4 10 108 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/289e44346ea9a7b567b6a0754afc4d41.jpg efeae8b9860da3daa4c0ef773ce15f06 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/72b5fec3bf3a2c8a4bb482f6d2679734.mp3 6e8ad73ea12f97f3578beee76d27b231 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/72f0d87aa286f47139324ae16cd139f7.pdf 992482e788e03b386bf8c3522921052d PDF Text Text Interviewer: Interviewee: Date: Editor: Date edited: Sister Francis Maria Cassidy, SC Sister Anna Denise Murphy, SC July 6, 1983 Sister Noreen Neary, SC November 17, 2020 Sr. Francis Maria: We're visiting at Saint Anne Villa this morning. It's July 6th 1983 and I'm sitting in a lovely, cheerful parlor. And sitting next to me is ... And we've been chatting for a little bit about the [House of Divine Providence and Home for Incurables in Ridgewood, New Jersey]. Your name is Sister Anna Denise Murphy and I'm Sister Francis Maria Cassidy. And I'm just recording that I'm visiting you in this lovely, cheerful parlor. Sister Bea Guider has given us a very nice room here to ... Sister Anna has agreed to tell us something for the record, for history, about her memories of the House of Divine Providence for Incurables in Ridgewood. So, SisterSr. Anna Denise: You see, there was a little cottage, I'll tell you that point. Across the way from the House of Divine Providence, and [Mrs. Andrew Fuller] owned that house. It was a little cottage. Sr. Anna Denise: ... and do things for her. And when she died, she gave all that property to Sister Sarah Joseph [Morning], where Mount Saint Andrew is. All that property she gave to Sarah Joseph. Sr. Francis Maria: That would be across the street? Sr. Anna Denise: Yes. The big house. Nothing was there then, when I was there. And then you see, Sister, this is funny, she had a lot of lovely flowers, Sister. And she had a horse, the woman had. She had a horse, and I think a dog. And she had a parrot. And you see, the people in our house used to go over there. She had lovely flowers, and they used to pull the flowers. And Sister could hear miles away, that parrot would holler, "There they are." And that meant she'd come out and chase them. But Sister, I think you could hear in New York, he'd holler every time they'd come. He'd holler and she'd have to chase them. She used to give some of the flowers for the chapel. And then, of course it was very ... every Sister did their work there. No help of any. They had one girl, a lovely young girl. She's now the Sister. But she was Maria Melania here. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. Sr. Anna Denise: Her Sister, Mary Crowe. Sr. Francis Maria: �Yes, I know Sister Melania. Sr. Anna Denise: She used to have to help me because I didn't know much. So in the morning, [Sister Maria Melania Crowe] used to tell us at the table. "Please, Sisters, could you do without milk? Or could you do without bread?" Or something, "Because I ain't got enough for the patients." They'd say yes. And then Sister Sarah Joseph had a wagon and a horse. This is funny, too. And I'd have to get up at three o'clock in the morning, and go in that wagon with her. And she'd go down to Newark, to Walsh to get the meat for nothing. He had a big, big meat store, but she'd have to go there before the man would open. Sr. Anna Denise: And, Sister, she had a little bell. And she stuck that bell and she'd ring it for the Angelus. Now this is true, and every time she rang, the horse… Sr. Francis Maria: Nodded his head. Sr. Anna Denise: Yes, he was used to that. Sr. Francis Maria: It was a signal. Sr. Anna Denise: Then when we'd come home, Sister, we'd have to take care of the patients and fix them, get ready for Mass. It was very hard because… Sr. Francis Maria: Do you remember the year that you went there, Sister? Sr. Anna Denise: I think it was either 1916 or ‘17, because I entered in 1915. Sr. Francis Maria: So then you were just a novice? Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: You were just a novice. �Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, [unintelligible]. And then you see, Sister, they had a great big room there, a beautiful room. Best room there. And they used to fix this up and have it. But that was for [Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan]. She used to come and stay. That was before I was there, of course. And they used to say, "Fix the room." And they put a big chair for her, and she used to see the sisters, see? And she'd stay there a couple of days. And of course, the sisters were so happy that she was there. Sr. Francis Maria: It would be like a visitation, but it would also be a little vacation for her. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, she loved it. She loved Ridgewood. Sr. Francis Maria: It was getting out into the country, even though here is country. Sr. Anna Denise: You see, now it's all built up. Before there was there nothing for miles and miles, there was nothing there, no houses, only that little cottage. And across the street where Mount Saint Andrew’s was, there was nothing there but woods. But now it's all built up. And of course, the house is burnt; they have a church there now. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. I've been to that church. Do you remember anything about that fire? Sr. Anna Denise: About what? Sr. Francis Maria: The fire that burned… Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, yes. You see, Sister, Mr. Cullen in Newark used to give girls to them. I don't know, they were poor. So this girl, after the fire, they said she was a firebug, I don't know. And up in the attic, of course, they had nowhere. They never had wheelchairs. They had crutches and all that. And she must have sent up there fire. I remember, the whole attic went on fire and we had such a hard time because most of those people were crippled. And we had to try and get them downstairs and out, and everything. That was in 1925. Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, you have a good memory for dates. Sr. Anna Denise: �Yes, that was from 1925. I forget that date, but it was 1925. And they had to get out. We had to try and get them out. So the firemen in Ridgewood were very quick, Sister. They helped us. Because the ones in Ridgewood didn't come right away, but the firemen in Paterson came. Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, it was the Paterson firemen who helped you? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, they did all the work. The Ridgewood firemen came after, but they wasn't so quick. They took their time. But the firemen in Ridgewood, they did, they came. Sr. Francis Maria: Paterson first, and then the Ridgewood people came. Sr. Anna Denise: But Paterson did everything. Sr. Francis Maria: But before the fireman arrived, I imagine you must have been helping the patients. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, we had to get them down, Sister, because they were crippled. And then each sister tried to get them down, and [Sister Mary Valentinia Morin] had a great big dormitory with patients. It was a big floor. And then the next floor was Sister Lethia's. And the next floor was mine. And we had to try and get them out. The smoke alone would kill them, Sister. Sr. Francis Maria: Were there any injuries? Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: Were there any injuries? Sr. Anna Denise: Well, not there, but then we put them over to Mount Saint Andrew’s was there. And a good many of them died with fright. None of them [unintelligible]. They died with fright. They were so crippled, Sister, it was hard to get them down. Sr. Francis Maria: Sister, was this fire at night? �Sr. Anna Denise: No, Sister. No, thank God it wasn't at night, I think it was in the afternoon, as far as I know. But it wasn't at night, I know that. Sr. Francis Maria: Well, that was a blessing. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, yes. And we got them out, anyway. But, see, they were so sick, Sister, it was hard to get them out. We got them out. And of course, I was the youngest Sister there, and they depend upon a lot. At that time you couldn't say no. Whatever you were told to do, you had to try. Sr. Francis Maria: It was easier in a way. Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: It was easier in a way in that you didn't have to make a decision. Sr. Anna Denise: And Sister Sarah Joseph had charge of the whole farm. She had charge of getting the meat. Then there used to get a great big bake... I forget, it was Ward’s. The name was Ward’s. They'd give them big bags of flour and they’d make the bread. They had a big room, I remember, and two great big ovens. And you see, we had to get up at three o'clock in the morning once a month or every second week and they’d make the bread. But at that time, Sister, you couldn't break your fast, don't you remember? Sr. Francis Maria: I remember, until after communion. Sr. Anna Denise: They'd say to me, "Hurry up." I'd have to come down, and they'd make the bread. Oh, Sister, the smell of that bread would make you eat, but you couldn't touch it. And Sister Sarah Joseph had charge of it. Sister Valentinia and Sister Louise Adele [King] was there, and [Sister Mary Esther Mahoney] was there. And [Sister Mary Simeon Ward], she died here. And Sister Valentinia died here. All those Sisters used to work, so we used to get ... And then after that I'd have to go up and get the patients ready for the priest. Sr. Francis Maria: Now, I hope you had some bread before you did that. Was this before Mass? �Sr. Anna Denise: Nothing. Sr. Francis Maria: And you were young. Sr. Anna Denise: You had no time for that. Sr. Francis Maria: You were young. You must have had such an appetite. Sr. Anna Denise: Even the other Sisters didn't. They were used to that. Sr. Francis Maria: But I'm think thinking about the smell of that bread on an empty stomach. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah. And those Sisters, they got over ... I guess God took care of us. And those old Sisters, my goodness, what sacrifice they did. So then I'd have to get the patients ready for Father… oh, Father Keough. Sr. Francis Maria: See, it worked. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, you got it. Father Keough was there. And he used to hear the patients' confessions. But he'd have to have a bell, because they weren't able to go out and in. And when he was still with the confession, he rang this bell. We'd have to go in and take the patient out and bring the other one in, see? They were crippled. Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, yes. Sr. Anna Denise: They had no elevator, Sister. Food came up on dumbwaiters, and I had a pantry and this woman. Oh, she was a little bit of a nuisance, and she used to take and upset the tray, so I went to her. So when she came out of confession, she says, "Father Keough told me what to do about you. He helped me. He said, 'Don't bother with her pantry. Stay away from it. You don't want to go there.'" But he did this for me. Sr. Francis Maria: �That was his way of helping you? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah. So she stayed away. Sr. Francis Maria: He was a good psychologist. Sr. Anna Denise: She didn't go in anymore, see? Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. Sr. Anna Denise: But I was nice to her. That didn’t bother, because Sister Melania always told us, "Sisters, you have to put up with a lot. They're sick." And I told you about the rosary, did I? Sr. Francis Maria: No, not yet. Sr. Anna Denise: Well, this woman was very sick, Sister, and she was all crippled. And she was a good Catholic. And I had a nail in her room. And on that nail I'd have to put the rosary. And she went through her eyes. Nails used to go into her hands. But we had no medicine. We had carbolic, but we had a doctor that would come once or twice a year. And he'd always say to me, "Little Sister, you have to wear gloves," you have [unintelligible]. And I had other patients… Sr. Francis Maria: You mean your hands were burned from the carbolic? Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: Your hands were burned? Sr. Anna Denise: You had to put it in water to fix it because we had nothing else. That was the only thing that would wash her. Because, Sister, if we left that hand there, the worms would get in, see the flesh… Sr. Francis Maria: �Sure. Did you find this hard to do? Sr. Anna Denise: No, I was young and strong, Sister. I was young and strong then. I thought when you went to the community you had to do whatever you've got to do. Sr. Francis Maria: We hear so much today about Mother Teresa of Calcutta working with the indigent poor in India and in other parts of the world, and we wonder how she can work with these people who are so ill, but as you say… Sr. Anna Denise: Those people couldn't have [unintelligible], because it was incurable. Because the priest, and this woman used to get them down by [unintelligible], living in the little huts or something, they were poor, see? And we had one [Sister Mary Cortona Byrne], she was [unintelligible]. She used to make the clothes for them, but Sister, she got cancer. Sr. Francis Maria: I'm sure she has a beautiful face in heaven. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, yeah. They put her in the parlor, and there used to be an undertaker in Paterson. He used to come. Of course, they had their own graveyard there. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes, I see. They had their own graveyard at the House of Divine Providence? Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, yeah. They had a big graveyard. Father Keough said Mass and everything, and they got everything. But I was young. I didn't mind it. And you see, I was sent there, and Sister, Lord have mercy on her, Melania and Mary Crowe, the woman had to have a bath. Of course, I'd never bathed anyone in my life. So I put the woman in the tub. And, Sister, I guess I was rubbing her with my eyes shut. I rubbed her so much, we had those fluted caps... in the tub. Sr. Francis Maria: She threw you in? Sr. Anna Denise: She put my head in. The woman got tired of me rubbing with my eyes shut, I didn't know any better. Oh, you know those fluted caps? Sr. Francis Maria: I sure do. �Sr. Anna Denise: All the starch… I went up to Sister Melania. "Mother of love, what happened to you?" Well, I said, "Sister, that woman put my head in the tub." "Why? Sister, dear, you must keep your eyes open when you bathe people." I said, "Sister, I never bathed…" Sr. Francis Maria: You were embarrassed? Sr. Anna Denise: No, I didn't know. I was dumb. I said, "Sister, I never bathed anyone." Oh she said, "I know you didn't. But if you're bathing them, keep your eyes wide open." For years gone by, they had that joke on me, because all the [unintelligible]. Sr. Francis Maria: And you know those fluted caps were hard to come by. Sr. Anna Denise: See, the other Sisters, they were much older. They knew about it, and then you see… Sr. Francis Maria: You had no training for this. Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: You had no training for this kind of work. Sr. Anna Denise: Well, I never did. I was young. And then Keough used to come at Christmas, and he used to visit, eat dinner with us. And then at Christmas, you see, the people in Paterson and Knights of Columbus used to send pails of candy. And we had to take every bag we had and put candy inside, and we'd give it to the patients. Of course, they thought they were in heaven, in heaven on Earth for a bit of candy. We'd give it to them. And then on the 8th of December, Sister Melania gave us 50 cents. Oh, we were [unintelligible] because Sarah Joseph used to take us to Paterson and we used to buy a lot of stuff. Sr. Francis Maria: With your 50 cents? Sr. Anna Denise: Oh my goodness. �Sr. Francis Maria: That was a fortune then. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah. Everything was cheap then. And Sister Valentinia came home and she said to Sister Melania, "Guess what?" She said, "I was in in that store and I got this little ham, 50 cents." Sr. Francis Maria: No. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, everything was cheap then. Sr. Francis Maria: What could you buy for 50 cents today? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, that was in Paterson and I guess he gave it to her cheaper. At that time they had lots of love for the house and the Sisters. Sr. Francis Maria: She probably told them that's all the money she had. Sr. Anna Denise: So, the Sister in the kitchen, I think it was [Sister Anna Josephus Lucey], the Sister in the kitchen fixed it and gave it to us, a little piece. Then at night, we had recreation. And Sunday night, Sister Melania, she was at every exercise. We had to be there for recreation, and she used to sit in a big chair, Sister. And you know who she reminded me of? One time I saw in a book, I don't know what book, Mother Seton with the Sisters around her. And she'd have us around there, and she'd tell us ... I know one story she told me. Sr. Francis Maria: Was she the Sister Servant? Sr. Anna Denise: Oh yes, she was. But one story she told me, she told us the old [Sister Mary Catherine Nevin]. I didn't know her. Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, Mary Catherine Nevin? Sr. Anna Denise: �Yes. The first. That's when she was 50 years old. She stood and she said to the Sisters, "Pray for me. I'm 50 years serving God, that I did His work and everything right – that's what I want," she said. I know that, she tells us other things. And they had a Victrola, but it was those round ones. Maybe you don't remember them. They were like this, the old ones. And I’d have charge of them and I'd have to put the records in. And Sunday night, for dessert we had a big thing of apples. Sr. Francis Maria: The sisters’ recreation time? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah. But oh, Sister, we were happy. Sr. Francis Maria: You were happy. You worked hard, you were very happy. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, we had no time, Sister. When I used to go down to recreation Sunday, some poor patient that would walk around. I'd say, "If anything happens, call some way." Because they had no telephones or things like that. But, oh, Sister Melania was so good. She was at every exercise, and she was just like ourselves. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. She is very sweet. Now Sister, were there some Sisters there at the time you were there, who had been there in Mother Xavier's time? Sr. Anna Denise: Yes, I'll tell you who was there. Sarah Joseph was there, and Mary Esther was there. They told us about the big room, as I told you about. And Sister Louise Adele was there. She had charge of the priests – the front of the house and the priests. And then they had a Sister, that I think she was there too. [Sister Cornelia Agnes O’Rourke]. Sr. Francis Maria: Cornelius? Sr. Anna Denise: Agnes Cornelius. She had charge of the meeting, and the prayers, and everything. Then in the convent where we were, Sister, from the top of that room where we were down to the bottom, they had a big glass door and you could see the Blessed Sacrament and then the next floor was the choir, and then of course, down below. But Sister Melania used to always tell us, she'd say, "Sisters, when you go in the chapel, I want no talking. God is there." Sr. Francis Maria: Now, do you remember any of the other stories about Mother Xavier? Do you remember anything they told you? �Sr. Anna Denise: No, I don’t know because I wasn't there. Only what they told me. Sr. Francis Maria: I know, but what they told you. Now she would come… Sr. Anna Denise: The sisters used to go in to see her, and she loved Sister Melania, and she loved to stay there because she could go around, and she used to talk to them and tell them things. Sr. Francis Maria: Talk to the sisters and talk to the patients? Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, they loved it. Of course, I wasn't there. I entered in 1915. Sr. Francis Maria: I understand, yes. Sr. Anna Denise: But they told me this room was beautiful, but I know one time Sister Valentinia went to Paterson with the fifty cents and she bought a lovely cup and saucer. See, they had nice things at the table for Mother Xavier when she came. And she used to say, "Sisters, I want the same as you people have." Melania used to say, "The sisters thought so much of you, Mother, that they thought they'd buy the cup and fix a place." Sr. Francis Maria: Well, that's a very nice insight into how humble a woman Mother Xavier was. Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: She was very humble, Mother Xavier. She wanted no fuss. Sr. Anna Denise: She was like a mother. So she bought this cup. I saw it after. That room was never touched. Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, they kept that room? Sr. Anna Denise: �That was locked up and she used to come. Then there was St. Joseph's Hospital [in Paterson, New Jersey]. There was a Sister before Mary Clare, [Sister Mary Irmina McDonough] or some name like that. But she was a great friend of Sister Melania. And Sister used to go there. She used to give Sister Melania some gauze and medicine for the patients. Sr. Francis Maria: Sharing. