What gives someone the strength to endure unimaginable suffering without losing hope?

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For Eileen O’Connor, that strength inspired a lifetime of compassion that continues to touch lives more than a century later.

In this inspiring episode of Your Radical Truth, Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor welcomes Australian author and retired physician Kate Clinch to discuss her debut novel, Every Inch a Saint. Their conversation explores the extraordinary life of Eileen O’Connor, Australia’s second saint-in-waiting, whose unwavering faith and determination transformed immense personal suffering into a mission of service.

Kate also shares her own remarkable journey through a near-death experience, a battle with stomach cancer, and how researching Eileen’s life became deeply personal. Together, they explore faith, resilience, spirituality, and why Eileen’s story continues to offer hope to people of every background.

Meet Eileen O’Connor

Born in 1892, Eileen O’Connor developed spinal tuberculosis as a young child. The disease left her with severe physical disabilities, constant pain, and limited mobility for the rest of her life.

Despite overwhelming challenges, Eileen refused to let suffering define her. Instead, she devoted herself to helping others, eventually co-founding Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor, a ministry that provided free nursing care to people living in Sydney’s poorest communities.

Her life became a powerful example of courage, compassion, and unwavering faith.

Discovering a Saint

Kate had never heard of Eileen O’Connor until a visit to Sydney led someone to recommend Eileen’s former home.

While sitting quietly in the chapel, Kate experienced a profound sense of peace and left convinced she had encountered the presence of someone extraordinary.

Curiosity quickly turned into years of research. She immersed herself in biographies, archival records, and medical history to better understand the woman whose story would eventually become Every Inch a Saint.

A Doctor’s Perspective

As a retired general practitioner, Kate understood the devastating effects of spinal tuberculosis.

Historical X-rays revealed extensive damage to Eileen’s spine, abscesses, and spinal deformities that would have caused relentless pain. Even simple movements were often agonizing.

Knowing the medical realities made Eileen’s accomplishments even more extraordinary. While enduring unimaginable suffering, she remained focused on caring for people who had even less than she did.

Building a Mission of Compassion

Following the death of her father, Eileen partnered with Father Edward McGrath to establish Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor.

Together they organized nurses who visited sick and impoverished families throughout Sydney, bringing compassionate medical care directly into people’s homes.

Although Eileen’s own health was fragile, she helped lead the growing ministry from her bed, proving that physical limitations need not prevent a person from making a profound difference in the lives of others.

Opposition and Perseverance

Not everyone supported Eileen’s mission.

Church authorities questioned the ministry, criticized Father McGrath, and challenged the organization’s fundraising efforts. Rumors circulated, and both Eileen and Father McGrath faced significant opposition.

Rather than becoming discouraged, Eileen remained steadfast in her commitment to serving those most in need.

Her quiet perseverance ultimately became one of the defining characteristics of her legacy.

Courage During a Pandemic

When the Spanish Flu swept through Australia, the nurses continued caring for infected patients despite the tremendous personal risk.

Several became ill, and one nurse lost her life while serving others.

Their courage earned widespread respect and demonstrated the extraordinary compassion that defined Eileen’s vision.

When History Became Personal

While writing Every Inch a Saint, Kate received devastating news. She had stomach cancer.

She underwent chemotherapy, surgery, and eventually had her stomach removed.

Throughout her treatment, Eileen’s story became much more than historical research. Kate found strength in the life of a woman who had endured unimaginable suffering while never losing hope or compassion.

The connection she felt to Eileen became a source of encouragement during one of the most difficult chapters of her own life.

Kate’s Near-Death Experience

Years before her cancer diagnosis, Kate experienced a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy that resulted in a profound near-death experience.

She describes walking through a peaceful forest toward a beautiful cottage, surrounded by overwhelming love and serenity. Family members gently told her it was not yet her time, and she returned with a completely different understanding of life.

The experience inspired a lifelong interest in spirituality, mysticism, and the mysteries that exist beyond what science alone can explain.

Faith, Science, and Hope

Margaret and Kate explore the fascinating relationship between faith and science.

Modern forensic medicine is helping researchers better understand the lives of historical saints, while advances in medical science continue revealing new insights into illnesses that once seemed impossible to explain.

Rather than viewing science and faith as opposing forces, both women discuss how each can deepen our understanding of the human experience.

Why Eileen’s Story Still Matters

More than a century after her death, Eileen O’Connor continues to inspire people around the world.

Her story reminds us that compassion often grows out of suffering, that purpose is not determined by physical ability, and that one person’s faith can transform countless lives.

Whether viewed through the lens of religion, history, or simple human kindness, Eileen’s life stands as a powerful reminder that hope, courage, and love leave a lasting legacy.

About Kate Clinch

Born in England, Kate Clinch has called Australia home since the age of six. A retired general practitioner, her life took an unexpected turn after a profound near-death experience inspired a lifelong interest in spirituality and mysticism.

Her debut novel, Every Inch a Saint, tells the remarkable story of Eileen O’Connor, Australia’s second saint-in-waiting. While writing the book, Kate underwent treatment for stomach cancer, deepening her connection to Eileen’s extraordinary life of faith and resilience.

Kate’s unpublished first manuscript was longlisted for the prestigious Richell Prize for Emerging Writers in 2020. She is currently writing her second novel, which explores humanity’s relationship with death through an imaginative and thought-provoking story.

Connect with Kate Clinch

Website: KateClinch.com

Book: Every Inch a Saint is available through major booksellers and online retailers.

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About Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor

Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor, a member of the Catholic laity, once believed she understood her Church and its teachings. Everything changed the day she uncovered a centuries old scandal of lies and institutional cover up surrounding the history of women in ordained ministry. Realizing that her own Church had hidden the truth about women priests, women deacons, and even women bishops, she felt a deep and unforgettable sense of betrayal.

That moment became the catalyst for her mission. Margaret Mary now travels what she calls the Highway of Radical Truth, exposing the layers of deception that

have kept millions of Catholics unaware of the prominent roles women held in early Church history. Her work challenges long held assumptions, confronts the complicity of the hierarchy, and calls Catholics to learn the real history for themselves.

For Margaret Mary, every Catholic deserves the truth. She believes transparency is not optional, especially when the suppression of women’s vocations continues to harm the Church today. Her research shines a spotlight on hidden historical records that may even hold answers to the modern priest shortage.

Often described as a “Modern Day David,” Margaret Mary is relentless in her commitment to revealing what has been intentionally concealed. Through her well researched writings, public advocacy, and ministry within the Celtic Christian Church, she brings these buried truths to light.

She is the author of Scandal in the Shadows and Journey of a Celiac’s Soul, and remains a force for honesty, courage, and reform within the broader Catholic conversation.