Norah Margaret Martin

Norah Margaret Martin (1888–1977), later known by her religious name Mother Mary Bernard, was an Australian religious sister and the superior general of the Little Company of Mary, an order of religious who care for the ill. She served as superior general for 12 years, from 1947 to 1959. She also served as provincial superior for the New Zealand and the Australian provinces. She was a skilled nurse and served as superior for several of the order's hospitals. She initiated the effort that eventually led to the beatification of Mary Potter, the founder of her order.

Early life Norah Margaret Martin was born on 18 June 1888 in the rural community of Box Creek near Booligal in New South Wales, Australia. Her parents, Patrick and Mary Martin, had immigrated to Australia from Ireland. Her father worked as a grazier, responsible for the care of livestock. The couple had six children, of whom Norah was the youngest. The sisters were known affectionately as the "Blue Sisters" because of their distinctive blue habit. Martin took on the religious name of "Mary Bernard" and professed her final vows on 6 August 1912. She passed their qualifying examination in 1913. Martin was appointed her successor. She was provincial superior for six years. From 1935 to 1941, she served as the superior of Lewisham Hospital. She served a second term as provincial supervisor for Australasia from 1941 to 1947. As superior general, Martin was responsible for managing the affairs of the entire order; she was the first Australian to be chosen for this role. During World War II, she closed the novitiate house in Rome, but reopened it after the war ended. Despite the challenges of managing the order during wartime, she oversaw the addition of 15 new hospitals worldwide. While superior general, she also initiated a movement for the beatification of Mary Potter, the founder of her order.

After serving as superior general for 12 years, Martin stepped down and returned to Australia. She oversaw the management of the Mount St Margaret Hospital as superior from 1959 to 1965. She was then appointed to serve as provincial superior for New Zealand.

On 25 August 1977, Martin died at the Mount St Margaret Hospital in Ryde where she had once served as superior. She is buried in the Rookwood cemetery.