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, so she used to take us. So this time she took me, and we had [inaudible 00:19:46]. Sister Irmina, that was her name. Sr. Francis Maria: Sister Irmina? Sr. Anna Denise: Irmina. Before Mary Clare got there. And she said to Sister Melania, "I wish could have that little Sister, she could be a nurse." Oh, my heart was broken. And then Sister Melania said, "Oh no, Sister. We need her. We need her very much." Sr. Francis Maria: Sister Irmina wanted you at St. Joseph's Hospital? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, to become a nurse. But I was so frightened, Sister. Sister Melania said, "No, we need her mostly there." She said, "Sister Melania, your sisters work 10 times harder than my nurses." She said, "They ain't got all that work to do." But, oh Sister, it was awfully hard. I guess you're tired listening to me. Sr. Francis Maria: Sister, I could go on listening forever. Do you remember how long you were there at the House of Divine Providence? Sr. Anna Denise: Well, I was there ‘til the fire. And after the fire, I was there two years, and we were sent over to Mount Saint Andrew. But they had no room for everybody. Sister Valentinia had to go over, and this one had ... They had no room for me over there, so I was there three years and then I was sent out to another mission. But the other mission wasn’t anything. Sr. Francis Maria: You must have missed it when you had to leave. Sr. Anna Denise: �But they had no room over there, Sister. They had room for all the other nuns, see. Sr. Francis Maria: Sister, can I go back to that special room they had set up for Mother Xavier? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah. Sr. Francis Maria: Was that destroyed in the fire? Was that room destroyed? Sr. Anna Denise: Everything was destroyed. Sr. Francis Maria: So that lovely cup and saucer that you spoke about? Sr. Anna Denise: Yes, my goodness. At that time, everything was wonderful. [Sister Valentinia would] come and she'd say to Sister Melania, "Look what I bought." Because we had bowls. "Look what I bought." Sister Melania said, "Oh, a cup and saucer for yourself." "Oh, no, no," she said, "for Mother Xavier." Then Sister Melania said, "Oh, that's very nice. We'll put that at her place when she comes." But Mother Xavier didn't want it. Mother Xavier said, "I'll have the same as the sisters." But then Sister Melania said, "Sister Valentinia spent her big money, 50 cents." Sr. Francis Maria: 50 cents. Did you see that cup and saucer? Sr. Anna Denise: Yes. Sr. Francis Maria: Do you remember what it looked like? Sr. Anna Denise: Well, it was a fancy cup and saucer. It had little flowers around it and flowers on the thing. Of course, at that time everything was wonderful and they put it at her plate. Sr. Francis Maria: That was very special for her. She didn't want it. Sr. Anna Denise: �She didn't want it. "I want the same." Sister Melania said, "Mother, listen. She spent her whole 50 cents to buy the cup and saucer," so Mother Xavier said, "All right, I'll use it as long as Valentinia did that." Sr. Francis Maria: Ah, she didn't want to hurt her. Sr. Anna Denise: But you see, they told me before that they loved Mother Xavier. When she’d come, the house was lit up. And Sister Melania said, "Don't do anything special for me. Give me everything the Sisters have the same." Sr. Francis Maria: Mother Xavier would say this. Sr. Anna Denise: And she used to come down, and she used to be for recreation. But they'd all be so happy. She was a great friend of Melania. Of course, Melania was much older. And she loved them. Sr. Francis Maria: When Mother Xavier would come, I suppose she'd rest a bit, she'd be at recreation with you. Sr. Anna Denise: Melania used to say to the Sisters, "Now Sisters, don't go in the room to Mother Xavier ‘til after dinner. She just went to Mass and she wants a rest." Sr. Francis Maria: Give her a chance. Sr. Anna Denise: Sister Melania used to go and see her. Sr. Francis Maria: When you think that she had such a responsibility in the community on her shoulders, and she wasn't young at that time. Sr. Anna Denise: Who? Sr. Francis Maria: Mother Xavier. Sr. Anna Denise: �Yeah, but she loved it. She loved that place. Sr. Francis Maria: She loved to come. As I have read, this was one of her very favorite projects, this House of Divine Providence. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, she loved it. But Sister Melania used to go with her around the grounds, and then she was very good. She'd go and see the sick people. And she used to say to Sister Melania, "Oh, Sister, they are God's people. They are God's people going to heaven." And she used to say to some of the people, "If you get to heaven, don't forget Mother." Sr. Francis Maria: Mother Xavier would say that? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, because you see, they had suffered so, and they had nothing. Sr. Francis Maria: She was depending on their prayers. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, they were poor people. They didn't have half of the clothes when they'd bring them in. And the women in Paterson were mostly good to work. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. But there was a great concern in our community for the poor. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah. Oh, Sister, they were poor. Then you see, when they die ... When the doctors told me, I used to say to them, "You'll be in heaven pretty soon." And then at ten o'clock in that house, in the sun parlor, they said the rosary and they said the prayers, and they used to go around the rooms. Of course, the ones in the rooms wouldn't hear them. But they had to tell them that the rosary was beginning and they'd pray. Sr. Francis Maria: And they would say it from their beds. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh yes, they'd say it and they used to pray for the sick. And they always prayed for the community. And praying for different ones dying. When I think of it now, I don't know how ... It was very hard, Sister. Because you had nobody to help. You had to bathe them. You had to see �that the rooms were clean. You had to see that the food came up on the dumbwaiter. You had to fix your tray. Sr. Francis Maria: Is that what you did in your pantry? You spoke about having charge of a pantry? Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, that was where the trays were. That belonged to the floor. That belonged to your floor. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. You carried the trays? Sr. Anna Denise: What? Sr. Francis Maria: You carried the trays to the patients? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, we had to carry the trays. And sometimes, what's her name, Mary Crowe used to help me with the trays. She was very good. Sr. Francis Maria: Mary Crowe? Sr. Anna Denise: Mary Crowe. She wasn't a sister. And her sister is here, [Sister Maria Melania Crowe]... Sr. Francis Maria: Sister, you mentioned that you did all the work yourselves, the sisters did. You did haveSr. Anna Denise: We had to. We had no nurses. Sr. Francis Maria: Yeah, you had Mary Crowe to help you. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, yeah. We had no nurses. That's why Sister Irmina used to say, "Your sisters work more than the nurses." We had no nurses. Sr. Francis Maria: �There was just one thing I wanted to ask you about, I know that you had no help in the house, but how about the grounds? Did you have any man who helped you? Sr. Anna Denise: Yes, I forget what he was. But he never came in the house. He did that for charity. He came to the grounds for Sister ... He came from Paterson, too. I forget what his name was now. Patrick O'Neill, some name like that. Sr. Francis Maria: It's a good name. Did you ever hear the story of a man, a deaf mute who couldn't speak, who Mother Xavier had here at Convent Station and whom she sent out there to the House of Divine Providence when he became very ill? Sr. Anna Denise: Well, I heard of it, but you see, I was never there in her time. Sr. Francis Maria: I know you weren't there, but do you remember anyone talking about him? Sr. Anna Denise: Well, Valentinia and I think it was Sister Esther, Mary Esther. She had charge of the men's house. She used to tell how he was deaf, and Mother Xavier used to talk to him and the sisters. But of course, Mother Xavier always went to the poor. She went to those cripples before she went to us. When she'd come in the house, and she'd seen Melania, of course. And Melania had to take her round to the different floors. She saw those patients. I don't know how they managed it. She'd go to all the patients. Sr. Anna Denise: And of course those patients, Sister, when they heard they were here, if she wasn’t there, they’d be sick, they loved her. She'd say to them, "You're suffering for God. You're poor, and you'll get reward in heaven." Sr. Francis Maria: Yes, and I think knowing that it was coming from her, it meant a great deal to them. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh yes, they loved ... They had nothing else, the poor things. What did they have? Sr. Francis Maria: Well, Sister, you've given us a very, very beautiful first-hand… Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, maybe I talked too much. �Sr. Francis Maria: No you didn't. Some first-hand personal memories, and you've made me see that House of Divine Providence in action. Sr. Anna Denise: We had nothing. There was one Sister, she used to sew. They didn't have an electric machine. They had that… Sr. Francis Maria: A little foot pedal machine? Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, and she had charge. Of course, there was never anything new. Because I remember one time, Sister Valentinia, her mop wasn't much good and she threw it out. Now listen to this, Sister Melania was around, she brought the mop upstairs, she washed it. Sister Valentina went to her and said, "Sister, have you got any kind of a mop?" She said, "Yeah, here's the one you threw out." Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, she was so careful about poverty. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, you didn't have it. She didn't have it. You had to be careful of everything. And I know one thing I meant to tell you, this is funny, too. Sister Mary Matthew [Grogan] was there and old Sister Simeon was there. She had charge of the laundry. She's the one that used to help the sister with the cancer. And she used to have a day or two that she'd close the laundry and go down and help. And Mary Matthew was there. But we used to [unintelligible] sewing, and Mary Matthew, she was very funny. She'd have a needle, and she had no thread. She had no thread. Sister Melania said, "Mary Matthew, when are you going to get the thread through the needle?" So she told one of the sisters to give her the thread, but Sister Melania always put it in a nice way. