ST JOHN'S FRANCISCANS, PART 1

This post was inspired by my dear friend, Alice.  She asked me a question about my Aunt, who was one of the St Patrick's Franciscans.  Here I am with a little information about the Newfoundland Franciscans. 

In years gone by, many young women left their homes in Newfoundland and travelled to other parts of the world to join Religious Orders. Quite a significant number of them went to the United States. From the late 1800s to the late 1920s, 56 Newfoundlanders joined the Franciscan Sisters at Clinton, Iowa.   These valiant ladies came from all parts of the Island, including St John's.  Several of the St John's girls had attended St Patrick's Convent School.  I have been trying to find out about these Sisters and I have managed, with the help of the Franciscan's web page, to find some details which I think would be interesting to share with you here.

My search has turned up seven St John's Sisters.  They are Sisters Mary Gabriella Murphy, Mary Madeline Power, Mary Rosina English, Mary Wilhelmina Callahan, Mary Helena Penney, Mary DeBorgia McAllister and Stella Marie Penney.

On 23 August 1915, three St John's girls, Belle Murphy, Bridget Mary Power, and Mary Marcelis English, entered the Franciscans at Clinton.  

Belle Murphy was born to Matthew and Alice(O'Neill) Murphy on 16 February 1896.  At 19 years of age, Belle entered the Clinton Franciscans on 23 August 1915.  Belle was received on 24 May 1916 and was given the name Sr Mary Gabriella.  The following year, 30 August 1917, Sr Gabriella professed temporary vows.  Sadly, 23 year old Sr Gabriella Murphy passed away on 14 March 1919.  She is buried in Mount St Clare Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa.

Bridget Mary Power, born on 20 February 1897, was the daughter of James and Bridget (Commerford) Power.  At five days old, Bridget was Baptized at St Patrick's Church.  Bridget later attended St Patrick's Convent School. On 23 August 1915, Bridget was one of three Newfoundland girls who entered the Franciscans at Clinton and was received on 24 May 1916.  Bridget was given the name Sr Mary Madeline. On 30 August 1917, Sr Madeline took temporary vows and, on 15 August 1920, she took Perpetual vows. On 29 June 1947, Sr Madeline Power passed away and was laid to rest at St Paul Cemetery, Macomb, Illinois..  She was 57 years old. 

Mary Marcelis English, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Margaret (Hennessey) was born in St John's on 21 August 1899.  She was only 16 years old when she arrived in the USA and presented herself to the Franciscans on 23 August 1915.  On 24 May 1916 she was received and given the name Sr Mary Rosina.  She went on to take Temporary vows on 30 August 1917 and Perpetual vows on 15 August 1920.  On 19 May 1922, Sr Rosina English passed away, three months before her 23 Birthday.  Sr Rosina rests in Mount St Clare Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa.  It is not certain, but it is believed that Mary Marcelis English attended St Patrick's Convent School.

Ellen Elizabeth (Nellie) Callahan was born in St John's on 14 January 1885.  Her parents were Nicholas and Margaret (Dwyer) Callahan.  Nellie was baptized on 19 January at St Patrick's Church.  She lived at 167 New Gower St, attended St Patrick's Convent, and before going to the USA, Nellie worked as a seamstress.  On 25 August 1916, when she was 21 years old, Nellie entered the Franciscan Congregation at Clinton, Iowa. On 25 March 1917 she was received and given the name Sr Mary Wilhelmina. Sr Wilhelmina professed temporary vows in 1917 and Perpetual vows on 15 August 1919.  She trained as a nurse and served in Franciscan Hospitals in Iowa and Illinois.  Sr Wilhelmina Callahan passed away on 25 January 1965 and is buried in St Paul Cemetery, Macomb, Illinois.

Margaret Mary Penney was born to John Joseph and Ellen (Sullivan) Penney on 1 March 1901.  Margaret had seven brothers and three sisters.  Margaret was educated at St Patrick's Convent School.  When she was only 15 years old Margaret set off for Iowa. Along with Nellie Callahan, she entered the Franciscans on 25 August 1916 and was received on 25 March 1917.  Margaret received the name of Sr Mary Helena. Temporary vows were professed on 15 August 1919 and Perpetual vows on 15 August 1922. As a teacher, Sr Helena worked for 50 years in various Franciscan Schools, mainly in Iowa and Illinois. On 12 march 1991, 90 year old Sr Helena Penney passed away.  She rests in St Irenaeus Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa.

Bridget (Bride) McAllister was born on 23 December 1901 to William and Ellen (Keels) McAllister. Bride had one brother and one sister.  They were Baptized at St Patrick's Church and Bride and her sister, Mary, were educated by the Presentation Sisters at St Patrick's Convent School. Bride worked at various jobs in St John's before deciding to join the Franciscans in Iowa. In August 1922, Sr M Evangelist, a Newfoundland Franciscan returning from holiday at home, accompanied Bride to Clinton.  On the 5 of August Bride entered the Clinton Franciscans.  The following year, on 6 March 1923, Bride was received and given the name Sr Mary DeBorgia.  Temporary vows followed on 15 August 1925 and Perpetual vows on 12 August 1928.  Sr DeBorgia served as a teacher in schools operated by the Sisters of St Francis and, in later life, assisted in caring for the elderly at Mount Alverno in Clinton and worked in the office at St Francis Hospital in Grinnell. Sr DeBorgia was 93 years old when she passed away on 3 January 1994.  She rests  with her Franciscan family in St Irenaeus Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa. 

Stella Mary Penney was born in St John's on 30 April 1907. Her parents were John Joseph and Ellen (Sullivan) Penney.  Stella Mary had seven brothers and three sisters.  Her sister Margaret (Sr M Helena) had preceded her to the Franciscans in 1916.  Stella entered the Franciscans on 8 August 1924, was received on 16 April 1925, and given the name Sr Mary  Chrysostom.  Temporary vows followed in 1927 an on 16 April, Sr Chrysostom professed Perpetual vows. The changes wrought by Vatican 2 permitted the Sisters to return to their Baptismal names if they wished. Sister Chrysostom took advantage of this name change (who could blame her?) and became known as Sr Stella Marie. Sr Stella Marie spent her long career as a music teacher.  For over 45 years she  taught voice, piano, organ and band in many Franciscan Schools. On 3 March 1992, Sr Stella Marie Penney passed away and was laid to rest in St Irenaeus Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa. 

There is more to add but I am afraid you will stop reading if the post is too long.  So, I will leave it there for now but will add the rest tomorrow or the next day.  I hope you will read it all because, you never know, you just might find a relative of yours among those valiant girls and young women.