REVISITING OUR FOUNDING MOTHERS

‘It began with two . . .

to Clareto Clare

from Catherine

I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who

came before me.

I am stronger for their courage; I am wiser for

their words.

I am lifted by their longing for a fair and brighter I am lifted by their longing for a fair and brighter

future.

I am grateful for their vision, for their toiling on

this earth.

We are standing on the shoulders of

the ones who came before us.

They are saints and they are humans;

they are angels they are friends.

We can see beyond the struggles and

the troubles and the challenge

when we know that by our efforts things will be better in the when we know that by our efforts things will be better in the

end.

They lift me higher than I could ever fly,

carrying my burdens away.

I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried;

we wouldn’t be here celebrating today.

from Catherine to

Clare to Stanislaus

INVITATION 1880

26 November 1882: Response

The field of their future labours in this

Diocese will be the City of Grafton, the

grand Clarence River (where Ocean steamers

go up and down every week) and the whole of

My Dear Revd Mother,

Your kind letter dated 26th November 1882 reached me the other day. I am delighted to

hear that some of your good Sisters are now willing to come out to work in my poor

diocese. I shall do my very best to make them comfortable and happy so that they will

never regret their coming out there.

grand Clarence River (where Ocean steamers

go up and down every week) and the whole of

my Coast District as soon as the Sisters are

able to branch out. I have already purchased

in Grafton 48 acres of land for the benefit of

the Sisters. I am now trying to build a

Convent for them near the newly built School

Church and Presbytery. By the time the

Sisters come out the Convent will be, I hope,

completed and furnished.

The principal work of the Sisters will be the teaching in the schools

both Elementary and Select ones.

The School Fees . . . will be for the support of the Sisters.

I shall take care the they may not be in want for anything,

temporal or spiritual. For I know by experience that unless we temporal or spiritual. For I know by experience that unless we

make religious happy and comfortable they cannot work cheerfully

and satisfactorily.

I hope some of the Sisters will be able to teach Music, otherwise

the people of Grafton will never be satisfied.

Now I leave the matter in your own hands to

select for me a good Community to begin with

and able to teach Elementary and Middle Class

Schools and also Music. If you do this for me

Personnel

Schools and also Music. If you do this for me

you shall have my blessing, the blessing of many

people in Grafton and District and above all the

special blessing of God Himself.

CLARE MAHONEY

STANISLAUS SIMSON

DE SANCTIS COLLINS

RESPONSE: 28 November 1883:

XAVIER SCANNEL

TERESA ROCHE

JOSEPH DONEGAN ALOYSIUS DONEGAN

VERONICA DUGGAN

ANGELA CURTIS

� Sr M Stanislaus

� born Dundee 1841

� received habit: 17 January 1861 (aged 20)

� professed: 29 January 1863

� left Bermondsey: 28 November 1883 (aged 42)

� died: Grafton 8 September 1886 (aged 45)

� received habit: 17 January 1861 (aged 20)

� Sr Mary de Sanctis

� born: Surrey 1841

� received habit: 19 September 1862

� professed: 22 September 1864

� left Bermondsey:28 November 1883 (aged 42)

� died: 28 October 1909 (aged 68)

� Sr Mary Angela Aloysius

� born: Southampton England, 1843

� received habit: 7 June 1860 (aged 17)received habit: 7 June 1860 (aged 17)

� professed: 15 July 1862

in presence of Mother Clare Moore

� left Bermondsey: 27 November 1883 (aged 40)

� died: 28 August 1888 (aged 45)

� Sr M Veronica

� born: Kerry, Ireland,1849

� received habit: 13 January 1868� received habit: 13 January 1868

� professed : 25 January 1870

� left Bermondsey: November 1883 (aged 34)

� died: 9 July 1927 (aged 78)

� Sr M Joseph

� born Fermoy, Ireland, 21 December 1856

� received habit: 7 July 1880 (aged 23)� received habit: 7 July 1880 (aged 23)

� professed: 8 September 1882

� left Bermondsey: November 1883 (aged 26)

� died: Casino 17 March 1892 (aged 35)

