[1] She made a significant contribution to education and nursing in Australia, establishing and staffing schools and hospitals throughout New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
Brigid and her older sister Mary were sent as boarders to the Convent of the Presentation of the Virgin, Subiaco in Rydalmere, New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, where they were educated by Benedictine nuns.
[1][2] On 22 July 1861, McGuigan entered the Sisters of Charity at St Vincent's Convent located in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.
During her novitiate, she was sent to train and teach at Victoria Street Roman Catholic School located in Potts Point, New South Wales, which was later renamed as St Vincent's College.
[1][5] After a short retirement, Mother Mary Francis died of heart complications on 27 October 1923 in St Vincent's Hospital.
[4] On 1 November 2018, the newly opened Sr Francis McGuigan Wing of St Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney was named in her honour.