Today, 10th January 2025, marks the 169th Anniversary of the founding of St Patrick's Convent.
On 10th January 1856, four Presentation Sisters came from the Community at Cathedral Square to establish a convent at Riverhead in the Westend of St John's. They were Srs M Clare Waldron, M Ignatius Quinlan, M Regis Halpin and M Rose Mullally. Sr Clare was appointed Superior.
Three of the Sisters were courageous Irish Women. Their foundress, Nano Nagle, had said "If I could be of service in saving souls in any part of the globe, I would be willing to do all in my power." True to Nano's ethos, the three had left kith and kin and crossed the Atlantic to do just that. However one sister, Sr M Rose Mullally, was different!
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| Grave of first Newfoundlander to become a Presentation Sister |
Sr Rose made history on Presentation Day, 21st November 1851, when she joined the Presentation Sisters at Cathedral Square. Born Catherine Mullally in 1824 at beautiful Bonavista, she was the first Newfoundlander to become a Presentation Sister. Sr Rose died at Renews on 3rd March 1903. She rests in the Presentation Cemetery in Renews.
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| On a cold, windy day, two staunch St Patrick's girls pay their respects at the grave of one of the foundresses of St Patrick's Convent |
I think that on this anniversary we should be thankful for the four young women who dedicated their lives to the children of Newfoundland. Thankful that they gave us the opportunity and happy privilege of being St Patrick's Girls, I wish all of you, in whatever part of the globe you are, a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
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