In Melbourne she joined the Catholic Women’s Social Guild (CWSG) a feminist organisation encouraging Catholic lay women to become publicly active and work towards equal rights for women. She was a member of the CWSG central organizing committee for three years and secretary for one year, and was influential in its modernisation.
Sent to Melbourne as part of the first Victorian foundation she continued teaching, however visits to the homes of the poor convinced her of the need for a hospital similar to the one the sisters had founded in Sydney. Appointed Superior to the foundation in Melbourne in 1892 she was able to bring the hospital to fruition.
Her book outlining her child-rearing theories, Child Nature and Child Nurture, was published in 1927. She was also active in many women’s organisations: a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and president in 1926; a member of the National Council of Women from the early 1920s, a convenor of its committee on equal moral standards in 1927-1931 and member of its committee for peace and arbitration from 1938-1950.
Irish educator, social worker, and religious foundress
Protagonist in the 1957 Fethard-on-Sea religious boycott in Ireland
French religious writer, remembered for the persecutions she experienced because of her views.
Founder of the Catholic Worker, activist and social reformer
American philanthropist, and leader in religious and educational work.
French politician, religious reformer, literary patron, and author.
In 1986 she was elected General of the Salvation Army and was the second woman ever elected to this world-wide position.