� Sr M Aloysius

� born Fermoy, Ireland, 7 July 1860

� received habit: 27 May 1881(aged 20)

� left Bermondsey: November 1883 (aged 23)

�died: Grafton 20 December 1943 (aged 83)

� received habit: 27 May 1881(aged 20)

� professed: 30 May 1883

� Sr M Teresa Clare

� born: Cork 1862

� received habit: September 1882 (aged 20)received habit: September 1882 aged 20)

� professed: 21 September 1884 - Grafton

� left Bermondsey: 28 November 1883 as a

novice (aged 21)

� died 14 October 1939 (aged 77)

� Sr M Xavier

� born: 1848

� left Bermondsey 28 November 1883 as

a postulant (aged 35)a postulant (aged 35)

� received habit: 12 May 1884

� professed: 14 June 1886

� died: 12 October 1917 (aged 69)

� Sr M Clare

� born: 1852

� left Bermondsey: November 1883 as an aspirant (aged 31)aspirant (aged 31)

� received as postulant: Grafton 4 Feb 1884

� received habit: 24 June 1884

� professed: 24 August 1886

� died: 20 May 1928 (aged 76)

Our next resting place was Sydney which we reached on Friday 18 January after a very prosperous voyage of six weeks.

The Sisters of St Patrick’s . . . sent a lady to conduct the Sisters to their convent where they were received most cordially.

Arrival: On Tuesday 22nd. . .we went on board the ‘City of Grafton’ and on Thursday morning . . . reached the Clarence Heads – the entrance of this beautiful river.

From all the townships on the River we had visitors bringing presents of beautiful grapes and other fruits – all anxious and longing to get a glimpse at the Nuns . . .

As the city came in sight the Church Bell peeled forth a joyous welcome . . . As the city came in sight the Church Bell peeled forth a joyous welcome . . . All the principal members of the Congregation came on board to greet the sisters and it was hard to hide the emotion caused by the site of many a face streaming with tears at the first sight of our holy habit.

Vehicles were in readiness and the Sisters were driven straight to the Church where . . . a solemn ‘Te Deum’ was sung and a few words of welcome given.

Catherine and Clare

and Stanislaus

. . . she asked me to get her picture of our . . . she asked me to get her picture of our . . . she asked me to get her picture of our . . . she asked me to get her picture of our Lord’s Sacred heart which you gave her when Lord’s Sacred heart which you gave her when Lord’s Sacred heart which you gave her when Lord’s Sacred heart which you gave her when coming out. I put it into her hand. Then she coming out. I put it into her hand. Then she coming out. I put it into her hand. Then she coming out. I put it into her hand. Then she talked of you (and said to tell you how much talked of you (and said to tell you how much talked of you (and said to tell you how much talked of you (and said to tell you how much she wished to write to you and how fondly she she wished to write to you and how fondly she she wished to write to you and how fondly she she wished to write to you and how fondly she treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her treasured your old feelings for her) and of her love for love for love for love for the old homethe old homethe old homethe old home. She has Reverend . She has Reverend . She has Reverend . She has Reverend Mother M Clare’s (our most Revered Mother Mother M Clare’s (our most Revered Mother Mother M Clare’s (our most Revered Mother Mother M Clare’s (our most Revered Mother in one sense) picture of Angel Guardian and in one sense) picture of Angel Guardian and in one sense) picture of Angel Guardian and in one sense) picture of Angel Guardian and Mother M Angela’s also. They all had to be Mother M Angela’s also. They all had to be Mother M Angela’s also. They all had to be Mother M Angela’s also. They all had to be placed where she can see them. placed where she can see them. placed where she can see them. placed where she can see them.

‘Second Superioress

from the . . .

venerable Foundressvenerable Foundress

in holy Profession’.

. . . the dear old Convent home, every part and

nook of it, is in my mind’s eye.

