Brigid House Leader: Mr Pat Noonan
Brigid House is named after our patron St. Brigid of Kildare. She lived roughly 1500 years ago in Ireland and is one of Ireland’s patron saints. She is also the patroness of the Brigidine Sisters who would go on to co-found Galen.
Champagnat House Leader: Mrs Debra Doyle
Champagnat House is named after our patron Marcellin Champagnat. Marcellin is best known for his education efforts towards young, poor boys in rural France.
Chisholm House Leader: Mrs Julie Nolan
Chisholm House is named after our patron Caroline Chisholm. Caroline Chisholm was born on the 30th of May 1808 in the United Kingdom. Her motto, “to serve all justly and impartially,” best emphasises her want for everyone to be treated equally.
Delany House Leader: Mr Tom Anson
Delany House was named after our patron Bishop Daniel Delany, who was born in 1747 in Ireland. His family were firm Catholics and they passed on to Daniel the truths of the faith, the richness of his land’s traditions, and a deep thirst for knowledge. Daniel studied to become a priest, in a time when priests were outlawed. Once ordained he set about providing education to people from all walks of life, “rich and poor alike”. To provide this opportunity for education to more people Daniel sought out the assistance of young men and women who were willing to create and run schools, as a result of this he founded the Brigidine Sisters in 1807 and the Patrician Brothers in 1808. The Brigidine Sisters would later go on to become co-founders of Galen.
Glowrey House Leader: Mr Robert Spencer
Our Patron for Glowrey House is Dr Sr Mary Glowrey. Mary was born on the 23rd June 1887 in regional Victoria. She graduated from Melbourne University in 1910 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. The improvement of female health worldwide was her lifetime passion. She spent 37 years involved in medical work in Guntur, India, providing care to thousands of patients, most of them poor women. She also trained local women to be compounders, midwives and nurses. Mary was the founder of the Catholic Health Association of India which continues to care for millions of people in India today. What an amazing achievement!
MacKillop House Leader: Mrs Jennie Annett
MacKillop House is named after our patron Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Born in January 1842, Mary was an educator, a pioneer and a leader. She had compassion for others regardless of their situation or circumstance. She worked hardest for those who were poor and marginalized and helped these people realise their full potential through education and learning life skills. Ten years ago, on the 17th Oct, Mary was canonized and recognized as a Saint for her work with others. Since then people from many cultures, from different faiths and traditions and all walks of life have been inspired by her examples of faith, service and love for all.
Patrick House Leader: Teneille Smith
Patrick House is named after St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and whose name was taken in the naming of our local church. St Patrick was born in the fourth century AD and played an important role in converting the native Irish to Christianity, travelling around the country performing baptisms and confirmations. His motto, “may the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God protect us. Be always ours this day and for evermore,,” best emphasises his faith driven journey.
Vincent House Leader: Mrs Amanda White
Vincent House is named after our patron St. Vincent de Paul. Born on April 24, 1581, St. Vincent de Paul was educated by the Franciscans at Dax, France and was ordained in 1600. As a young man he ministered to the wealthy and powerful. However, an appointment as a chaplain to a poor parish, inspired him to a vocation of working with those most disadvantaged and powerless.
St. Vincent de Paul is best known for his charity and compassion for the poor. His motto, “charity is the cement which binds communities to God and persons to one another,” best emphasises this. The St Vincent de Paul Society was named after St Vincent and follows his teachings and compassion for people in need. Galen has a long association of working with this charity through the Winter Appeal, Op shop and the Vinnies Food Van in Melbourne.