Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart

What Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart does

The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1866 by St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods, incorporated as Trustees of the Sisters of Saint Joseph under the NSW Roman Catholic Church Communities' Lands Act 1942 (ABN 33 293 441 659) and headquartered at 9 Mount Street, North Sydney, Australia. The Congregation operates across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Peru, East Timor and Brazil, delivering a portfolio of spiritual, social justice, educational and safeguarding services. Core offerings include prayer and spirituality resources, retreats and pilgrimages, the Josephite Justice Network and JJAMM, the Explore~Embrace~Embody Laudato Si' Action Plan, the Josephite Earth Sustainability Charter, the Charism in Schools program, the Josephite Action Group (JAG) for young people, the Josephite Companions lay membership program, and a safeguarding and professional standards framework that achieved 100% compliance with National Catholic Safeguarding Standards in an ACSL audit in December 2023. The organisation also runs an online store (shop.marymackillopplace.org.au) for books, resources and merchandise related to Mary MacKillop and Josephite heritage.

The Congregation employs 114 people and operates as a charitable institution funded primarily through voluntary donations, wills and bequests, supplemented by online store sales and ministry partnerships. There is no commercial pricing model; engagement is community-led and mission-driven, channeled through a dedicated website (sosj.org.au), the Mary MacKillop News eNews, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, events and conferences, and direct ministry locations such as Mary MacKillop Place and Villa Maria Spirituality Centre. Governance is provided by a Congregational Leadership Team — a new team led by Sister Josephine Dubiel took office on 1 February 2026 for a five-year term, succeeding the team led by Sister Monica Cavanagh. The Congregation is not venture-backed, PE-owned or publicly traded, and holds registered trademarks covering names, images, signatures and logos associated with St Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Name

Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart

Legal name

The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph

Website

https://sosj.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart is an Australian Catholic religious congregation founded in 1866 by St Mary MacKillop, serving Catholic faithful, students, affiliated schools and vulnerable persons across Australia, New Zealand, Peru, East Timor and Brazil through prayer, social justice, education and safeguarding programs funded by donations and bequests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAJAC

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAG

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAJAE

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Religious & Faith-Based Organizations

Keywords

• Religious congregation services
• Catholic spiritual resources
• Social justice advocacy
• Faith-based education programs
• Charitable donation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

North Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Sisters of Saint Joseph accept credit card donations via their website and are registered as a charitable institution. Donations support the congregation's ministry to those in need and spread the memory and spirit of St Mary MacKillop.
2. Wills and Bequests: The congregation actively promotes legacy giving through wills and bequests, with a published bequest clause and guide. Bequests support the congregation's work in Australia or overseas as determined by the congregation.
3. Online Store Sales: The Sisters operate an online store (shop.marymackillopplace.org.au) selling books, resources, images, and merchandise related to Mary MacKillop and Josephite heritage.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic religious congregation founded in 1866 that operates as a charitable institution providing spiritual formation, prayer resources, retreats, and pilgrimages; social justice and reconciliation programs; faith-based educational resources for Josephite-affiliated schools; child and adult safeguarding frameworks; and a Josephite Companions lay membership program. The congregation funds its ministry through donations, wills and bequests, and an online store selling books, images, and Mary MacKillop-related merchandise.