. . . where . . . where . . . where . . . where we we we we live live live live now now now now is a is a is a is a house (no house (no house (no house (no stairs stairs stairs stairs to go up to go up to go up to go up being being being being all on one flat) all on one flat) all on one flat) all on one flat) standing standing standing standing by by by by itself itself itself itself ---- fieldsfieldsfieldsfields, , , , country lanes and country lanes and country lanes and country lanes and vineyards vineyards vineyards vineyards all around us all around us all around us all around us ---- cows cows cows cows and horses feed and horses feed and horses feed and horses feed right right right right up to our verandah. up to our verandah. up to our verandah. up to our verandah. It’s It’s It’s It’s all so all so all so all so still still still still and and and and quietquietquietquiet

jx ã|á{ ãx vÉâÄw áxx çÉâ tÇw çÉâ áxx âájx ã|á{ ãx vÉâÄw áxx çÉâ tÇw çÉâ áxx âájx ã|á{ ãx vÉâÄw áxx çÉâ tÇw çÉâ áxx âájx ã|á{ ãx vÉâÄw áxx çÉâ tÇw çÉâ áxx âá|Ç ÉâÜ Çxã {ÉÅxA |Ç ÉâÜ Çxã {ÉÅxA |Ç ÉâÜ Çxã {ÉÅxA |Ç ÉâÜ Çxã {ÉÅxA

Sometimes in choir I think I am in Bermondseyespecially when Novenas, Thirty Days Prayer …

bring us home again.

As for the chapelAs for the chapelAs for the chapelAs for the chapel, it is indeed a little , it is indeed a little , it is indeed a little , it is indeed a little heaven upon heaven upon heaven upon heaven upon earth .When earth .When earth .When earth .When the windows the windows the windows the windows at the back of the altar are at the back of the altar are at the back of the altar are at the back of the altar are open and open and open and open and the venetian blinds the venetian blinds the venetian blinds the venetian blinds up as we up as we up as we up as we are kneeling in are kneeling in are kneeling in are kneeling in our stalls we can see the water and our stalls we can see the water and our stalls we can see the water and our stalls we can see the water and the hills rising the hills rising the hills rising the hills rising up up up up our stalls we can see the water and our stalls we can see the water and our stalls we can see the water and our stalls we can see the water and the hills rising the hills rising the hills rising the hills rising up up up up on on on on each side . It really is each side . It really is each side . It really is each side . It really is lovely and all lovely and all lovely and all lovely and all so still and so still and so still and so still and quiet. I quiet. I quiet. I quiet. I am sure you would say we am sure you would say we am sure you would say we am sure you would say we have everything have everything have everything have everything to make us to make us to make us to make us happy which indeed happy which indeed happy which indeed happy which indeed we are.we are.we are.we are.

From the old world to the new:

from Dublin to Bermondsey

to Grafton . . . and beyond . . .

Religious culture transmitted by

Pioneer Mercy WomenPioneer Mercy Women

MUSIC, DRAMA, ETC

PRAYER

VISITATION

ABORIGINAL APOSTOLATE

EDUCATION

RETREAT WORK

BOARDING SCHOOLS

revealing God’s Mercy in . . . throughout the

Lismore diocese and

beyond

ADMINISTRATION

HOSPITALITY

AGED CARE

YOUTH MINISTRY

MISSIONARY WORK

ABORIGINAL APOSTOLATE

WORK WITH MARGINALISED

CHILD CARE

CARE OF SICK

PASTORAL MINISTRY

CLARE

TERESA

JOSEPH

ANGELA

XAVIER

AUGUSTINE

CLARE

DE SANCTIS

VERONICA

CATHERINE

STANISLAUS

JOSEPH

ALOYSIUS

PATRICK

I am standing on the shoulders of the ones

who came before me.

I am stronger for their courage; I am wiser for

their words.

I am lifted by their longing for a fair and I am lifted by their longing for a fair and

brighter future.

I am grateful for their vision, for their toiling

on this earth.