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes, she went through the motions of sewing. Sr. Anna Denise: Yeah, she was nice. And you could go to her. She was like a big mother. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. Well, your memories are so kind, Sister. And I'm so glad that you were able to recall so much. Your dates and names. Sr. Anna Denise: �They used to tell me when Mother Xavier came, "Oh, the whole house was in glory." Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, that's a beautiful way to… Sr. Anna Denise: Sister Melania used to give [unintelligible]. Of course, the Sisters, I guess they didn't have much to put on, a decent cap or something to see Mother. Sr. Francis Maria: Yeah, I hope you didn't have to wear the cap that you went into the bathtub in. Sr. Anna Denise: They’ll think I'm crazy. Sr. Francis Maria: That is funny, no. Sr. Anna Denise: Of course, we had to have aprons and beads and a cape, and they'd dress up what they had for Mother Xavier, because the whole place would be lit up when she’d come. Sr. Francis Maria: As you said, it was a glory when she came. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, they loved it. Even the patients loved it. She loved the patients because they were poor. She used to say to the Sisters, "Sisters, they're suffering for God. They have nothing. And when they go, they go to heaven." And I said one time to Sister Melania, "I hope they're praying for us." And she said, “Yes, they pray for us." Sr. Francis Maria: And I hope they're still praying for us. Sister Anna Denise, I hope that you're praying for our lovely community. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, I do. I pray every day. Sr. Francis Maria: And I thank you so much. Sr. Anna Denise: �I thank God I have my brain. I can go in the chapel and pray. And you know the sisters here, every time… I say, "You think I'm a prayer book, don't you? Will you pray for this one, will you pray for that." I love to pray. But God is good, Sister. My brain. Sr. Francis Maria: God is very good. Your mind is wonderful. Sr. Anna Denise: All my life I didn't do anything right, don't you know? Sr. Francis Maria: Well, that's the way you see it. Sr. Anna Denise: The woman I kept my eyes shut with, that was wrong. Sr. Francis Maria: When you gave her the bath? Sr. Anna Denise: You had to be told about it. Sr. Francis Maria: That was very, very mild. I'm sure that… Sr. Anna Denise: I think it was dumb. I said to Sister Melania. "Oh," Sister Melania said, "No, Sister. You were innocent." At that time… Sr. Francis Maria: Well, now, Sister Anna Denise, thank you very much for your memories. Sr. Anna Denise: Oh, I kept… Sr. Francis Maria: No, you didn't. Will I see you at the picnic in a little while? Sr. Anna Denise: No, I'm not going [unintelligible] Sr. Francis Maria: You're not going out to the picnic? �Sr. Anna Denise: [unintelligible] Sr. Francis Maria: All right, well I hope I'll be able to talk to you again. Thank you for sharing. Sr. Anna Denise: And I thank you for listening to me. Sr. Francis Maria: Oh, I loved it. I had an absolutely beautiful time. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Murphy, Sister Anna Denise, S.C. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Cassidy, Sister Francis Maria, S.C. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data cassette tape Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 0:32:19 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sister Anna Denise Murphy, S.C. Oral History Subject The topic of the resource Murphy, Sister Anna Denise, S.C.; House of Divine Providence Ridgewood, NJ; Sister M. Melania Crowe; Mount Saint Andrew Villa Ridgewood, NJ; Paterson, NJ, Mother M. Xavier Mehegan Description An account of the resource Description of Sister's early years at the House of Divine Providence; stories of Mother M. Xavier Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Murphy, Sister Anna Denise, S.C.; Cassidy, Sister Francis Maria, S.C. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 6, 1983 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Neary, Sister Noreen, S.C. (Editor) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio/mp3 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Sister Anna Denise remembers her early years at the House of Divine Providence and recalls stories of Mother M. Xavier Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant July 1983 Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/e21bbbafbe7f0eb4bddb90df339ad43f.jpg 73ee666d4009aa4a58b72d0e3144896d https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/d8de700192d8b1f95e52583f6e0fbd95.mp3 aa734d5e5e51f9e7e1785380c15ddeb0 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/d8b64a9c20bc804cac540cc812a95bd1.pdf 020698e7763c09d03573bc552812afda PDF Text Text Interviewer: Interviewee: Date: Editor: Date edited: Sister Francis Maria Cassidy, SC Sister Mary Josepha Murphy, SC July 1, 1983 Sister Noreen Neary, SC November 6, 2020 Sr. Francis Maria: I'm visiting down at Saint Anne Villa with Sr. Mary Josepha. We're sitting in a very bright room. Is this the back of the house, Sister? On the back of the house…is a very pretty pink spread on a pretty blue bed and all around is color and brightness, and of course, the brightest thing in the room is Sister herself. Sister was an [inaudible]. [Archbishop Robert Seton] was at Convent Station in his retirement and she had the privilege, and I think she regards it as a privilege, of serving him in the dining room. And she's agreed to recall a few of her memories. Sister, what year did you become a Sister of Charity? Sr. Mary Josepha: January 6, 1926. And the day I got the habit, I went to take care of the Archbishop, and I was with him until he died, that one full year. I always considered the Archbishop a lonely person with no friends, except the college girls [students at the College of Saint Elizabeth] who were very nice to him. And they used to take walks with him sometimes on the grounds. He was very thin, medium height, white hair, a long nose, just points for teeth. He was a very quiet man, wellspoken, courteous. Always wore a cassock with a cape edged in red and a red skull cap. I think he was quite eccentric in his thoughts and words. Although he was 87 years old, beginning to get a little senile, he never missed saying Mass. I had nothing outstanding in my dealings with the Archbishop, except maybe a few interesting and humorous incidents. For instance, we had rules and customs that if we were in a room with a member of the other sex, we must [never] close the door. Well, our Mistress of Novices came over one day to see how I was [inaudible] me. Sr. Francis Maria: What was the door? Sr. Mary Josepha: The door out to the room where I used to sit and wait for him and then a door out into the hall; there were two doors. Sr. Francis Maria: Up to his room? Sr. Mary Josepha: No, no, downstairs in his private dining room. So the next day, I opened the door a few inches, the Archbishop noticed it and said, "Close that door." So I went over and I closed the door with a bang and then opened it softly; his back was to the door and he didn't notice. �Sr. Francis Maria: You played a trick on him. Sr. Mary Josepha: I really pleased everyone. Sr. Francis Maria: It's still there? Sr. Mary Josepha: It's the dining room in the front hall. As you come in the main front door, to the left there's a small room that I used to sit in and then a very large dining room that was his room, no one else used it. Downstairs, that was his room, no one else used that room. I had to tell the chef each day what to prepare for him. So I'd ask him and I'd say, "Now, Your Grace, what do you want for dinner tomorrow?" And he never called me Sister. "Josepha, a gentlemen eats to live, he doesn't live to eat," so he'd never tell me. Then he usually had like mashed sweet potatoes, which he called Carolinas, with a poached egg. And this day he said, "Take this back to the chef, it's terrible." So I took it into the next little room, put it on the radiator, took a fork, mixed it up a bit and took it back. Sr. Mary Josepha: He had it at noon time and he had his dinner at night, and he always came dressed for dinner with his white cuffs, and that was dinner. Now, I'd bring him a tray at noon time, then I would go back. He would like to detain me, but I used to try to get out as fast as I could. One day he was down and his dictation, I had to write into his, what was it? Sr. Francis Maria: His diary. Sr. Mary Josepha: His diary. And a few weeks ago, 57 years later, I read it, his dictation with my name signed to it, Novice, that I would promise to take care of him, et cetera, I forget what the rest said. And also, sometimes, when I would go back for the tray, he wouldn't be there, but it'd have a note on it. I can remember one note in particular that the soup tastes like dishwater, but sometimes he liked his lunch, but sometimes. But he'd leave a note and I kept putting them in my very large pocket. And one day I'm in the classroom, cleaning out my pocket and [Sr. Rita Dolores Simons] came in and said, "Oh, you're cleaning your desk?" I said, "No, my pocket." She said, "Well, what's this?" I said, "It's Arch...", so she gathered them all up and put them in the basket. I probably would have done the same. Sr. Francis Maria: Wouldn't it be nice if we had them today? Sr. Mary Josepha: �They were his writing. Sr. Francis Maria: Sister Josepha, when you brought him his tray, you brought that up to his bedroom? Sr. Mary Josepha: Yes. He had a bedroom and a sitting room. