Eight Australians joined a joyful congregation of more than 1500 for celebrations in India to mark the declaration of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart Glowrey. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
The February 11 event followed Pope Leo XIV’s recognition of Mary Glowrey’s heroic virtues on November 21, 2025, advancing her cause and according her the title Venerable.
The festivities at St Joseph’s High School in Guntur, in present-day Andhra Pradesh, were organised by the Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph (JMJ) – the religious order to which the Australian-born medical missionary belonged upon her arrival in Guntur in 1920 – and coincided with the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Numerous other lively commemorations of the progress of Mary Glowrey’s cause took place at other locations in India, where her impact continues to benefit the lives of millions.
The visitors included six descendants of Mary Glowrey’s siblings and representatives of the Mary Glowrey Museum in Melbourne.
Pauline Adams, Mary Glowrey’s great niece, and granddaughter of Mary’s sister, Lucy Connellan, said she experienced many emotions on the trip, including awe at her relative’s achievements.
“To be there for the thanksgiving Mass and celebration with so many people from her community in Guntur was incredibly special,” Ms Adams said.
Great niece Louise McGrath said witnessing the love, respect, joy and gratitude shown towards Mary Glowrey was humbling.
“My thoughts went to the image of Mary’s family and friends who waved her goodbye in January 1920 at Station Pier in Melbourne,” she said. “How proud they would be to know that their daughter, sister, friend is remembered so fondly in her adopted home in India.”
Known as Sr Mary of the Sacred Heart JMJ, Mary Glowrey lived for 36 years at St Joseph’s Convent, adjacent to St Joseph’s Hospital, which she built and served in, and St Joseph’s High School.
In 1943, she founded the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI), which is now India’s largest non-government healthcare network.
Mary Glowrey’s cause opened in India over a decade ago. The JMJ Sisters were supported and encouraged in this process by the Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga, since Mary Glowrey was the organisation’s first president when it formed in Melbourne in 1916.
A celebration of Venerable Mary of the Sacred Heart will be held in Melbourne on Friday, March 13, beginning with Mass at 5pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by a gathering at ACU’s Cathedral Hall. Learn more and register to attend here.
The Mary Glowrey Museum, at 20 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, offers information and presentations on the life and legacy of Mary Glowrey.
FULL STORY
Australians join celebrations in India as Mary Glowrey declared Venerable (By Fiona Power, Melbourne Catholic)