� Stanislaus Simson

� Angela Curtis

� Joseph Donegan

� Ignatius Garrity

� Alphonsus Hayden

� Ligouri Grosvenor

� Margaret Mary Morrissey

� Gonzaga Roberts

� de Sanctis Collins

� Veronica Roche

� Vincent Gannon

� Cecilia Coleman

� Michael Joseph Roche

� Teresa Roche

� Benedict Browne

� Philomena Simson

� Madeleine Noonan

� Ignatius Conlon

� Aloysius Donegan

� Josephine Bowman� Veronica Roche

� Xavier Scannell

� Dorothea Wright

� Bernard McCarthy

� Veronica Duggan

� Clare Mahoney

� Concepta Osborne

� Patrick Gannon

� Angela Joseph

� Josephine Bowman

� Gertude Burke

� Xavier Scanlan

� Augustine Newman

� Elizabeth O’Brien

� Columbkille O’Rafferty

� Anthony Glynn

� Benignus Hoy

� Columba Cawley

� Borgia McMahon

� Malachy O’Connor

� Joseph McAuliffe

� Carthage Daly

� Berchmans Mooney

� Stanislaus Sutton

� Paul Rush

� Bernadette Neilson

� Margaret Mary Hill

� Carmel Flood

� Agnes Burke

� Ita Hannigan

� Aquin Kilkelly

� Antonia Wright

� Kevin Fitzpatrick

� Camillus Boland

� Martina Lewis

� Magdalene Gallagher

� Alphonsus Coleman

� Martha Geary� Carmel Flood

� Bernadine Davis

� Gonzaga Wright

� Dominic Adams

� Imelda Brown

� Marie Therese Farrell

� Josepha Burke

� Aloysia McAuley

� Raphael Flaherty

� Martha Geary

� Agatha Moses

� Colette Barrie

� Zita Cooke

� Rosarii Lyons

� Genevieve Bastany

� Rose Donovan

� Patricia Daniher

� Anne Joseph McCarthy

We are standing on the shoulders of

the ones who came before us.

They are saints and they are humans;

they are angels they are friends.

We can see beyond the struggles and

the troubles and the challenge

when we know that by our efforts things will be better in the when we know that by our efforts things will be better in the

end.

They lift me higher than I could ever fly, carrying

my burdens away.

I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried; we

wouldn’t be here celebrating today.

� Winefride Griffin

� Colman Condon

� Kieran Casey

� Catherine Carey

� Ursula Gillooly

� Brigid Glynn

� de Merci Chesher

� Alacoque Traynor

� Marie Frances Hogan

� Evangelist Rewell

� de Chantal Egan

� Gabriel Bugden

� de Pazzi Toohey

� Bernard O’Keeffe

� Ambrose Johnson

� Bonaventure McLean

� Paschal Royan

� Chanel Nolan

� Leila McQuade

� Isidore Fry� Evangelist Rewell

� Celestine Jones

� Livinus O’Keeffe

� Francis Twohill

� Baptista McGrath

� Loyola Thornton

� Monica Mulligan

� Raymond Daniher

� Celsus Eather

� Isidore Fry

� Dympna Twohill

� de Sales Gleeson

� Dolores Bruggy

� Aidan Rowe

� Vianney Henry

� Fabian Timbs

� Philomena Crowe

� Blandina Gralton

� Jean Munro

� Alexius Owen

� Canice Mooney

� Margaret Cooney

� Leonard Bugden

� Dorothea Kemp

� Columbanus Hannigan

� Barbara McEvoy

� Cecilia Moran

� Damian Rowe

� Michael Donoghue

� Marcelle O’Keeffe

� Emmanuel Reynolds

� Rita Manning

� Phillip Sullivan

� Angela Buckley

� Therese Kelly

� Anne Maroney� Damian Rowe

� Veronica Moroney

� Joan Meade

� Germaine Rewell

� Nea McDonald

� Genevieve Flanagan

� Catherine Rigney

� Concepta Griffin

� Patricia Barrie

� Anne Maroney

� Joan Massey

I am standing on the shoulders of the ones who came

before me

I am honoured by their passion for our liberty

I will stand a little taller; I will work a little longer

and my shoulders will be there to hold the ones who

follow me.

They lift me higher than I could ever fly

carrying my burdens away.

I imagine our world if they hadn’t tried;

we wouldn’t be so very blessed today

CLARE

TERESA

JOSEPH

ANGELA

XAVIER

AUGUSTINE

CLARE

DE SANCTIS

VERONICA

CATHERINE

STANISLAUS

JOSEPH

ALOYSIUS

PATRICK