​Saint Mary MacKillop said, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’.

For Sister Kathleen Mooney, these words have guided her 50-year career in Catholic education as a teacher, Principal and counsellor.

As Sr Kathleen retires at the end of this school year, it is truly the end of an era as she leaves as the last Josephite nun working in Catholic education across Queensland.

Her distinguished career has been inspired by the Josephite charism marked by humility and compassion in serving others and by the courage to empower and bring hope to those around her.

Heading to Sydney to enter the convent at 16 years old, Kathleen followed her calling from God to join the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

“In those days, it was common for Sisters of St Joseph’s to be teachers. I took my vows three years later and started teaching college,” Sister Kathleen said.

“I spent many years working as a teacher and Principal in schools across rural and outback Queensland before returning to Brisbane to begin a Principalship at St Joseph’s Tobruk Memorial School in Beenleigh in 1986.”

Following six years as Principal in Beenleigh, Sr Kathleen found herself at a crossroads, taking a renewal year to reflect and pray on her journey.

“In that role, I became aware of child abuse and domestic violence, and I felt I could be doing more,” she said.

“I had already done a counselling course while I was a Principal and realised that this is where I could make a real difference for women and children.”

Inspired by the words of Saint Mary MacKillop, Sr Kathleen took the courageous move to step down as Principal and embark on a new career.

She completed her Master’s degree in Social Science (Counselling) from the Queensland University of Technology and became a full-time Counsellor - eventually finding her home at the Srs of St Joseph’s Mackwood Life Centre and Brisbane Catholic Education.  

Sr Kathleen has worked part-time at St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School Geebung for 29 years.

With her characteristic gentle humility, the achievements and ministry of Sister Kathleen across her career have helped countless children with grief and loss, trauma and behaviour issues – she even published a series of books to support children to recognise and manage big emotions.

“There are no time limits on my role, so if a child needed to come and see me, they did,” she said.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to support children right through their primary school years, and that is a wonderful thing to do because they were the children who found school so difficult.”  

Looking back on her career in Catholic schools, it is the children and families that she will always carry in her heart.

“Every day I learn something from the children, every day I see God in my interactions with the children, and every day my faith in God gives meaning to my life.”

While there is sadness that the Josephites will no longer work in Queensland schools, Sister Kathleen sees this as a natural progression.

“The Order started schools in Australia when the children didn’t have access to education,” she said.

“We have worked our way out of a job because the lay staff have come in full of faith and optimism, doing wonderful things for our children.”

As for her retirement plans, Sr Kathleen is looking forward to having more time with relatives and friends.

“I might take up line dancing, I think that would be good for some exercise!”