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Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation prospers

In 1999 there were only 14 emergency beds for homeless women in Brisbane while there were 500 for homeless men.

It was in that year the Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation was established to ensure the Sisters and their mission partners could continue to reach out in compassion and justice – a mission the Sisters have undertaken for more than 150 years.

Significant developments within the Brisbane-administered Foundation in the past 12 months were acknowledged at the recent annual general meeting.

  • A full time executive director Mr Greg Norris has been employed.

  • The Foundation has secured three year government funding for the transitional housing project, now called Good Sam Housing. This work of the Foundation has operated since 2002, providing more than 27,000 bed-nights. It provides transitional accommodation and emergency shelter for women and children who otherwise would be homeless, at risk of being homeless or who have escaped violent, abusive situations.

  • The Foundation distributed $102,000 to congregational ministries. These included The Inn, Melbourne; the Kinder School, Bacolod City, the Philippines, for children of very poor families, established in 2004; Kiribati ministries and the Animation programme, Campbelltown. (visit projects for more detail)

  • A new member has joined the Board, Mrs Bernie Hollett, a former student and former parent of Lourdes Hill College, Brisbane.

  • The Foundation offices have been established at Wavell Heights, Brisbane, in the same building as the congregational offices.

  • Mr Pat Cunningham who has completed nine years on the Board - six as Chair – was praised and thanked for his “extraordinary commitment”, especially in the past year of significant change. Mr Pat Mullins is the new Chair of the Board.

The Foundation also has published a new brochure which highlights its efforts to help disadvantaged women and children. It says that the women who pass through its housing projects are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives, create new friendships, find jobs and become involved in wider community groups.

It shares two stories. One is Sue’s …

‘Sue’ came to the Foundation for help from an extremely violent situation which saw her children physically and sexually abused. Sue and her children received a roof over their heads and Sue was also given counselling and lessons in parenting skills. She now works in a nursing home where she is well respected and loved by staff and elderly patients. With her new found parenting skills, she is enjoying a renewed relationship with her children, safe from danger.

The ministries of today’s Good Samaritan Sisters reflect the gospel vision of their founder, Archbishop John Bede Polding OSB. In outlining the character of the new congregation in 1857, he wrote, “The name sufficiently indicates the scope…”

As Good Samaritans of the 21st century, the Sisters cherish this founding charism as their way of understanding the mission of Jesus. Inspired by this vision they identify themselves as women of hope and aspire to be true to a feminine expression of the love of Christ.

With the help of their supporters, they run vital community projects to help combat some of the social problems of the modern, changing world. The Foundation funds projects in Australia and overseas - from malaria-prevention programs in East Timor to increasing the number of beds available for homeless women in Brisbane and Melbourne.

The Foundation welcomes the support of all people who appreciate the Good Samaritan tradition of compassionate service. Supporters share in the projects in a significant way, assisting through donations of money, skills and time.

further information and/or to make a donation, please contact:

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Foundation
PO Box 260, Wavell Heights, QLD 4012

phone: 07 3350 4032 fax: 07 3350 4137
email: admin@goodsamsfoundation.org.au
website: www.goodsamsfoundation.org.au