Martha Mary O'Neill

Martha Mary O'Neill (1878–1972), known by her religious name as Mother Patricia, was an Australian nun who became superior general for the Australian Union of the Sisters of Mercy. She was born in Cork, Ireland, and emigrated with her family to Victoria, Australia, in 1886. She joined the Sisters of Mercy as a young woman, professing her vows in 1903. She became superior general of the newly formed Australian Union of the Sisters of Mercy in 1954, and served in this role for twelve years, retiring in 1966.

Early years Martha Mary O'Neill was born on 18 November 1878, in Cork, Ireland. Her parents were William O'Neill, who was an accountant, and Hannah O'Neill (née O'Regan). She was their first child. In 1886, the family emigrated to Australia and settled in Kyneton, Victoria. O'Neill was enrolled at the Sisters of Mercy convent school in Kyneton. She began teaching in 1898 at the St. Bridget's school in Maldon, Victoria.

Religious life On 26 April 1899, she began her novitiate at the Institute of our Lady of Mercy in Geelong, Victoria. She professed her final vows on 17 February 1903. She choose Patricia as her religious name, and became known as Sister Patricia.

One of the priorities for the Sisters of Mercy was education. After her profession of vows, Patricia was transferred to Melbourne, where she taught at primary schools in the area. She spent three years teaching before returning to Geelong. She began training other sisters to become teachers, and taught classes at the Sacred Heart College. She furthered her own education by attending classes at the University of Melbourne, completing coursework for a diploma of education and a bachelor of arts degree. She chose not to have the degrees conferred. By 1935, Sister Patricia had become principal at the college.

Having served as superior of the Ascot Vale convent, in 1939 Patricia became the mother-general for the Sisters of Mercy in Victoria and Tasmania, overseeing forty independent houses with over 400 members. In 1954, eight of these congregations agreed to join to form the Congregation of the Australian Union of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

After the Union was established, Patricia was appointed as its first superior-general. She moved to Canberra, where she lived in the St. Anne's convent. She traveled widely to visit the eight congregations in her charge. At the request of Archbishop Romolo Carboni, Mother Patricia also commissioned a group of nuns to serve in the territory of Papua and New Guinea in 1955.

Death In 1966, Patricia retired and returned to the convent in Geelong. She died on 25 November 1972.