Today, 27th February, marks
the 156th anniversary of the death of Mother Mary Bernard Kirwan. Mother Bernard Kirwan P B V M, religious,
pioneer, and educator, is an important figure in the history of
Newfoundland. We who have had the great
privilege of being educated by the Presentation Sisters are especially indebted
to Mother Bernard!
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| Mother Mary Bernard Kirwan |
According to the Dictionary of Canadian
Biography, Julia Kirwan, daughter of James and Ann Kirwan, was born in Galway
in 1797. In 1823, Julia entered the
Presentation Convent, Galway. Known in
religion as Sister Mary Bernard, she took her vows there in 1829.
In 1833 Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming
visited the Presentation Convent in Galway in the hope of recruiting Sisters to
teach in Newfoundland. The tremendous
work that the Presentation Sisters have done in Newfoundland over the years is
proof that to say Bishop Fleming was ‘successful’ would be an
understatement! Four Nuns, including
Sister Mary Bernard, volunteered to accompany the Bishop. Sister Bernard was appointed Superior of the
new foundation in St John’s, the first Presentation Convent outside of
Ireland. Thus Mother Mary Bernard Kirwan
would become not only the founder of the Presentation Congregation in
Newfoundland, but the founder of the Presentation Congregation in the whole of
North America.
The group left Ireland on 11th
August 1833 and arrived in St John’s on the feast of St Matthew, 21st
September, 1833. Despite misfortune and
setbacks, the Presentation Order thrived and soon expanded to other parts of
Newfoundland. In September 1853, with
Convents already established in Harbour Grace, Carbonear and Harbour Main, a
Convent was founded at Admiral’s Cove, Fermeuse, on the Southern Shore of the
Avalon Peninsula. Mother Bernard was
appointed Superior of this latest foundation.
It was in Fermeuse, on 27th February 1857, that Mother Mary
Bernard Kirwan passed away. It was said
of her that “She was remarkable for a peculiar sweetness of disposition, exalted
piety, unbounded charity, and a burning zeal for the glory of God and the good
of her neighbour. Her death was like her
life, most holy.”
Mother Bernard Kirwan was interred in Admiral’s
Cove, the little Cove to which she would one day give her name. Admiral’s Cove was named after the English
Fishing Admirals who frequented the Harbour from the1700s. In 1960 the name was officially changed to Port
Kirwan, in honour of Mother Bernard Kirwan. In this pretty little Cove, Mother Bernard’s
name is revered and her memorial is lovingly tended. Sr Mary Magdalen O’Neill, who died at
Fermeuse on 27th October 1871, is also commemorated at this site.
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| This Stone has since been replaced |
I am greatly indebted to a most
wonderful man, my friend Ed O’Neill. Ed O’Neill, a devoted son of Admiral’s
Cove/Port Kirwan, is an historian, photographer, chronicler, preserver and
lover of all things ‘Fermeuse’. Ed has
come upon a very unusual piece of our history which he generously shares with
us here.
Ed says, “Here are a couple of photographs
of Mother Bernard Kirwan’s walking stick.” He continues; “Mother Kirwan lived in Port
Kirwan from 1853 to 1857 when she passed away.
She must have had knee-joint problems and required the use of a
cane. The cane was made by a Mr Walsh
from Riverhead, Fermeuse, a well-known carpenter. I borrowed it from one of his
great-grandchildren who still have it in their possession.”
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| Mother Bernard's Walking Stick |
Being a history buff, I am delighted
with this bit of information and with the accompanying photographs. Thank you so much, Ed. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
