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.