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes, would you tell us where that was? Sr. Francis Maria: Sister Josepha, toward the close of his life, I believe that the Archbishop had an accident and then became ill. Would you tell us something about what you remember of his illness and his death? Sr. Mary Josepha: Yes, he broke his hip and the complications set in. And this particular day [Sister Mary Ellen Mangan] said, "Don't go to class today, we're going over to see the Archbishop." So we went over and in his room that he used as his living room, a sitting room, there were a group of sisters were sitting in there, just outside of his bedroom. And when we went into his bedroom, [Mother Mary Alexandrine Jackson] was there and a nurse sitting beside his bed. Now, Mother Alexandrine and Sr. Mary Ellen blessed him with Holy Water. They came over and told me to sit beside his bed until I was sent for. So that was about three o'clock in the afternoon. And I sat there until six. And during that time, he came to once and he spoke, but I couldn't understand what he said. But the nurse leaned down and said, "He recognized you and he wants you to hold his hand." "Oh," I said, "I couldn't do that, I'm a novice." But she said, "He's an old man and he's dying." Well, he died the next morning, about 10 o'clock. And that evening, the day he died, I was on my way back to the novitiate from the dining hall. The sisters met me in the hall and took a hold of me by the arm and said, "Oh, come on, come into the parlor there, the Archbishop's body is going to be in review." So I went in the parlor with them and there were about 25 professed sisters standing there, the folding doors were closed, and I was a little nervous, being a novice, I felt I didn't belong there, especially when I saw Sr. Rita, who was over the education in the novitiate. Finally, the folding doors opened and Sr. Rita Dolores said, "We'll let his friend go in and kneel and say the first prayer." So I went in, and I still remember how he was laid out on a couch. He was in a lace alb with a skull cap on, and beside him, there was a large vase, a very tall vase, with American beauty roses in. Sr. Francis Maria: That was a lovely tribute, wasn't it, to be called Archbishop Seton's friend? Mother Seton must have loved you. You became more familiar with Mother Seton as the years went on. Sr. Mary Josepha: �I didn't tell about going to Rome, did I? Sr. Francis Maria: No, would you tell us a little something about the beatification, Sister? Sr. Mary Josepha: Well, the Archbishop used to speak about Mother Seton, but I didn't know too much about Mother Seton until I went out on a mission, and I really listened to him very politely, and he spoke frequently of his parents, also. But I didn't recall…he used to talk about Seton annex that he was so happy that that was named after his grandmother. Also, he gave a desk, told me about the desk he gave to Mother Alexandrine that had belonged to Mother Seton. Now, when I went out on a mission and I read and knew about the canonization of Mother Seton, and we received word from the provincials that they would send one from each province. And if she was interested, just send her name in. Sr. Francis Maria: Now, Sister, this would have been in the 1960s, so it was probably the beatification, was it? Sr. Mary Josepha: No, it was the canonization. Sr. Francis Maria: It was the canonization? Sr. Mary Josepha: In 1975. Sr. Francis Maria: I see. Sr. Mary Josepha: It was the canonization. Sr. Francis Maria: Did you not go to the beatification? Sr. Mary Josepha: I didn't go to the beatification because the principal of the school I was in [Sister Mary Angelina Meyers of Saint Cecilia School, Englewood, NJ] wanted very much to go, and she asked me. She said if I went she felt she couldn't go, so I didn't go. But later at the canonization, I didn't think much, when they said someone, if you want to put your name in. But one day when I was on my way to school with my books in my hand, I walked past the telephone booth and I just had an inspiration. I went in and called [Sister Therese Dorothy Leland]. I said, "Sister Therese, would �you put my name in that basket for the canonization of Mother Seton?" Then I went on to school and said a little prayer; I said, "Now, Mother Seton, you know I took care of your grandson the last year of his life, so maybe you could send me to the canonization.” Sr. Mary Josepha: Nights later, the telephone rang at 10 o'clock. Sister said, "It is Sr. Therese Dorothy." Ooh, I said, "What would she ever want me for at 10 o'clock at night?" So I went to the telephone and Sr. Therese said, "Are you seated?" I said, "Yes." She said, "You won the trip to Rome." So I feel that Mother Seton sent me. Sr. Francis Maria: Do you pray for Archbishop Seton, Sister? Do you think about him sometimes? Sr. Mary Josepha: I do think about him, but I don't say that I pray too much, but I do once in a while. When I think of Mother Seton and that's…I never think of Mother Seton without thinking of the Archbishop. And he would speak to me about his father; I wish I had paid more attention to it. But I never considered it a bother. And I was never impatient with him. Sr. Francis Maria: That's a nice memory. Sister, I know that you didn't encourage long conversations with him because your Mistress of Novices certainly gave you your orders, I'm sure about that. But apart from the things you've already told us, do you ever remember any little things that he said to you or anything you said to him or did for him? Sr. Mary Josepha: Well, I had very many interesting and humorous things we used to talk about them when I went over to the novitiate. I don't think I spoke about the dessert, did I? Sr. Francis Maria: No. Sr. Mary Josepha: No. He used to want me to sit down and have dessert with him, which I never did. This particular evening, he had delicious cake and he tried hard to have me sit down, but I didn't do it. After he left, [Sister Ursulina McKeon] came over from the other side to help me carry his dishes over. But before we did it, we finished the cake. And also Sr. Francis Maria: Do you remember that dessert, I suppose, better than almost any other dessert? Sr. Mary Josepha: Oh, yeah, I always remember. It was the only time I ever ate his dessert. Did I talk about the notes…I did…on the tray? �Sr. Francis Maria: Yes, you did. You told us about the notes that he used to leave for you on the tray, and how we wish we had them today. Sr. Mary Josepha: When I went in for his tray one day, he asked me to go into the next room and get him a brush and wet it and a hand mirror. I said to myself, "Well, now, if he wants me to brush his hair, I'm not going to do it." I went out, and I held the mirror up and he said, "You have a spot on your cape. Now, you know, when you wait on the Archbishop, you mustn't have any spots.” Well, I removed my spot, picked up his tray and returned with it. Sr. Francis Maria: He was very fastidious. Now, did you ever attend his Mass, Sister, in the chapel? Sr. Mary Josepha: Oh, yes. I went to his Mass and when we were, and one time in particular, there were four of us in the band, four postulants. And I guess Sr. Mary Ellen didn't know what to do with us this time, she said, "Go over to the Archbishop's Mass." He said the Mass on Our Lady's altar, way over to the side. When he turned around, he was very happy to see that he had an audience…he didn't usually. And I think it was the Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome, because he saw when he had an audience, he gave us a homily. Now, we were kind of young and just entered, and we really giggled a little bit, we thought it was quite something for him to give us a homily. We went back to the novitiate, we told Sr. Mary Ellen we giggled, and she said, "Well, that was all right." Sr. Francis Maria: She was understanding. But he did like the young, didn't he, Sister? I think that he didn't like the idea of growing old himself; no one does. But I think he liked to surround himself with the young and the happy. Sr. Mary Josepha: He was always happy if the college girls would stop and talk to him and sometimes they'd walk around the grounds with him. And they were very, very kind to him. Even occasionally they went into his living room and he showed them different things that he had, but that was his real. Oh, he liked [Mother Mary Benita Kane]. Now, Mother Benita was a librarian then in the big library. And he used to get the Times every day. And I used to give it to Mother Benita when he finished the Times. But he did like Mother Benita; she was Sr. Benita then. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. Well, that's a very nice thing to recall. Sister, you said he used to walk with the college girls. I know his diary mentions many times the girls coming to visit him and he'd mention them by name and he would look out the window and see the [Academy of Saint Elizabeth] girls returning and he'd feel lonesome when they'd leave at the end of the summer. Also, I think they used to escort him to movies that were held over in the auditorium. Did he ever speak to you about being lonely? �Sr. Mary Josepha: Yes, because he'd say that he would try to stop people to give them, and they would just go right by. And we did have little conversations, never too long. But another time it really didn't, no one just sympathizes with it, but he had these points for teeth. And one time he called me because he bit his lip and it was bleeding and he wanted me to look at it and he said, "Now, look at it, feel it." I said, "No, I don't have to feel it, Your Grace, I can see it." But you see, he was just looking for a little sympathy. Sr. Francis Maria: Yes. He was probably a little frightened, too, and wanted someone to give him a little bit of attention and take care of that for him. And you were so sweet and young with him. Now, Sister, did he use a cane? Sr. Mary Josepha: No. He didn't use any cane, he used to shuffle along. You could hear him come along the hall shuffling. But if I remember rightly, I don't think he had eyeglasses. I'm sure he didn't have eyeglasses and he didn't use a cane. He walked slowly. He used to go to Morristown once in a while, and he'd hire a car and take him to Morristown and he'd come back with boxes of candy and jars of jelly for me to put away for him. And one time he gave me a half a pound of candy. He said, "I'd give you a pound, but I know the Mistress of Novices will take it from you." So, you know, although we had plenty of candy in the novitiate. Every once in a while, he'd give me a book and different things and I hesitated and I said, "Sr. Mary Ellen, what will I do if he wants?" She said, "You take anything he gives you." Sr. Francis Maria: He knew all about the inner workings of the things, but he was kind. Sr. Mary Josepha: He was very kind. Sr. Francis Maria: He was lonely. Sr. Mary Josepha: He just wanted a little attention and someone to speak to him. Sr. Francis Maria: Well, thank you, Sr. Josepha, for sharing those memories of Archbishop Seton with us. They're memories, of course, that no one but yourself has. There are other sisters who remember other things, but these are your personal memories of him. Thank you very much, Sister. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Murphy, Sister Mary Josepha, S.C. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Cassidy, Sister Francis Maria, S.C. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data cassette tape Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 0:17:36 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sister Mary Josepha Murphy, S.C. Oral History Subject The topic of the resource Murphy, Sister Mary Josepha, S.C.; Mother Seton; Archbishop Robert Seton Description An account of the resource Description of Sister's interactions with Archbishop Robert Seton during her novitiate year Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Murphy, Sister Mary Joseph, S.C.; Cassidy, Sister Francis Maria, S.C. