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.  

ANNIE FINLAY

At St Patrick's Convent, next to where the old Passage used to be, is the little cemetery where so many of our former teachers rest.  If you have ever stopped there to say a prayer for them, you probably noticed a headstone that was a bit different from all the others.  That would be the stone that marks the grave of Annie Finlay.  Why is Annie's stone different?  Who was Annie?

In Memory of Annie

I don't suppose there are many St Patrick's pupils who remember Annie now - just some of us older 'girls'.  At that time I was quite young  myself and I am not entirely certain that I ever actually met Annie. I know Annie was then resident at the Convent as she was frequently spoken of by the Sisters and also by my mother and aunts.

Annie Finlay was born on the beautiful Southern Shore, at either St Shotts or Trepassey, in November 1887. She wasn't a Sister but I think she was a relation of one of the Sisters at St Patrick's Convent.  Annie went to work there as a live in Domestic.  For many years Annie was a faithful member of the Convent family and she was well loved by the Sisters.  When she died on 3rd November 1953, Annie was laid to rest among the Sisters whom she had known and served for so many years.  

If you see Annie's headstone you will notice that it does not give her age at death.  The 1921 census gives her age at that time as 33. Assuming the census was conducted before November, this would correspond with a birthdate of 1887. So, as poor as my mathematical skills are, even I can work out that Annie would have been 66 years old when she died.  If anyone can add something to Annie's story, I would be very grateful if you shared with us.  You can send it to mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

I also came across an interesting item regarding St Patrick's Cemetery in the will of one of the Sisters, Sr M Patrick Wadden.  

Sr M Patrick (Ellen Wadden) was born in Ferns, Ireland, to Catherine and Nicholas Wadden.  She and two of her sisters joined the Presentation Community at St Patrick's Convent, Riverhead.  Her sisters were Sr M Gertrude and Sr M Aloysius.  Sr Patrick died at St Patrick's Convent on 8th March 1920.  She was 67 years old.

Sr Patrick'c Grave

It appears that Sr Patrick was the owner of a property on Water St.  The following is an extract from her will. 

"2nd.  All rights and titles held or possessed by me over that house and property situated on Water Street West, and at present occupied by Mr Thomas Wall, I will and bequeath to my sister Bridget Wadden (in Religion Sister Mary Aloysius) to be held by her as heretofore held by me, having always in view the obligations as well as the privileges of her Religious Vows.


3rd.  It is my wish that the sum of Forty Dollars ($40), be given annually out of the rents of said house, on Water Street, for Masses for the repose of the souls of the Sisters of St Patrick's Convent at present interred, or hereafter to be interred in the Cemetery attached to said Convent."

I don't know if it is possible to visit the Cemetery now that the Sisters have left St Patrick's but I sincerely hope it is.  It is important for relatives, friends and former pupils to have the freedom to pay respects at the graves of the Sisters who, over the years, contributed so much to the life of St John's West. 

May the souls of Annie Finlay, Sr M Patrick Wadden, and all who lie in that little cemetery rest in peace.