Author: Diane Smyth

Clara Mullowney was born in Witless Bay on March 27, 1856, the eldest of the seven children born to Captain Peter Mullowney and Esther McKee Williams. At an early age Clara became a boarding student at St. Clair’s Boarding School, which opened at Mercy Convent in 1861 in space vacated as a result of the opening of St. Michael’s Orphanage in Belvedere.

At the age of eighteen Clara became a postulant at Mercy Convent and was received into the novitiate as Sister Mary Ultan on June 5, 1875. She was professed on June 5, 1877, and remained at Mercy Convent for the next thirteen years, teaching music atOur Lady of Mercy School. In the school and in the larger community Sister M. Ultan was well-known and highly respected, especially for her work among the poor and neglected.

From 1890 to 1920 Sister M. Ultan ministered in Brigus as an enthusiastic and competent music teacher in the school and a faithful organist in the parish. Ever since its foundation in 1861 Brigus was well known for its excellence in music. Besides the Brigus students, many students from the surrounding towns of Cupids, Clark’s Beach, Bay Roberts and Spaniard’s Bay came to the sisters’ school for music lessons.

In 1904 Brigus became the first place outside St. John’s to have its own examination centre for the Trinity College of Music, London.

In her thirty years in Brigus Sister M. Ultan worked diligently to ensure that her students would avail of every opportunity to develop their gifts and talents in music and in life in general. Sister M. Ultan died on January 5, 1920, and is one of the four sisters buried in Brigus. Her obituary in The Herald, one of the newspapers of the day, speaks of her thus:

Her death leaves a void which will be difficult to fill
                   but her memory will remain fresh in thousands of hearts…

According to her obituary, Sister M. Ultan was survived by her brother and two sisters, one of whom was Lady Gertrude Cashin, wife of Sir Michael Cashin, a successful businessman from Cape Broyle and a prominent Newfoundland politician.

Clara Mullowney nació en Witless Bay el 27 de marzo de 1856, siendo la mayor de los siete hijos del capitán Peter Mullowney y Esther McKee Williams. Desde muy temprana edad, Clara ingresó como interna en el internado de St. Clair, que abrió sus puertas en el Convento de la Misericordia en 1861, ocupando el espacio que había quedado libre tras la inauguración del Orfanato de San Miguel en Belvedere.

A los dieciocho años, Clara ingresó como postulante en el Convento de la Misericordia y fue admitida en el noviciado como hermana Mary Ultan el 5 de junio de 1875. Hizo sus votos el 5 de junio de 1877 y permaneció en el Convento de la Misericordia durante los siguientes trece años, impartiendo clases de música en la Escuela Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia. Tanto en la escuela como en la comunidad en general, la hermana M. Ultan era muy conocida y respetada, especialmente por su labor entre los pobres y los desamparados.

Entre 1890 y 1920, la hermana M. Ultan prestó su servicio en Brigus como profesora de música entusiasta y competente en la escuela y como fiel organista en la parroquia. Desde su fundación en 1861, Brigus era conocida por su excelencia en el ámbito musical. Además de los alumnos de Brigus, muchos estudiantes de las localidades vecinas de Cupids, Clark’s Beach, Bay Roberts y Spaniard’s Bay acudían a la escuela de las hermanas para recibir clases de música.

En 1904, Brigus se convirtió en el primer lugar fuera de St. John’s en contar con su propio centro de exámenes para el Trinity College of Music de Londres.

Durante sus treinta años en Brigus, la hermana M. Ultan trabajó con ahínco para garantizar que sus alumnas aprovecharan todas las oportunidades para desarrollar sus dotes y talentos en la música y en la vida en general. La hermana M. Ultan falleció el 5 de enero de 1920 y es una de las cuatro hermanas enterradas en Brigus. Su obituario en *The Herald*, uno de los periódicos de la época, habla de ella así:

Su muerte deja un vacío que será difícil de llenar,
pero su recuerdo permanecerá vivo en miles de corazones…

Según su obituario, a la hermana M. Ultan le sobrevivieron su hermano y dos hermanas, una de las cuales era Lady Gertrude Cashin, esposa de Sir Michael Cashin, un exitoso hombre de negocios de Cape Broyle y destacado político de Terranova.

 

Following León de Perú and Leo from Chicago, Vatican News is releasing “Leo in Rome”, a new documentary retracing the years Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, spent in the Eternal City.

Covering a period of approximately 20 years, the film follows his journey from the United States to Italy in 1981, then looks at his years leading the Order of Saint Augustine for two terms, and also his appointment as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and his elevation to the College of Cardinals in 2023.

Years of friendship, study, travel, excursions, encounters, meetings, pilgrimages, and work are all told through previously unreleased images and footage, as well as through the voices of fellow Augustinians, former classmates, old friends, and members of the Order and of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Leo in Rome completes Vatican News’ journey exploring the life and character of the Pope, which began with the documentary León de Perú, released in June 2025, focusing on his missionary years in the South American country, and continued with Leo from Chicago, released in November and looking at Prevost’s American roots.

The documentary is a production of the Editorial Directorate of the Dicastery for Communication. It was produced by journalists Felipe Herrera-Espaliat, Salvatore Cernuzio, and Tiziana Campisi, and was edited by Jaime Vizcaíno Haro and Stefano Anella.

With thanks to Vatican News, where this article originally appeared.

Pope Leo has urged Catholics across the globe to join him this July in praying for respect for human life. In his monthly prayer intention, the Pope is praying ‘for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognising it as a gift from God’.

In his prayer the Pope asks that “we learn to welcome life unconditionally, to tenderly care for fragility,to accompany each stage with respect,and to bravely defend those who have no voice.

Post your prayer in our sacred space here

El papa León ha instado a los católicos de todo el mundo a unirse a él este mes de julio para rezar por el respeto a la vida humana. En su intención de oración mensual, el papa reza «por el respeto y la protección de la vida humana en todas sus etapas, reconociéndola como un don de Dios».

En su oración, el Papa pide que «aprendamos a acoger la vida incondicionalmente, a cuidar con ternura de lo frágil, a acompañar cada etapa con respeto y a defender con valentía a quienes no tienen voz».

Publica aquí tu oración en nuestro espacio sagrado