Mary Kate Barlow (1865 – 27 May 1934) was an Australian Catholic lay leader, philanthropist, editor, and women's advocate.
She served as president of the Catholic Women's Association in New South Wales for twenty years.
In recognition of her service to the Catholic Church, she was awarded the Leo Cross, and was made a Dame of the Holy Sepulchre, the female equivalent of a knighthood.
In 1884, she travelled to Australia on what was intended to be a short visit to see her aunt, Bedelia Hughes, who was living in Sydney.
[1][2] On 29 April 1887, McDonagh married architect John Bede Barlow, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.
[3] Over the course of her life, she was active in a wide variety of charitable endeavours, many with a focus on causes of importance to Catholic women.
[2] John Barlow designed several buildings for the care of the sick, including Lewisham Hospital and the Sacred Heart Hospice for the Dying.
Mary Barlow partnered with her husband in these endeavours by raising money to help fund these charitable enterprises.
[2] She also organised efforts to open a hostel to provide accommodation for girls entering the workforce during World War I.
Held every two years, the congresses are a week-long Catholic event to celebrate and renew the faith.