On International Women’s Day this month, CRA honoured not only what women religious have built, but who they have been and continue to be – women of courage, faith and steadfast compassion.

“Their giving has not diminished them; it has multiplied hope,” said CRA National Director, Anne Walker.

“In classrooms and clinics, in remote communities and bustling cities, in quiet conversations and bold advocacy, women religious have embodied the truth that when women thrive, we all rise. Their story is not simply history. It is a living legacy – one that continues to unfold,” Anne said.

“The theme for International Women’s Day 2026, Give to Gain, invites us into a deeper understanding of generosity as something transformative. It reminds us that when women are supported and flourish, entire communities rise with them.

“To all women religious – we thank you for your spirit of courage and compassion. May the Holy Spirit continue to bless your work, and may Mary, Mother of the Church, guide you with her strength and faith.”

To celebrate the day, CRA explored the Give to Gain theme and offered a small snapshot of the enduring contribution of women religious in Australia and beyond.

This theme resonates profoundly with the story of women religious in Australia. For 188 years — since their first arrival on our shores — women religious have lived this truth quietly and faithfully. Their lives have been shaped by self-giving: in classrooms and hospitals, in remote towns and city streets, in parishes, prisons and refugee centres. In giving themselves to others, they have helped shape the social, educational and spiritual foundations of this nation.

The first congregation of women religious to arrive in Australia were the Sisters of Charity, who came from Ireland on 31 December 1838 aboard the Francis Spaight. Sent by Mother Mary Aikenhead, five courageous women began their ministry among convict women at the Parramatta Female Factory and in education. Their response to need — immediate, practical and compassionate — set a pattern that would echo across generations.

Since that time, almost 100 congregations of women religious have followed. Together, they have filled critical gaps in Australia’s social infrastructure, particularly in education, healthcare and social welfare. Yet beyond institutions and structures, their deeper gift has been presence — walking with people in hardship, celebrating joy, listening in times of uncertainty, and offering hope grounded in faith.

As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, we pause not only to acknowledge achievements but to reflect on the spirit that sustains them. What follows is a small snapshot — just a glimpse — of the enduring contribution of women religious in Australia and beyond.

Click here to continue reading and see the snapshots of the enduring contribution of women religious in Australia and beyond.