 |
| St Matthew |
Today, 21st September, is the
feast of St Matthew and a very special day in the history of Newfoundland. On this day 182 years ago, the brig ‘Ariel’
entered St John’s Harbour. Commanded by
Captain William Staunton, the ship was carrying the Bishop of Newfoundland,
Michael Anthony Fleming, and four heroic Irish women. The brave and selfless ladies were four
Presentation Sisters; Sr Mary Bernard Kirwan, Sr Mary Xaverius Lynch, Sr Mary
Xavier Molony and Sr Mary Magdalen O’Shaughnessy.
 |
Captain William Staunton
(Courtesy of Presentation Archives) |
Bishop Fleming, ever zealous for the
welfare of those in his care, had personally appealed to the Presentation
Convent in Galway. His fervent hope was that volunteers from the Order would
come with him to Newfoundland to instruct the poor children of his flock. The good man was not disappointed for almost
immediately the four Sisters agreed to join him.
 |
| Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming |
On 11th August 1833 the
Sisters left their Convent in Galway and travelled some 250 miles by coach to
Waterford. Then, on 28th
August, they embarked on the ‘Ariel’, accompanied by Bishop
Fleming.
 |
| Presentation Convent, Galway |
The ocean voyage was a perilous
one. At one point, their situation was
so desperate that the Captain was forced to let the vessel drift helplessly
before the wind. For almost a month they
endured the misery and the worry of this journey. It would surely have been a wonderful relief
to the Sisters when, on 21st September, they reached the safe haven
of St John’s Harbour. They must have
been very pleased also with the warm and enthusiastic welcome they received
from the population of St John’s.
The Bishop had procured a residence for
them in a former tavern called ‘The Rising Sun’. It is said that this was regarded as a good
omen by the townsfolk as it symbolised the light of faith and education which
the Sisters came to spread throughout the country. Indeed, within a few weeks of their arrival
the Sisters had attracted approximately 450 pupils. They began teaching in a room in their home
in the old tavern. The Sisters were well
educated, cultured ladies and they taught literature, arithmetic, French, needlework,
Christian doctrine and music. In fact,
the Presentation Sisters were the first teachers in Newfoundland to introduce
music into schools on a daily basis.
Back in Galway, there was much sadness
as no word of the arrival of the Sisters in St John’s had reached the Galway
community. The letters containing news
of their safe passage had been mislaid in Liverpool and it was several months
before the Galway Convent received them.
By then, the four intrepid pioneers were given up for lost and a general
mourning took place. We can only imagine
the great happiness and rejoicing that took place when the letters finally
reached their intended destination!
The Four Founding sisters spent their
lives and their talents for the children of Newfoundland and never saw their
beloved homeland again.
Sr
Bernard Kirwan
left the Motherhouse in 1853 to help establish a new foundation at Admiral’s
Cove, (renamed Port Kirwan) Fermeuse.
She is buried in Port Kirwan where she died in February 1857.
 |
Mother Mary Bernard Kirwan
(Courtesy of Presentation Archives) |
Sr
Magdalen O’Shaughnessy, upon the departure of Sr Bernard Kirwan, became
Superior of the Presentation Convent in St John’s. She was instrumental in sending out Sisters
to found new houses of the Order. Sr
Magdalene died at Presentation Convent, St John’s, in 1889 and is buried in the
cemetery there.
 |
Sr Mary Magdalen O'Shaughnessy
(Courtesy of Presentation Archives) |
Sr
Xaverius Lynch
founded the Convent in Harbour Grace in 1851 and was its Superior until her
death in November 1882. She is buried in
the Presentation Cemetery in Harbour Grace.
 |
Sr Mary Xaverius Lynch
(Courtesy of Presentation Archives) |
Sr
Xavier Molony,
the oldest of the four foundresses, helped establish the new foundation at Harbour
Main in 1853. She was its Superior until
she became ill three years later and returned to the Motherhouse in St
John’s. She died there in 1865 and was
laid to rest in the Convent Cemetery.
 |
Sr Mary Xavier Molony
(Courtesy of Presentation Archives) |
The arrival of the four Sisters in
Newfoundland in September 1833 was certainly a history making event. They founded the first Presentation Convent outside Ireland and, consequently, the first Presentation House in North
America. They were the first English speaking Sisters in Canada. Sister Mary Bernard Kirwan, who had been
appointed Superior of the new foundation, was therefore the founder of the Presentation Congregation in North America.
We have much to be grateful for on this
Feast of St Matthew, 21st September 2015: The dedication and determination of Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming is the
first thing for which we should be grateful.
He did much for his adopted homeland and its Catholic population. Sisters
Bernard Kirwan, Magdalen O’Shaughnessy, Xaverius Lynch and Xavier Molony
gave their all in the education and betterment of the poor children of
Newfoundland. As products of
Presentation Schools, we are particularly indebted to these valiant ladies and
to the many fine Presentation Sisters who have been our teachers. Lastly, we should remember Master Mariner, Captain William Staunton. Captain Staunton agreed to take
responsibility for conveying the Sisters to the New World when others had
refused.
 |
The Three St Patrick's Convent Schools
|
Yes, today is an important day in
Newfoundland History. Let’s take pride
in our amazing heritage!