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 1, 1983 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Neary, Sister Noreen, S.C. (Editor) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio/mp3 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Sister M. Josepha Murphy describes her interactions with Archbishop Seton Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant July 1, 1983 Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/4b3b22ed59f25c968a39299fd1a3dc9b.jpg b9eb5df2fa01323f8c56b7e7652db860 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/22b9a940b2f9d4e8b5130bf7c78eca2e.jpg 6074e881b52e7b6e8969fecff2db392e https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/7e42ceece02af8e38090fb38fba72532.jpg 8e59bf5d549c7f7e6ad202546dc563d1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sr. Alice Matthew’s Trunk Subject The topic of the resource Trunk (Luggage) Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Emmitsburg Province Description An account of the resource The trunk was a symbol of the Daughters of Charity and their ability and willingness to travel to wherever they were needed. The trunk was meant to be a semi-lightweight and convenient way to pack up all the clothing, habits, and necessities of life, while encouraging a sense of personal moderation amongst individual sisters. This trunk, in very good condition, belonged to Sister Alice Matthews, and still has the shipping information as she began her ministry at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource N/A Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Daughters of Charity Archives, Province of St. Louise, Emmitsburg, MD Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available N/A Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca. 1986 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource N/A Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Permission for any type of publication of archival materials, including text, photographs, video, or audio must be secured from the Daughters of Charity Communications Director before publication. Contact archives staff for appropriate forms and contact information. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Wood and Leather, 36” x 21” x 24” Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context EM 11-5-3 #323 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ca. 1985 Washington DC Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/e1d33ca0e3526b62b9f302b2390a80c4.jpg 8e48508eb589ab7c44d10154fba3d57d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sacred Heart Statue Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Religieuses de Notre-Dame-Du_Sacre-Coeur (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) Description An account of the resource Our Lady of the Sacred Heart statue; Mary is showing Jesus' Sacred Heart. Our Foundress, Mère Marie-Anne, saw this Statue in a window display in Montréal and reserved it to be bought at a later date. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource N/A Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available N/A Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1924 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource N/A Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Online access is provided for research purposes only. For rights, reproduction, and use requests or more information, please contact the Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacre-Coeur (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) Relation A related resource N/A Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Plaster Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context N/A Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant N/A Les Religieuses de Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/7825662cb49a3bcb4fc8e97546471a6e.jpeg 9a68a3d38fe10f0b8a49fadfa04fe70f https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/4c975f4d5a10b361ae127dfe69a60bc0.jpeg a4c50c94b7b6f0e8ce6da90ef762ff1e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mother Catherine Spalding's Writing Desk Subject The topic of the resource Writing desks Spalding, Catherine, 1793-1858 Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Archival Center Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca. 1840-1860 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource N/A Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context MCS Desk 1.jpeg MCS Desk 2.jpeg Description An account of the resource Mother Catherine Spalding, a founding leader of the new religious community in the new Catholic diocese of Kentucky, used this writing desk, ca. 1840-1860. Her peers so respected her that Sister Catherine was consistently reelected to six-year terms, despite giving Fr. David and Bishop Flaget “convincing reasons” why she should not retain leadership for life. Other Sisters collaborated with her Council, however, and numerous clergy and lay persons worked to establish the three main ministries that Kentuckians lacked. The desk is displayed in Heritage Hall, O'Connell Hall, on the campus at Nazareth, Kentucky. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource N/A Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Permission for any type of publication of archival materials, including text, photographs, video, or audio must be secured from the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Archival Center before publication. Contact archives staff for appropriate forms and contact information. Relation A related resource N/A Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource wood furniture Sisters of Charity of Nazareth https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/ea8a667734e7e56a5a59b8192f4b58be.jpg bc8627ad7a5c57325bc23b67f204e3c9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Order of Alhambra Subject The topic of the resource Cholera--Religious aspects--Catholic Church Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Order of Alhambra Description An account of the resource In 1832, cholera ravaged the city of Philadelphia. The Daughters of Charity accepted the invitation to nurse in the city, the Almshouse, and the General Hospital to care for the victims of the dread disease. Two Daughters died during their service during this service. Over 100 years later, the memory of the Daughters bravery in the face of a brutal epidemic remained strong. The Order of the Alhambra, a Catholic fraternal order, erected a plaque in Philadelphia General Hospital in a memorial to the Daughters’ service. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Order of Alhambra Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Order of the Alhambra Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1947-08-23 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Daughters of Charity Archives, Province of St. Louise, Emmitsburg, MD Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Permission for any type of publication of archival materials, including text, photographs, video, or audio must be secured from the Daughters of Charity Communications Director before publication. Contact archives staff for appropriate forms and contact information. Relation A related resource N/A Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Brass, 49 1/2" tall x 28" wide Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context EM 7-6-1 #1 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1947-08-23 Philadelphia, PA Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/04acbd862e63b60537f3d4a472cbdfd1.jpg 77f386689d45b931210d7f7781695801 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/addf53381c342a9828ebaee3717752c5.jpg 06c4d89f0e47b7c2f1ba98f5b01caa3f https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/597c94dc9568552cafe18f37838c80dc.jpg a49ee1f405ea7c1acd7d39936f3d2cb9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Steeple from former Bethany Motherhouse Chapel, crowning a reflective pool in the Bethany Centennial Gardens Subject The topic of the resource Architecture Bell tower Buildings Fountain Nova Scotia -- Antigonish County Spire Steeple and steeple components Description An account of the resource Built from 1962 to 1963, the steeple stood atop the Sisters of St. Martha’s Motherhouse Chapel for more than 50 years, sheltering the bell and serving as a hillside symbol of hope. Its construction, paired with a new chapel and wing, marked a period of immense growth in the size of the congregation. Composed of a steel frame and clad in copper, the steeple is topped with a stainless-steel crucifix. This crucifix was a modern addition, replacing the original gold-leaf cross that was damaged during a storm in 2005. When the Motherhouse was deconstructed, from 2018 to 2019, the remaining grounds were transformed into the Bethany Centennial Gardens. The steeple was then installed amid the garden. Refurbished, it now surmounts a granite and concrete reflective pool, and rests upon a weathered-steel base, bearing the inscriptions of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha’s “CSM” symbol, and a quotation from previous Chapters’ Directional Statements, “standing together in undaunted hope”. Still skimming the hillside, the steeple provides a peaceful place for contemplation and continues to be a visible symbol of the Marthas’ presence and faith. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Patrick Keenleyside Architect from the firm Govan Kaminker Langley Keenleyside Melick Devonshire & Wilson Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, Antigonish Nova Scotia. Photographs provided by CSM Communications Coordinator and CSM Archives. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, Antigonish Nova Scotia. