Figure 6 - Photograph of Sister John Constable
Mary Alice Doreen was born on the 10th of August 1990 in Kempsey - a small town in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. She was the eldest of four children born to Sarah (née O’Connell) and Arthur Constable. When Mary was four years old, her family moved to her father’s birthplace, Moruya. It was here where Mary was first educated by the Good Samaritan Sisters.
Just before turning twenty, Mary joined the Good Samaritan Novitiate in Pennant Hills, and was given the religious name of Sister Mary John. After her first profession of vows in January 1942, Mary moved to Glebe and was given a job teaching infant classes at St Scholastica's college. In 1948, Mary and six other Good Samaritan nuns were chosen to assist a devastated Nagasaki.
While in Nagasaki, Mary worked together with Sr Canisius Whitton to set up a dispensary for the sick and desperately poor. This was a challenge in itself, not to mention learning the language and gaining new medical skills. Mary was also instrumental in establishing ‘Our Lady of the Cherry Blossom’ kindergarten in Sasebo in 1952; ministering here for twelve years herself.
Just before turning twenty, Mary joined the Good Samaritan Novitiate in Pennant Hills, and was given the religious name of Sister Mary John. After her first profession of vows in January 1942, Mary moved to Glebe and was given a job teaching infant classes at St Scholastica's college. In 1948, Mary and six other Good Samaritan nuns were chosen to assist a devastated Nagasaki.
While in Nagasaki, Mary worked together with Sr Canisius Whitton to set up a dispensary for the sick and desperately poor. This was a challenge in itself, not to mention learning the language and gaining new medical skills. Mary was also instrumental in establishing ‘Our Lady of the Cherry Blossom’ kindergarten in Sasebo in 1952; ministering here for twelve years herself.