A horse and buggy and stained-glass windows

Sydney
11 November 2001

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A horse and buggy and stained-glass windows

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The horse and buggy moved slowly along Glebe Point Rd with its black-habited Sisters clutching their battered suitcases, their precious stained-glass windows standing tall behind them and, in a rare idle moment, the Sisters chatted about their plans for the future.

It was a Sydney scene from 100 years ago – but with a difference.

This time – a century later – the ‘Sisters’ were accompanied by a colourful parade, complete with full marching band and escorted by police on horseback and motorbike. The Sisters of the Good Samaritan and St Scholastica’s College were reenacting the Sisters’ move from their original home – the Old Debtors’ Prison in Pitt St that had been a refuge to hundreds of prostitutes and their children – to Toxteth House in Glebe, where the Sisters remain to this day.

The parade was the highlight of the ‘Good Sams’ and St Scholastica’s centenary celebrations.

The Sisters have come a long way since those early days when, in 1849, a handful of plucky women set up a sanctuary at the old Pitt St prison that was also their founding house. Eight years later, in 1857, Sydney’s first archbishop, Archbishop Polding, officially founded the congregation that became known as the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, the ‘Good Sams’.

Education has always been a vital part of the Order’s mission and it shows – St Scholastica’s College is only one of 10 Australian colleges governed by the Good Sams.

More than 300 people gathered in the beautiful gardens of St Scholastica’s convent and college for the Order’s recent centenary celebration that lasted a whole weekend.

They included past students, teachers, Good Samaritan Sisters, board members and friends. On the Saturday, Sr Sonia Wagner, superior of the Order, and Ms Loretto Richardson, principal of St Scholastica’s College, welcomed the guests to the historic occasion.

Then the real celebration began, with music and songs from the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus, along with a community choir, who entertained the audience with a vast repertoire of songs. These were interspersed with great cries of recognition and delight that could be heard all evening as former students and staff met again after many years.

Next day, a bright sunny Sunday morning, saw hundreds of St Scholastica’s College girls assemble in Glebe Point Rd, dressed in a variety of costumes, including lace-trimmed, turn-of-the century school uniforms in sensible tropical beige that looked as if they washed well, if nothing else, but which effectively recalled the college’s 100-year history.

The parade, including the intrepid ‘Sisters’ riding in their horse and buggy, drew many onlookers who cheered its slow progress down the road until it arrived at the convent to be met by hundreds of students and their families and Good Samaritan Sisters.

The students, along with the brave father of one of the girls – playing the part of Cardinal Moran – then re-enacted the 1901 arrival of the Sisters at their new home.

Later, one of the star guests, Professor Marie Bashir, the State Governor, helped unveil a specially commissioned bronze sculpture (pictured) of St Scholastica – the work of sculptor Pauline Clayton. Sr Sonia Wagner then blessed St Scholastica’s statue as the students performed a liturgical dance.

Prof Bashir and her husband, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, then joined the company for lunch and more entertainment, which included multicultural dances by students and music provided by the college band and choir.

The latter used the celebration as an opportunity to launch their latest CD. Guests then toured the college, its archival displays and a show of creative work by the Good Sams.

A video of the weekend is available from St Scholastica’s College. Cost: $35. Call Sandra Payn on 9660 2622.