nun in India Mary Glowrey M D Melbourne Advocate Press 1967 11 Ibid Cf McKinna Doctor Sister Mary Glowrey 100 Glowrey God s Good For Nothing 1 January 1988 4 5 Cf Mary Ryan M A Dr Agnes McLaren 1837 1913 London Catholic Truth Society 1915 Mary Glowrey God s Good For Nothing The Autobiography of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Dr Mary Glowrey The Horizon 1 March 1988 8 History Catholic Health Association of India Committed to Bring Health to All 2016 http chai india org page id 45 accessed 28 June 2017 Cf McKinna Doctor Sister Mary Glowrey 106 Achievements Catholic Health Association of India Committed to Bring Health to All 2016 http chai india org page id 6079 accessed 28 June 2017 McKinna Doctor Sister Mary Glowrey 109 CHAI hosts the 2019 Mary Glowrey Liliane Brekelmans Disability Award CHAI 12 December 2019 Franklin Irene 2022 Autobiography of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey God s Good for Nothing PDF Journal of the Australian Catholic Historical Society 43 201 2 Retrieved 3 Jan 2022 External links EditMary Glowrey Museum Glowrey Mary at The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth Century Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Glowrey amp oldid 1131246191, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