Product overview

The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart operates a portfolio of spiritual, educational, and social justice services and programs. The core offerings include prayer and spirituality resources (prayer materials, retreats, pilgrimages), social justice initiatives (Josephite Justice Network, JJAMM, environmental programs through Laudato Si), and safeguarding services. Supporting these are membership programs like Josephite Companions, youth engagement through the Josephite Action Group (JAG), and formation programs for mission workers. The organization also provides an online presence through the Josephite Login member portal, eNews communications, an online store, and educational resources for schools. All offerings are centered on the Josephite charism established by St Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods in 1866.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prayer and Spirituality Resources Contemplative prayer materials, retreats, and spiritual reflection resources provided to Catholic faithful and the general public seeking spiritual nourishment.
• Social Justice Programs Social justice initiatives including the Josephite Justice Network, JJAMM youth advocacy group, Reconciliation Action Plan, and Laudato Si' environmental programs for community members and students.
• Charism in Schools Education programs and formation resources for schools to live the Josephite charism, including the Explore~Embrace~Embody Laudato Si' Action Plan and Josephite Earth Sustainability Charter.
• Safeguarding and Professional Standards Child and adult safeguarding framework, policies, reporting procedures, and support resources for vulnerable persons, including participation in the National Redress Scheme.
• Pilgrimages Pilgrimage programs and spiritual journey opportunities for the Josephite community and visitors.
• Josephite Companions Membership program for individuals to join the Josephite community in friendship, prayer, and service across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Peru.
• Josephite Action Group (JAG) Student-led volunteer and social justice group for young people from Josephite-affiliated and other schools to participate in advocacy initiatives.
• Formation for Mission Training and formation materials for board directors and those serving Josephite works.
• Online Store E-commerce storefront for purchasing Mary MacKillop and Josephite heritage books, resources, images, and merchandise.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% compliance with National Catholic Safeguarding Standards assessed indicators
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sisters of Saint Joseph Congregational Leadership TeamcoreOthers · 1 February 2026The new Congregational Leadership Team (Sisters Josephine Dubiel, Brigette Sipa, Mary Ellen O'Donoghue, Catherine Mead, and Susan Connelly) leads the congregation for the 2026-2031 term following the Handing on Leadership Mass on 1 February 2026.
• Mary MacKillop PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMary MacKillop Place in North Sydney is a key ministry partner of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, serving as a museum, memorial chapel, and spirituality centre. The Sisters and Mary MacKillop Place co-host Mary MacKillop Feast Day Celebrations and other events. The online store (shop.marymackillopplace.org.au) is operated in connection with the Sisters.
• Mary MacKillop TodaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMary MacKillop Today is a ministry partner that works to spread the memory and spirit of St Mary MacKillop. The Sisters of Saint Joseph and Mary MacKillop Today co-host events and share mission alignment. A donate link to Mary MacKillop Today is featured on the Sisters' donation page.
• Sisters of St Joseph LochinvarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar collaborate with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart on the Explore~Embrace~Embody Laudato Si' Action Plan and other shared mission initiatives.
• Josephite Justice Network / JJAMMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJJAMM (Josephite Justice Action Group) is a collaborative network of young people, students, and Josephite organisations working together on social justice advocacy, including reconciliation, environmental action, and support for refugees.
• Baabayn Aboriginal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaabayn Aboriginal Corporation participated in the Handing on Leadership Mass on 1 February 2026, conducting a water blessing and sprinkling. The Sisters acknowledge First Nations peoples and are committed to reconciliation through their Reconciliation Action Plan.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sisters of Mercy: Another major Australian Catholic women's religious congregation founded in 19th-century Australia, with parallel schools, healthcare, social services, and bequest-funded operating model. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and donor base.
• Good Samaritan Sisters: Catholic women's religious congregation in Australia operating schools, retreat centres, and social outreach with similar charism-based funding from donations and bequests.
• Sisters of Charity: Australian Catholic women's congregation running schools, hospitals, and outreach ministries with donation and bequest revenue streams. Directly comparable operating model and constituency to the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
• Presentation Sisters: Australian-based Catholic women's congregation focused on education, spirituality ministries, and social justice, with comparable volunteer and lay-associate programs.
• Loreto Sisters (IBVM): Catholic women's religious congregation running schools and social justice programs across Australia and Asia-Pacific; highly comparable in mission mix and donor-base composition.

Broad incumbents

• Society of Jesus (Jesuits): Large global Catholic religious order operating schools, parishes, and social ministries in Australia. Comparable only at the broadest category level (Catholic religious institute) but anchors the upper bound of scale among religious peers.
• Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC): Catholic male missionary congregation with international ministries in Australia and the Asia-Pacific, providing a useful male-order counterpart for international ministry footprint comparisons.
• Catholic Religious Australia: Peak body representing Catholic religious institutes in Australia. Not a direct operator but the institutional counterpart for safeguarding standards, advocacy, and inter-congregational coordination relevant to the Sisters.

Others

• Mary MacKillop Place: North Sydney ministry partner operating the museum, memorial chapel, spirituality centre, and the Sisters' online store. Functionally the congregation's principal public-facing venue and retail arm.
• Mary MacKillop Today: Co-founded ministry partner that fundraises and runs programs in the Josephite tradition; shares donors, events, and digital footprint with the Sisters, and is the closest mission-aligned collaborator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/183640918341627
• Instagraminstagram.com/sistersofsaintjoseph
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sisters-of-saint-joseph-of-the-sacred-heart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart