Introduction

 We, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, are a faith community

passionate about our share in God’s Mission,

engaged with the challenges of our reality

and with the call to mission in our times.

Whom Are We For?

The clarity of Mary MacKillop's vision impels us to:

• Identify and walk with those who are today's poor
• Harness all our energies for mission
• Have a heart for mission to our last breath

We are affectionately known as the Josephites or the 'Brown Joeys' (as earlier we wore brown habits). We were founded in Penola, South Australia in 1866 by an Australian woman Mary MacKillop, and an English priest Reverend Julian E Tenison Woods.

From the beginning we havelived among ordinary people in houses of two or three throughout the various colonies, providing education and support for the children and families living in rural areas as well as the cities.

We have central governance and a number of Provinces and Regions.

The Centre of the Congregation is at Mary MacKillop Place, Mount Street North Sydney where Mary MacKillop's tomb is enshrined in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel.

We have about a thousand Sisters living and in ministry throughout Australia (South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia) and New Zealand, as well as Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland and Brazil.

Sisters wear the Josephite Emblem.

We welcome women to join us in the Josephite vowed religious lifestyle.

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