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1962-1963, original construction 2020-2022, installation at Bethany Centennial Garden Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Online access is provided for research purposes only. Permission for reproduction or use requests must be obtained. Please contact: CSM Archives, Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, 75 Marian Drive, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2G 2G6. This permission is valid only insofar as CSM Archives, as owner or custodian, has any rights in the matter and does not remove the responsibility of the author, editor, and publisher to guard against the infringement of any rights, including copyright, that may be held by others. Relation A related resource N/A Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Copper, steel, weathered-steel, granite, and cement Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context N/A Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1962-2022 Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada Coordinates: Lat: 45 39 00 N degrees minutes Lat: 45.6500 decimal degrees Long: 062 00 00 W degrees minutes Long: -62.0000 decimal degrees Sisters of St. Martha of Antigonish https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/546a63c8e2b15c01ed9368ba65414235.jpg b1af44de28d04fea6a20a603b2c29dd3 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource St. Joseph’s Free School and The Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, stained glass panels, 1810; 1859; 1943; 1972 Subject The topic of the resource Catholic schools St. Joseph’s Academy (Emmitsburg, Md.) McGowan’s Pass (Convent: New York, N.Y) Academy of Mount St. Vincent on-the-Hudson (New York, N.Y.) Academy of Mount St. Vincent (Tuxedo Park, N.Y.) Central Park (New York, N.Y.) –Pictorial works Bronx (New York, N.Y.) – Pictorial works Schools –New York (State) –Tuxedo Park – Pictorial works Schools – New York (City) – Bronx –Pictorial works Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Peter Appleton, Artist A handwritten note recorded by Sr. Maria Lawrence Keating, who taught at the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, Tuxedo Park, from 1948-1966, states that Mother Mary Fuller asked artist Peter Appleton, who designed the windows for the Tuxedo Park chapel to create these plaques to honor the tradition of the Academy. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1859; 1947 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource stained glass Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1810; 1847; 1859; 1943 St. Joseph’s Academy (Emmitsburg, Md.) McGowan’s Pass (Convent: New York, N.Y) Academy of Mount St. Vincent on-the-Hudson (New York, N.Y.) Academy of Mount St. Vincent (Tuxedo Park, N.Y.) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Permission for reproduction or quotation must be obtained through written application to: Director of Archives, Sisters of Charity of New York, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10471. This permission is valid only insofar as he Archives of the Sisters of Charity of New York, as owner or custodian, has any rights in the matter and does not remove the responsibility of the author, editor, and publisher to guard against the infringement of any rights; including copyright, that may be held by others. Description An account of the resource Panel 1, upper section: Emmitsburg, Maryland, 1810: In 1810 when Elizabeth Seton arrived in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the new community of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph’s, opened a free school, the two-story Federal-style building depicted, today known as the ‘White House.’ On February 22, 1810, three girls were the first day students to attend Saint Joseph’s Free School, the first free Catholic school for girls staffed by religious women in the country. Panel 1, lower section: McGown’s Pass, Manhattan, 1847: Mother Seton’s school in Emmitsburg was the precursor to the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx, opened after the New York Sisters separated from Emmitsburg community in 1847. Under the patronage of Reverend John Hughes, the first Archbishop of New York and brother to Mother Mary Angela Hughes who led the Community 1855-1861, the Academy at McGown’s Pass was regarded as one of the pioneer institutions in the East for the education of Catholic girls. In 1851, the Academy received its charter from the New York State Legislature. McGown’s Pass at approximately 109th Street and 5th Avenue, had been the location of Revolutionary War headquarters for George Washington and his army. Panel 2, upper section: Font Hill-On-Hudson, Bronx, New York, 1859 When the Sisters were asked to vacate the McGown’s Pass property in Manhattan for the planned development of Central Park, they purchased the 55-acre estate Font Hill-On-Hudson located on the east bank of the Hudson River. In 1859 when construction of the first building at Font Hill-on-Hudson was completed, the building included accommodations for the new Academy and boarding students. The classrooms, grand study hall, art room, music hall, reception rooms, as well as the Convent and Chapel of the Immaculate Conception were housed in this building, today known as Founders Hall. Panel 2, lower section: Tuxedo Park, New York, 1943 As the College student population increased, the need for separate quarters for the Academy’s faculty, students, and activities, was addressed. To provide a new location for the school, Archbishop Spellman deeded an estate in Tuxedo Park, New York, that had been donated to the Archdiocese of New York by Mrs. E. John Heidseick. On this property, the mansion ‘Chastellux’ first housed the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent at Tuxedo Park in 1943. In 1947, the Academy expanded in acreage when Mr. Erasmus Lindley deeded his adjacent home and property. Relation A related resource Panel 1; Panel 2 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/caf3bdd4fd3701c14448fa1888371eb7.jpg 81840f35c8a933369d8cce5a93850cf4 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/e19873cc73b971b20d197604368de6b4.jpg b1af44de28d04fea6a20a603b2c29dd3 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource St. Joseph’s Free School and The Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, stained glass panels, 1810; 1859; 1943; 1972 Subject The topic of the resource Catholic schools St. Joseph’s Academy (Emmitsburg, Md.) McGowan’s Pass (Convent: New York, N.Y) Academy of Mount St. Vincent on-the-Hudson (New York, N.Y.) Academy of Mount St. Vincent (Tuxedo Park, N.Y.) Central Park (New York, N.Y.) –Pictorial works Bronx (New York, N.Y.) – Pictorial works Schools –New York (State) –Tuxedo Park – Pictorial works Schools – New York (City) – Bronx –Pictorial works Description An account of the resource Panel 1, upper section: Emmitsburg, Maryland, 1810: In 1810 when Elizabeth Seton arrived in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the new community of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph’s, opened a free school, the two-story Federal-style building depicted, today known as the ‘White House.’ On February 22, 1810, three girls were the first day students to attend Saint Joseph’s Free School, the first free Catholic school for girls staffed by religious women in the country. Panel 1, lower section: McGown’s Pass, Manhattan, 1847: Mother Seton’s school in Emmitsburg was the precursor to the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx, opened after the New York Sisters separated from Emmitsburg community in 1847. Under the patronage of Reverend John Hughes, the first Archbishop of New York and brother to Mother Mary Angela Hughes who led the Community 1855-1861, the Academy at McGown’s Pass was regarded as one of the pioneer institutions in the East for the education of Catholic girls. In 1851, the Academy received its charter from the New York State Legislature. McGown’s Pass at approximately 109th Street and 5th Avenue, had been the location of Revolutionary War headquarters for George Washington and his army. Panel 2, upper section: Font Hill-On-Hudson, Bronx, New York, 1859 When the Sisters were asked to vacate the McGown’s Pass property in Manhattan for the planned development of Central Park, they purchased the 55-acre estate Font Hill-On-Hudson located on the east bank of the Hudson River. In 1859 when construction of the first building at Font Hill-on-Hudson was completed, the building included accommodations for the new Academy and boarding students. The classrooms, grand study hall, art room, music hall, reception rooms, as well as the Convent and Chapel of the Immaculate Conception were housed in this building, today known as Founders Hall. Panel 2, lower section: Tuxedo Park, New York, 1943 As the College student population increased, the need for separate quarters for the Academy’s faculty, students, and activities, was addressed. To provide a new location for the school, Archbishop Spellman deeded an estate in Tuxedo Park, New York, that had been donated to the Archdiocese of New York by Mrs. E. John Heidseick. On this property, the mansion ‘Chastellux’ first housed the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent at Tuxedo Park in 1943. In 1947, the Academy expanded in acreage when Mr. Erasmus Lindley deeded his adjacent home and property. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Peter Appleton, Artist A handwritten note recorded by Sr. Maria Lawrence Keating, who taught at the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, Tuxedo Park, from 1948-1966, states that Mother Mary Fuller asked artist Peter Appleton, who designed the windows for the Tuxedo Park chapel to create these plaques to honor the tradition of the Academy. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of New York Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available N/A Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource ca. 1960 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource N/A Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Permission for reproduction or quotation must be obtained through written application to: Director of Archives, Sisters of Charity of New York, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10471. This permission is valid only insofar as he Archives of the Sisters of Charity of New York, as owner or custodian, has any rights in the matter and does not remove the responsibility of the author, editor, and publisher to guard against the infringement of any rights; including copyright, that may be held by others. Relation A related resource https://scny.org/two-stained-glass-panels-saint-josephs-free-school-and-the-academy-of-mount-saint-vincent-1810-1972/ Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Physical Object Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Physical Object Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context N/A Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1810; 1847; 1859; 1943 St. Joseph’s Academy (Emmitsburg, Md.) McGowan’s Pass (Convent: New York, N.Y) Academy of Mount St. Vincent on-the-Hudson (New York, N.Y.) Academy of Mount St. Vincent (Tuxedo Park, N.Y.) Sisters of Charity of New York https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/8c471fdfa991bd6f5a126d7ebdc945ab.jpg 597f41407b2f2bd2939da11fa4d8d113 https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/826f2c158707513c842b130ce4217761.mp3 76a9da6cdddddf2d3c41798aa241345f https://www.scfederationarchives.org/files/original/12c0254e7c9a754d59dc3436d27e6439.pdf 62d65f841f68bc4ed86df97ed4f7320a PDF Text Text Interviewer: Sister Anita Constance, SC Interviewee: Sister