where it all began
 

Old Convent

Old convent & botanical garden Old convent & botanical garden

In 1872 the dilapidated wooden presbytery next to the church was replaced by a ‘handsome’ stone building that served the Penola priests until Naracoorte became the parish centre in 1883.

By August 1884 Sister Austin O’Meara reported to Mary, who was now based in Sydney due to problems within the Adelaide archdiocese:

 


‘The place is sadly changed…The Sisters are in the presbytery...The priests are gone...Oh, Mother, how much longer must it last?’

The Sisters left Penola in 1885, and again in 1889, but to the great joy of the parishioners they returned in 1936. The former presbytery was blessed and officially re-opened as the convent and the Sisters taught in the Schoolhouse until the new St Joseph’s school (now the Mary MacKillop Memorial School) was opened after Easter.

There have been Sisters of St Joseph living and teaching in Penola since that time. How fortunate we are.