the base of clc dates back to 1787, when a great woman named mary aikenhead was born. dedicating her life to diminish poverty and founding the sisters of charity, a man named bishop polding asked mary to send a few sisters to australia. he believed that this would aid many of the poor female convicts. after five sisters volunteered, they set on a four-month-long trip to the shores of sydney, reaching on 31 december 1838. dedicating their lives to improve that of others, the sisters educated the poor convicts about god. educating the convicts of australia impacted the lives of many, and soon the sisters of charity expanded across the country.