Sr Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, shares a reflection on the Day of Remembering, Thanksgiving and Farewell at St Joseph’s Convent, Perthville on Sunday, 23 March 2025.

There was an atmosphere of excitement and activity in the Perthville convent and grounds on 23 March as approximately 500 people came to share with the Sisters of Saint Joseph a day of Remembering, Thanksgiving and Farewell.

The occasion marked the closure of this sacred site after 153 years of Josephite life and ministry. Ex-students, Josephite Companions, parishioners, family, staff, volunteers, priests, religious and friends of the Sisters came to honour the Perthville convent’s significance and bid it farewell.

The formal ritual of closure included remembering co-founders Fr Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop who both visited the early Sisters here. The history of the Josephite Sisters, who from Perthville served throughout the Bathurst Diocese and beyond, was remembered. Then came the time of thanksgiving for various people, places and events associated with St Joseph’s Convent, Perthville. In the words of St Mary MacKillop “We have all very much for which to thank God.” (1873)

There was much chatter, joyous reunions, sincere conversations, and reminiscences as people shared lunch and wandered through the buildings and grounds for the last time.

A highlight was Bishop Michael McKenna celebrating Mass for all who gathered bringing their treasured memories and thankful hearts for all Perthville meant to them. Following the Bishop’s final blessing, the lantern in the sacred space was extinguished and the bell gifted to the Sisters in 1875 by Julian Tenison Woods was tolled.

It was a memorable and significant day marking the formal closure of St Joseph’s Convent, Perthville and honouring the presence of the Sisters and their ministry on this sacred site and across the Diocese of Bathurst for 153 years.