Eleanor Maria Pettit, SC Date: 1993 Editor: Sister Noreen Neary, SC Date edited: November 18, 2020 Sr. Eleanor Maria: The thing with Hasbrouck Heights was that it was an accident that Corpus Christi School opened. Now, I don't know if that's funny or not, but in 1928 there were two Father Clarks and a Father Martin. The Father Clarks were brothers. One was in Ridgefield, one was in Hasbrouck Heights. The Ridgefield one and Father Martin, who was in East Orange, both were opening schools and Mother Grata had promised them sisters. But the man [Father Andrew Clark] in Hasbrouck Heights was a little annoyed when he knew they were getting them and he wasn't. He had no school at all. But he went up to Convent and Mother - she told the story - she was busy and she couldn't see him. So she sent word down thinking it was Father John Clark, his brother, that not to worry, he would have his sisters. And she lived up to it. And now, as I look back, I think it was pretty hard. But on the other hand, the Lord was with us, I guess. [Sister Anna Raphael Bradley], who had been in Hoboken for 35 years, brand new superior, and [Sister Mary Avelline Carrigan] and I were novices and they sent the three of us to Hasbrouck Heights. And when we got there, there was no school. There was a Lyceum building and there was an auditorium in there and two cloakrooms, one on either side of the entrance. So Anna Raphael taught the sixth grade in the auditorium. I taught first and second in one of the cloakrooms and Avelline had third and fourth in the other cloakroom. Sr. Anita: It's typical of Sisters of Charity doing with what you have, making do with what you had. Sr. Eleanor Maria: That's right. But it was hard. And we really didn't have a convent. We were renovating a little house, which was in the spot where the school there is. Sr. Anita: Where did you live then? Sr. Eleanor Maria: Well, we stayed ... There were bedrooms in this little house on the upper side, but they were partly furnished. We stayed in the convent, we had in the rectory. And until, maybe it was a week or so before. And my famSr. Anita: Did you eat with the priest or did you have to eat separately? Sr. Eleanor Maria: Housekeepers had us separately. And my mother ... We lived in Newark and my mother used to come over to us. My sister came over, did the wash for us. And it was really very, very hard. We had to get up and have the wash out before we went to school. It was awfully hard, but I don't think we appre- ... Avelline, poor little Avelline, Lord have mercy on her, at Christmas time she �couldn't take it anymore. So she was changed to Roxbury, Massachusetts. Anna Raphael left in June, she was changed to Roxbury, Massachusetts, became Avelline's superior there. And I don't know why I was there for three years, but I was there for three years. Sr. Anita: Well, I guess they thought you were good at what you were doing. Sr. Eleanor Maria: I don't know. I don't know. Well, I had had the first grade in the boys’ house [Saint Joseph School for Boys in Convent Station, NJ], which became the Juniorate after. Sr. Anita: Oh, yeah. Sr. Eleanor Maria: That was the last year they had that open, [Sister Anne Gertrude Coleman] and Mary [inaudible] and I were Sr. Anita: Went to Hasbrouck Heights then… Sr. Eleanor Maria: Novice. We were only novices. Sr. Anita: Were you a novice the three years you were there? Sr. Eleanor Maria: No. I entered in [1927], we got the habit in July ‘27. And then in September, we went down to the boys’ house. And the following September that we went to, 1928, we went to Hasbrouck Heights. Sr. Anita: As a novice. Sr. Eleanor Maria: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Sr. Anita: And then you taught as a novice, made your vows and went back. Sr. Eleanor Maria: Yes. Mm-hmm (affirmative). And then I was already there for three years, and then I went to [Mount Carmel School in Ridgewood, NJ]. But it was hard. But as you look back now… �Sr. Anita: What was hard about it? Sr. Eleanor Maria: Hmm? Sr. Anita: What was hard about it? Sr. Eleanor Maria: My Lord, we had to teach school, work, do our housekeeping, everything. We had nothing. And we had finally had it ready for sister came after, it was only two months. Because she left when Anna Raphael did, that came and cooked for us after. My mother couldn't come over and live with us, but she came over. Sr. Anita: Because you were working from scratch, right? Sr. Eleanor Maria: Yeah. Oh yeah, we had nothing. But we had no chapel, but he was putting a little chapel in the house, which was a God-send. And we had problems there. Sr. Anita: That's all right, only I hear it. Sr. Eleanor Maria: Oh. I think he was a little unfortunate. He used to have his problems. And sometimes he'd be very kind to us and another time he would be ... he'd come in and shut the heat off on us. And we had to be in school at 8:30. Some mornings we didn't have Mass until eight o'clock and we'd have to get over to school. And then I used to leave at 11:30 to ... We fixed the dinner the night before, some of the things. And then I came over at 11:30 and cooked what had to be cooked and really had a dinner at night. But it was, now as I look back, I'm glad it happened, because it certainly gave you something that ... I think it did, it made you a little stronger, I guess. Sr. Anita: Like a fortitude of forbearance. Sr. Eleanor Maria: Yeah. Right. But you didn't think of it that way at that time, we were too young. Well, I was 22 when I entered. I wasn't a baby and I had worked, for which I'm grateful. But then after the three years, things went on normally. But it wasn't easy. And I think the people in Bergen County at that time weren't too happy to have a Catholic school. They weren't ready for it then. �Sr. Anita: Oh, really? Was it one of the first ones in the area? Sr. Eleanor Maria: I think so. I think it was. There was no Teterboro, no nothing, anything there. It was all farmland, all farmland. Even Ridgewood, when I went to Ridgewood. We taught Sunday school in Glen Rock and Paramus and in Midland Park up that way. There were no schools there at all, and that was 1930, 27, 20, 30. In early 30s. Sr. Anita: If you were to say, like your experience in Hasbrouck Heights, how would you look at it as really a typical experience of the Sisters of Charity life? How do you think that that would be so typical of what Sisters of Charity would get into or would be their kind of a ministry or experience? Sr. Eleanor Maria: Well, I think it was a good thing, a good ministry. And I think once they realized what it was, it was ... I'm grateful I had it, to be honest with you. And that was just the first couple of- And then Avelline and I were friends from the novitiate. And when she left, I was uptight. Then after that [Sister Margaret Francis McAllister] came, and after that [Sister Therese Concilio Carlin] came. And in those three years we had the two superiors, [Sister Stella Maris McGaughey] was our superior after Anna. And she was a poor little sister, she was a beautiful [inaudible] years after. Sr. Anita: So this was like the pioneer days of the community. Sr. Eleanor Maria: I guess. Well, I think, look, she was a lot older than that. But I'm sure a lot of the sisters had a harder time then. Yeah. But I always felt it was kind of accidental that it opened, but God permitted it and He wanted it because that's one of the nicest places we have today. Sr. Anita: But I guess that priest would have prayed, “Providence can provide, Providence did provide, Providence will provide.” Sr. Eleanor Maria: Yeah. Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure. Sr. Anita: He certainly must've felt he pulled a good one when he walked out of it. Who was the Mother then? Sr. Eleanor Maria: [Mother Mary Grata Mullaney], the greatest Mother we ever had. �Sr. Anita: Was she wonderful? Sr. Eleanor Maria: God, she was the greatest one. Sr. Anita: Why was she good? Sr. Eleanor Maria: Kind and thoughtful. My father died, I went home while I was in Hasbrouck Heights. I made my vows in July and my father died June 6th. And I went home for my first visit to his funeral and we weren't allowed to do really anything in those days. But my mother said to ... I wasn't allowed to go to the cemetery. He's buried up in Connecticut. And she asked me if she thought I could get permission after November 1st, I had buried my dad, if I could go up to the visit the grave in Norfolk, Connecticut. And Stella Maris said, "Hey, write to Mother and ask her." I wrote to her and she wrote me a letter within three days saying ... My mother was planning a day trip. And she said, "You may go with your good mother." And she said, "You do not have to come back the same day." Sr. Anita: That was extraordinary in those days. Sr. Eleanor Maria: There's a Sisters’ ... The Sisters of Mercy have a con- Imagine how she investigated. The Sisters of Mercy have a convent in Torrington, Connecticut, which is right near there. And she said, "You may stay there overnight and come back the next day." My mother almost died. And my mother was the most beautiful letter writer. She wrote all her life, she never stopped writing. And she wrote to mother in gratitude. She was so ... That was unusual. Sr. Anita: And this was to visit your father's ... Sr. Eleanor Maria: Papa's grave. My whole family's buried up there. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Pettit, Sister Eleanor Maria, S.C. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Constance, Sister Anita, S.C. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data cassette tape Duration Length of time involved (seconds, minutes, hours, days, class periods, etc.) 0:08:15 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sister Eleanor Maria Pettit, S.C. Oral History Subject The topic of the resource Pettit, Sister Eleanor Maria, S.C.; Corpus Christi School Hasbrouck Heights, NJ; Mother M. Grata Mullaney Description An account of the resource Description of the opening of a new school in 1928 and the kindness of Mother Mary Grata Mullaney Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pettit, Sister Eleanor Maria, S.C.; Constance, Sister Anita, S.C. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource circa 1993 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Neary, Sister Noreen, S.C. (Editor) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Audio/mp3 Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Oral History Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Sister Eleanor Maria Pettit, S.C. describes the opening of a new school in 1928 and the kindness of Mother Mary Grata Mullaney Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant circa 1993 Education Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth