SISTER M PATRICK WADDEN PBVM

While perusing an old scrapbook, which belonged to my late Aunt, I came across this clipping from a 1920's newspaper. The writing certainly differs from today's reporting style and the degree of respect is also quite evident. 

The article very respectfully announces the death of a member of the St Patrick's Convent Community, Sr M Patrick Wadden.  A native of County Wexford, Sr Patrick left her native Ireland to enter the Presentation Congregation at Riverhead (St Patrick's) in 1883.   

THE NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FROM MARCH 1920

The newspaper does not give any details of Sr Patrick's funeral but I did find her resting place. She is buried in the little St Patrick's Convent Cemetery which is nestled between the Convent and St Patrick's Church.

THE RESTING PLACE OF SR  M PATRICK WADDEN

As you probably noticed, there is a discrepancy between the day of death reported in the newspaper article and on the headstone.  If, as the article states, Sr Patrick died on a Saturday, then the date on the headstone is incorrect because 6th March 1920 was actually a Saturday.  On the other hand, if the newspaper got the day wrong then it is possible that Sr Patrick died on 8th March, which was a Monday, and the headstone indeed carries the correct date.

A little mystery for us to solve perhaps? In any case, because today could be the anniversary of Sr Patrick's death, let's just give thanks for her courage, her faith and her work among the people of St Patrick's.  May she rest in peace. 

FROM A 1920s NEWSPAPER

Here is a little item I came across in a very old scrapbook. The clipping was from a St John’s newspaper published in March 1920. It will, I hope, be of interest to all St Patrick’s girls but especially to those who were ‘Children of Mary’! I knew that the Sisters & students of St Patrick’s were leaders!

“There passed away at the Presentation Convent, St Patrick’s, on Wednesday last at 4:45 a.m. the venerable Mother M Caulfield, a well known and highly esteemed member of the Presentation Order.

The deceased, who was born in Limerick City, entered the Presentation Convent, Cathedral Square, in 1851. She made her Profession there in 1854. A few years afterwards she was sent to the recently established foundation at Riverhead, where she zealously laboured for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the many souls committed to her care during her long religious life of sixty-nine years.

In 1876 she, with Rev Dean Ryan and Sr M Patrick Kielly, was instrumental in establishing the Sodality of the Children of Mary at St Patrick’s (the first Sodality of G. de M. in this Island). In 1884 she, with Rev Father Palmer (then stationed at St Patrick’s) established the Confraternity of St Anne of which she was Directress till her death.”

The article continues with a report of the death of another Sister at St Patrick’s. (More about that at a later date.) 

The report concludes with “We have loved them in life, let us not be unmindful of them in death.”

I was unable to turn up any details of the funeral but, just by chance, I saw Sister’s headstone in the little cemetery at St Patrick’s. Also, just by chance, I had my camera with me. So, of course, I took a picture of the grave. I don’t profess to be a photographer so please make allowances for the quality of the photo and just enjoy this little bit of St Patrick’s history.

Grave of Sr M Aloysius Caulfield