Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy, Angas Street, 1961
St Aloysius College Archives
Sr Josie Weatherald
A teacher in Mercy schools before moving to care for young children at Goodwood Orphanage and in a Cottage Home.
Many at St Aloysius College will remember and value the contributions made by Sr Josephine Weatherald who, from 2012 until she retired, worked as a volunteer to support students and staff. Her time at SAC was just one chapter in a remarkable life of service as a Sister of Mercy.
Born in Wirrabara, South Australia, Josie began her education with the Sisters of Mercy at Star of the Sea, Henley Beach, later attending Albert Park, a school newly opened Mercy school. At 13, she left school to care for her frail mother and elderly grandfather, an experience that deepened her lifelong commitment to education.
In her first year at home, she began to consider a future in the Mercy Order. However, wanting to gain life experience before entering religious life, she completed a secretarial course and worked in an office before joining the Sisters of Mercy at Angas Street in 1961. Major changes were introduced to religious life in the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council. Traditional habits were set aside and teaching or nursing were no longer the only ministries. Greater involvement in Church affairs also became possible.
Following her novitiate, she studied Home Catering, Dressmaking and Tailoring, even helping to sew 160 new white habits.
Early 1968 saw Sr Josie moved to the Boarding School at Mercedes College where she continued teaching Dressmaking before studying Scripture and Spirituality in Brisbane. She returned to the much-loved Mercedes community but was soon asked to do Child Care at Goodwood Orphanage.
In 1975, along with Sr Lucy, she began caring for seventeen children aged three to eleven years at Goodwood Orphanage before moving to a Cottage Home at Westbourne Park in 1976, where they provided love, creativity and stability through both joyful and challenging times. There were weekend excursions, fishing, visits and even having BBQ breakfasts at Brown Hill Creek at 6.30am before going to school. It was eight years of constant challenge, heartache, joy and lots of celebrations. The children however needed mother and father figures in their lives and Catholic Welfare introduced married couples into the system and the Sisters committed to new ministries.
From 1984 to 2010, she worked part-time with the Christian Life Movement in the Kingswood Parish, served as Parish Associate at Para Hills Parish, while completing studies in Church Ministry and Theology. After retiring from parish ministry, she volunteered her secretarial skills in the Church Office for the canonization of Mother Mary MacKillop before volunteering to work with students at St Aloysius College.
Retiring from all active duties in 2020, Sr Josie can certainly attest to the extraordinary life she has enjoyed as a Sister of Mercy. Countless people have benefited and been blessed by her life’s work and generosity of spirit.
By Sister Josephine Weatherald
Edited by Carolyne Williams, Year 12 Coordinator 2021