Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey

Pioneering medical missionary in India Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey became the first General President of the Catholic Women’s Social Guild (now the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga) after it was formed at Cathedral Hall in Fitzroy in 1916.

Mary Glowrey was born in 1887 in the Victorian town of Birregurra. Her family moved to the town of Garvoc when she was six months old, then north to the Mallee township of Watchem five years later. Mary moved to Melbourne to attend South Melbourne College on a scholarship aged 13, and she boarded with the Good Shepherd Sisters in Albert Park. She studied medicine at the University of Melbourne, graduating as a doctor in 1910. Her residential year was undertaken at Christchurch Hospital in New Zealand.

Mary Glowrey returned to live in Melbourne in 1912. Her hospital roles in Melbourne included appointments at St Vincent’s Hospital and the Eye and Ear Hospital. She also had medical rooms in Collins Street. She served as the inaugural General President of the Guild for two years.

In 1920, more than four years after an experience of a vocational calling to medical missionary work in India, Mary Glowrey left her homeland and beloved family. She travelled to Guntur, located in present day Andhra Pradesh. There, she joined the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph. She was known as Sr Mary of the Sacred Heart JMJ. With the permission of Pope Benedict XV, she began her service as a doctor Sister . For more than three decades she cared for marginalised women and children in India through medical treatment, and the facilities, training and networks she established.

She died in Bengaluru (Bangalore) in 1957.

Following the opening of her Cause for canonisation she was accorded the title Servant of God in 2013. On 21 November 2025 Pope Leo XIV recognised her “heroic virtues”. Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey, as she will now be titled, is just the second Australian, after St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, to be accorded this status.

For more information, see maryglowrey.org.au

Click here for the Mary Glowrey Museum
Cathedral Hall, Australian Catholic University
Level 2, 20 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 3065
(The lift is currently not in operation; access is via stairs.)

Image: Mary Glowrey Collection

Mary Glowrey Prayer Cards

The Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga has created beautiful Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey prayer cards.

The card shows Mary Glowrey reading to children in India on the front, with the following words from Mary: “There is but one question. Does Our Lord want me to do this for him?” On the back is the prayer for the canonisation of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey JMJ, Servant of God. The imprimatur is by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli.

Download the prayer by clicking here.

Requests for cards, along with a stamped self-addressed envelope, can be sent to:
Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga
PO Box 3192, Cotham, Victoria 3101, Australia.

Mary Glowrey Prayer Group

The Mary Glowrey Prayer Group keeps women and their families closely connected in the solidarity of prayer and spiritual inspiration. It is open to all members and is under the patronage of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey. Details: mgpg@cwlvicww.org.au

Autobiography of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey

Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey’s account details her upbringing in Australia and her first years in India as a pioneering medical missionary. As ill health prevented Mary from completing her account, her fellow Australian, Sr Peter Julian Barrett JMJ, completed Mary’s story within a few years of Mary’s death in 1957.

In this publication both documents are accompanied by beautiful photographs from the Mary Glowrey Collection and commentaries that provide cultural and historical background for the texts.

Makes a great gift!

Order a copy of the Museum’s recent publication of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey JMJ’s autobiography, The Autobiography of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey JMJ: ‘God’s Good for Nothing’, which includes supplementary texts.

Download an order form here

Cost: $50 + postage and handling $10 (Currently, Australia only). Pay by EFT or cheque. (Please note, delivery may be delayed due to demands on the postal system)

The Autobiography of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey JMJ: ‘God’s Good for Nothing’ has been produced by the Museum with the generous support of ACU.

Inquiries: info@maryglowreymuseum.info

The Mary Glowrey Award

The Mary Glowrey Award was established by the Governing Board of the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga Inc. (‘the League’) in 2004. This Award recognises the exceptional service to the League and is conferred upon a current or past member who has dedicated their time to the League.

Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey was the President of the Catholic Women’s Social Guild, the former name of the League, when it formed in 1916. In 1920 she travelled from Australia to India, where she joined the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph in Guntur. She was known as Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart JMJ. With permission from the Pope to practice medicine as a religious, Mary Glowrey served as a pioneering medical missionary for 37 years in India. In addition to treating countless patients, she established healthcare facilities, training systems and the organisation now known as the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI).

Mary Glowrey’s constant prayer was to do God’s Holy Will. She showed extraordinary faith, courage, fortitude, vision and innovation in living her vocation. Members of the League are inspired by her patience, honesty, loyalty, selflessness, humour, suffering, prayerfulness and humility.

Today, more than ever, Mary Glowrey provides a wonderful role model for women endeavouring to combine their individual spiritual role with the practicalities of everyday life. Although Mary was very gifted academically, she was always devoted to God. She never attempted anything without praying to the Holy Spirit, knowing that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, all things are possible.

The Award will be presented at the Annual General Conference of the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria & Wagga Wagga Inc.

Nomination Procedure

Nomination forms and information relating to the requirements of this award are available from the General Secretary. Deadline for lodgement is 31 May 2025.

Catholic Health Association of India

In 1943 Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey founded the Catholic Hospitals’ Association, now known as the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). Today, CHAI’s more than 3500 members auspice the care of more than 21 million annually in India.

Mary Glowrey arrived in Chennai (then Madras), on 11 February, 1920. This date is celebrated by the Catholic Church as the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick. On the centenary of Mary Glowrey’s arrival in India, CHAI sent a message to member organisations and supporters with a Novena prayer.

For more information about CHAI click here