St Joan's Guild was conceived way back in 2016 when its founder, Carmel Biddle, was taking a deep dive into Australian Catholic history. She was interested in how Catholic families survived and thrived amidst the prevalent anti-Catholic bias of the 19th century. She wondered what lessons could be taken from those times and applied to todays anti-religion environment.

 

Biographies of the first teaching nuns from Ireland (namely the Sisters of Mercy and Loretto Sisters) showed a strong emphasis on the ultimate goal of fostering the faith in girls and women. Although they also taught and supported Catholic men and boys, the nuns strongly argued that it was the woman who would save the family and society. A girl's character must be nurtured, her creativity allowed to blossom and her bright mind enthusiastically filled so that whether she found herself at the hearth, on the mission field or before a mother superior one day, she would never lack in something valuable to offer and something useful or beautiful to do. She would never be 'bored', and in her a future husband would find a true help and guide, and her children a steadfast pillar of faith and feminine genius. History shows that it was these nuns who saved the first and second generations of Australian Catholics from falling away from the faith through adult catechesis and education - and their focus on building up strong Catholic women.

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And so over the following years the program was created. Elements were added to fit modern day context and challenges. Amongst the many skills taught in the program, self defence found a place, and multiple reviews and feedback from parents resulted in an added emphasis on getting outdoors and learning about the bush. The Guild launches in 2025 across Australia -  with the bright hope that the same dreams of those past saintly sisters will drive the Guild leaders to nurture todays Catholic girls and build a better Australia, as they did 150 years ago.