By Joseph Younes
The Dominican Sisters of Western Australia marked a significant milestone on Wednesday, 7 August 2024, celebrating 125 years of their presence in Western Australia.
The event was honoured with a Thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Doubleview Parish, celebrated by Geraldton Bishop Michael Morrissey, with retired Geraldton Bishop Emeritus Justin Bianchini and Dominican priest Fr Tom Cassidy OP concelebrating.
Around 100 people gathered for the occasion, including current principals of Dominican primary and secondary schools, Dominican Associates, supporters of the Sisters, members of the Dominican laity, former students, and Dominican Sisters. The presence of so many underscored the profound and lasting impact that the Dominican Sisters have had on the community in Western Australia.
Sr Margaret Scharf OP, who played a key role in organising the event, described the Dominican Sisters as “small, but mighty,” reflecting on their significant contributions over the years. She shared, “Lots of students have been part of Dominican education over the decades,” highlighting the extensive reach of their mission.
The Dominican Sisters of Western Australia were founded in June 1899 in the Diocese of Geraldton by Mother Gabriel Gill and five companions, who travelled from Dunedin, New Zealand, at the invitation of Bishop William Kelly to establish a foundation in Western Australia’s Goldfields.
They first went to St Peter’s Parish in Greenough. Today, that church has a stained-glass window of St Dominic which serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of Mother Gabriel Gill and the first Sisters.
Since then, 135 Sisters have served with the Dominican Sisters of Western Australia. At their peak, they administered 26 schools across the Diocese of Geraldton and the Archdiocese of Perth. The Sisters continue to play a crucial role in education, with 11 schools in the Perth metropolitan area still upholding the Dominican tradition. During the Mass, plaques were presented to the current principals of these schools as a token of gratitude. Sr Margaret expressed the Sisters’ deep appreciation, saying, “We are grateful for the support.”
The event was described by Sr Margaret as a “small but significant event,” reflecting the enduring spirit of St Dominic, whose influence “lives on alive and well in the hearts of our former students, colleagues, and others who have been educated and influenced by the Dominican Sisters.” Following the Mass, a light lunch was served, where attendees shared memories and stories. Many recalled their experiences with Dominican education, with Sr Margaret noting that they were “delighted by the experience of receiving a Dominican education.”
The Dominican Sisters’ legacy is not only preserved in the schools they established but also in the lives they have nourished and the values they instilled. “St Dominic’s charism was about veritas – the truth and living the truth of Gospel values,” Sr Margaret emphasised, capturing the essence of the Dominican mission.
This testament, along with the continued efforts of the Dominican Sisters of Western Australia, ensures that “the spirit of St Dominic lives on,” as Sr Margaret said, for generations to come.
