Eileen Rosaline O'Connor

Eileen Rosaline O'Connor (19 February 1892 – 10 January 1921) was an Australian Roman Catholic and the co-founder of the Society of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor, a religious congregation, also known as "the brown nurses", to provide free nursing services to the poor. Eileen suffered from a severe curvature of the spine and was – at best – tall, although for much of her life she could not stand or walk. It is now known that she suffered from spinal tuberculosis (TB) and transverse myelitis (an inflammation of the spinal cord). It was through her own hardship that the idea of founding a nursing congregation for the poor came to mind. Both she and her fellow co-founder Fr Ted McGrath faced initial difficulties in recruiting others to the congregation but in the end managed to grow a congregation of religious sisters who were dedicated to their vision of care for the poor. The two launched the community at their rented house in Coogee but this venture did not prosper when all the recruits save for her left the house. But it soon expanded.

But great difficulties faced the pair going forward after some Sacred Heart Missionaries alleged that there existed an improper relationship between McGrath and herself. This led to McGrath being prevented from officiating as a priest.

O'Connor died in 1921 in New South Wales from spinal tuberculosis and her maternal uncle presided over her funeral.

The work of the congregation was continued and expanded by O'Connor's successor, Theresa (Cissie) McLaughlin, and official recognition of Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor as a religious congregation came in 1953.

Beatification process In 1974, the congregation sent a letter to Cardinal James Freeman asking for approval to instigate proceedings for the beatification process of O'Connor. Freeman made no move to launch the cause but Cardinal Edward Bede Clancy in 1990 allowed for initial work to be done that could contribute to the cause. On 10 October 2019, Archbishop Fisher published his edict to petition the cause of beatification. Calling upon any and all of the faithful of Sydney who may have useful information regarding the Servant of God, to bring such information to his attention. On 20 February 2020, the Mass to officially open the cause for beatification was held at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Documentation was delivered to Rome in late 2024.