Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict, colloquially known as the Good Sams, are a Roman Catholic religious congregation and nonprofit organization. Founded on 2 February 1857 in Sydney by Archbishop John Bede Polding OSB and co-founded by Mother Scholastica Gibbons, a Sister of Charity, they became the first women's religious order established in Australia[1][5]. The congregation takes its name from the Parable of the Good Samaritan and follows the Rule of Saint Benedict while engaging in missionary and charitable work[3][4].

History

Archbishop Polding, Australia's first Catholic bishop, established the congregation to address the needs of vulnerable women and children in colonial Sydney. Initially named the Good Shepherd Sisters, they operated from the House of the Good Shepherd, a refuge for women founded in 1848[5]. By 1866, they adopted their current name to avoid confusion with an older order[5]. Early ministries included orphanages, schools, and care for the poor, with expansions into regional New South Wales, South Australia, and later internationally[1][5].

Mission and Activities

The Sisters combine Benedictine spirituality with a focus on social justice, education, and pastoral care. Their work spans:

• Education: Operating schools and literacy programs[1][5].
• Social services: Managing orphanages, shelters, and healthcare initiatives[1].
• Global outreach: Ministries in Japan, the Philippines, and Kiribati, emphasizing support for Indigenous communities and marginalized groups[1][4].

Governance and Legacy

As a pontifical institute, the congregation operates under the Holy See’s jurisdiction while maintaining ties to the Australian Catholic Church. With approximately 235 members worldwide as of recent estimates, they continue their founding mission of "being neighbour" through communal living and collaborative ministries[3][4].

[1] https://www.msb.nsw.edu.au/community/sisters-good-samaritan/ [2] https://www.goodsams.org.au [3] https://www.goodsams.org.au/who-we-are/about-us/ [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisters_of_the_Good_Samaritan [5] https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/entity/sisters-of-the-good-samaritan/