HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY

It is 21 November, Presentation Day. Once again my thoughts spin back through the years (many, many years now 😏)!  My thoughts go back to our school days at St Patrick's Convent Schools and our days spent with Nano Nagle's Presentation Sisters, PBVMs.  To the stories of Nano and her little group who ministered to and cared for the poor. Stories of the establishment of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and how, in 1833, four brave and selfless Irish Nuns set out from their Convent in Galway.  After a stormy Atlantic Crossing they landed at St John's, Newfoundland, and there they established the very first Presentation Convent outside of Ireland.   

I imagine, like me, you remember all or most of the stories but if you would like to refresh your memory, you will find quite a few posts to  help.  Just go to that little search box on the top left side of the blog and enter either 'Nano Nagle' or 'Presentation Day'.  You will find enough to keep you reading for a little while.

Nano Nagle

Happy Presentation Day to Presentation Sisters, pupils and former pupils everywhere.  A very special Happy Presentation Day to all St Patrick's girls, wherever you may be.

SYMBOL OF HOPE

November is the month of the Holy Souls, the month when we especially remember all the dear people who have graced our lives and who have now been taken home.  This picture was taken by my niece when she visited her father's grave at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery several years ago. The rainbow is  a symbol of hope and it is amazing how often we see them when we visit our loved one's resting places.  This picture is a beautiful example of such a happening and, I believe, really inspires hope.  

Sign of hope, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

FRANCISCANS, PART 2

In my last post I spoke of the St John's girls who travelled from their homes in St John's to the USA to join the Sisters of St Francis at Clinton Iowa. It is estimated that about 56 young Newfoundland women joined the Franciscans from the late 1800s to the 1920s. Those brave young ladies left from all parts of Newfoundland and headed off to a country that was as far from their way of life as life on Mars would be to us today.  Seven of them were from St John's and some of them were St Patrick's girls.  I said I would post about some girls who were not from St John's or St Patrick's Convent School but who were in some way linked to St Patrick's, even in a small way.  I will try to do that now.

The first two Sisters are linked to St Patrick's simply by their nieces who were students of St Patrick's Convent Schools. 

Mary Cleary was born in Argentia on 28 August 1892.  Her parents were Lawrence and Theresa (Maher) Cleary. Mary had two brothers and two sisters.  She entered the Franciscans on 23 August 1915, was received on 24 May 1916 and was given the name Sr Mary Jerome. Sr Jerome made temporary vows in 1917 and Perpetual vows on 15 August 1920.  Through her long teaching career, Sr Jerome taught in Catholic Schools in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.  Sr Jerome passed away on 24 February 1959 and was laid to rest in St Mary Cemetery, Clinton Iowa.       

Ellen Frances Kearsey was born in Cape Broyle to Patrick and Mary (Brien/O'Brien) Kearsey on 10 February 1894.  Ellen also entered the Sisters of St Francis on 23 August 1915.  On 24 May 1916, Ellen was received and given the name  Sister Mary Austin.  Sr Austin took temporary vows in 1917 and Perpetual Vows on 15 August 1920.  Sr Austin served as a nurse at St Francis Hospital in Macomb, Illinois, and at St Francis Hospital in Grinnell, Iowa.  At 50 years of age, Sr Austin Kearsey passed away and was interred in St Paul Cemetery, Macomb, Illinois. 

Catharine Ann (Kitty) Keefe/O'Keefe, born in Cape Broyle on 22 July 1902, was the daughter of James and Mary (Duggan) Keefe/O'Keefe.  In 1920 Kitty boarded a ship, set sail for the USA and on the 25 September entered the Sisters of St Francis at Clinton, Iowa.  In March of the following year Kitty was received and given the name of Sr Mary Placida. Temporary vows followed on 15 August 1923 and Perpetual vows on 12 August 1926.  For more than 30 years Sr Placida taught in Catholic Schools in Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri. Sr Placida was 54 years old when she passed away on 14 September 1956.  She was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa.  Sr Placida's link with St Patrick's is through her niece, Sr M Dorothea Barnable, who was for many years a popular teacher at St Patrick's Convent School. Sr Dorothea passed away on 13 November 2007 and was buried at Presentation Cemetery, St John's.

For quite a number of years the efficient secretary in St Patrick's Parish Office was Mrs Mary (Mills) Collins. Mary ran a tight ship, kept things running smoothly and was always helpful. Mary provides the St Patrick's link with our next Franciscan.

Born in Renews on 21 March 1902, Agnes J Hayes was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (White) Hayes.  Agnes had three brothers and one sister.  She attended Star of the Sea School in Renews. At 18 years of age Agnes entered the Sisters of St Francis on 25 September 1920.  Received on 29 March 1921, Agnes was given the name Sr Mary Imelda.  She professed temporary vows on 15 August 1923 and Perpetual vows on 12 August 1926.  Sr Imelda spent 58 years in active ministry in parishes and hospitals in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Missouri. On 17 June 2005, Sr Imelda Hayes passed away at the great age of 103 years old. She rests in St Irenaeus Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa.

Alice Finlay, daughter of John and Mary (Maher) Finlay, was born on 18 November, 1887 in Trepassey on the beautiful Southern Shore.  Alice had three brothers and five sisters. In 1916 Alice left her parents and siblings to travel to the USA.  On 25 August young Alice entered the Franciscan Sisters.  The following year she was received and given the name Sr Mary Evangelist. Sr Evangelist professed temporary vows on 15 August 1919 and Perpetual vows on 15 August 1922.  Her Religious life was spent in the dietary departments of hospitals and schools operated by the Sisters of St Francis in Iowa, Illinois and California.  Sr Evangelist Finlay passed away on 9 May 1971 and was laid to rest in St Mary Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa.  Sr Evangelist's connection to St Patrick's?  Read on.

Resting Place of Sr Evangelist in St Mary Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa

Annie Finlay, born in March 1885, was the sister of Sr Mary Evangelist Finlay.  I doubt if there are many of us around now who remember the quiet little lady who spent most of her adult life with the Sisters at St Patrick's Convent as a live-in domestic.  Well that lady was Annie Finlay.  For many years Annie was an integral part of St Patrick's Convent family.  Annie was well loved by the Sisters and when she passed away in 1953, she was interred in the little cemetery at St Patrick's Convent to rest among her friends, the Sisters she had loved and served in life. 

Annie Finlay's Resting Place in St Patrick's Convent Cemetery

For more about Annie, follow this link https://stpatricksconventschool.blogspot.com/2019/05/annie-finlay_12.html

I have enjoyed putting together this post and the previous one and I really hope you enjoyed reading them.  The credit (or blame) goes to my dear friend Alice who asked me a question about my Franciscan Aunt.  That's what inspired me to post about this tiny piece of Newfoundland history. I would be delighted if anyone can add anything to the posts because there may be other Sisters I missed or you might even be able to add (or correct) details.  Perhaps you might be related to someone mentioned in these posts.  It would be wonderful to hear from you and you can contact me  at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.  

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.