(Marianne Creedon, born in 1811 in Coolowen, Co. Cork, went to Newfoundland with her sister’s family when she was 22 years old. Bishop Fleming, an Irish Franciscan, negotiated with Catherine McAuley to send Marianne back to Dublin to prepare to establish a convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Newfoundland. Marianne entered in 1839, was received in 1840 and professed in August 1841 with the religious name, Mary Francis.)
On June 3, 1842, Sisters Francis Creedon, Ursula Frayne and Rose Lynch arrived in St. John’s, Newfoundland from the port of Kingstown, Ireland, on the ship the Sir Walter Scott to establish the Sisters of Mercy, the first foundation outside of Ireland and England.
What must have been their thoughts as they looked upon the forbidding landscape with its towering rocky c liffs and craggy head lands ? Although they had seen poverty in Ireland, t he abject poverty of this place with its rude shacks and derelict fishing stages perched on the side of the hills, would have seared their hearts and minds. Sister Francis had lived in the colony for six years, but for Sisters Ursula and Rose the scene before them must have caused some dismay and distress.
After a harrowing climb from the ship’s deck down to the small boat bobbing on the heaving sea, they made their way through the Narrows to St. John’s wharf. There they found a throng of people waiting to welcome them. Undoubtedly, the family of Sister Francis was among them, eager to see her after an absence of th ree years. Bishop Fleming transported them in his own carriage to his house on Henry Street, where they were to reside until thei r convent was built. What a momentous day this was! They were literally and figuratively transported to a new world, a world f ull of
promise and full of challenge. What relief they must have fel t to sleep in a bed after a month of rolling and tossing on the Atlantic How they must have prayed , thanking God f or a safe journey and begging for the courage and strength to carry out t he mission entrusted to them.
We are grateful for the spirit of Mercy that impelled them and for the legacy of compassion, courage, creativity, and commitment that we have inherited as Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland.
We celebrate this day with great joy and gratitude.
Join us in prayer of gratitude today: Reflection Foundation 3 June 2023
- Read more Sisters stories documenting our Newfoundland Mercy Story
(Marianne Creedon, nacida en 1811 en Coolowen, Co. Cork, fue a Terranova con la familia de su hermana cuando tenía 22 años. El obispo Fleming, un franciscano irlandés, negoció con Catherine McAuley el envío de Marianne de vuelta a Dublín para preparar la fundación de un convento de las Hermanas de la Misericordia en Terranova. Marianne ingresó en 1839, fue recibida en 1840 y profesó en agosto de 1841 con el nombre religioso de Mary Francis).
El 3 de junio de 1842, las Hermanas Francis Creedon, Ursula Frayne y Rose Lynch llegaron a St. John’s, Terranova, procedentes del puerto de Kingstown, Irlanda, en el barco Sir Walter Scott para fundar las Hermanas de la Misericordia, la primera fundación fuera de Irlanda e Inglaterra.
¿Qué debieron de pensar al contemplar el imponente paisaje de acantilados rocosos y escarpados promontorios? Aunque habían visto la pobreza en Irlanda, la abyecta pobreza de este lugar, con sus rudimentarias chozas y sus abandonadas etapas de pesca encaramadas en las laderas de las colinas, les habría abrasado el corazón y la mente. La hermana Francis había vivido en la colonia
seis años, pero a las hermanas Úrsula y Rosa la escena que tenían ante ellas debió causarles consternación y angustia.
Tras una angustiosa subida desde la cubierta del barco hasta el pequeño bote que se balanceaba en el mar agitado, se dirigieron a través de los Estrechos hasta el muelle de San Juan. Allí se encontraron con una multitud de gente que les esperaba para darles la bienvenida. Sin duda, entre ellos estaba la familia de la hermana Francis, ansiosa por verla después de tres años de ausencia. El obispo Fleming los trasladó en su propio carruaje a su casa de la calle Henry, donde residirían hasta que se construyera su convento. Fue un día memorable. Fueron literal y figuradamente transportadas a un nuevo mundo, un mundo lleno de
prometedor y lleno de desafíos. Cómo debieron de rezar, dando gracias a Dios por un viaje seguro y pidiendo valor y fuerza para llevar a cabo la misión que se les había encomendado.
Estamos agradecidas por el espíritu de Misericordia que las impulsó y por el legado de compasión, valentía, creatividad y compromiso que hemos heredado como Hermanas de la Misericordia de Terranova.
Celebramos este día con gran alegría y gratitud.
Únete hoy a nosotros en oración de gratitud: Celebrando 181 Años de la Misericordia NL
- Lea más historias de Hermanas que documentan nuestra Historia de Misericordia de Terranova
Sisters of Mercy from Newfoundland and Peru now minister in two areas of the country – in Puerto Eten, Reque and Eten, in the Chiclayo region and in Huarmey, Casma, Ancash. Eight sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland (including four native Peruvians) work with the people, especially poor people, in towns and small villages in these two regions of Peru.
Educational programs and materials, e.g. reading materials, computers, student supplies are made available when resources allow. Emphasis is placed on working with women in areas of family care, health, nutrition, sewing, gardening, etc. Opportunities are provided for men and women to develop skills in carpentry and farming of family gardens – a cooperative venture to help people help themselves. Medical needs in the form of prescription drugs, diagnostic tests, x-rays, and special procedures or treatments are also provided through the fund.
Our Sisters of Mercy now minister in two areas of the country – in Puerto Eten, Reque and Eten, in the Chiclayo region and in Huarmey, Ancash. Six sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland (including four native Peruvians) work with the people, especially those made poor, in towns and small villages in these two regions of Peru.
time. Peru was affected enormously by the onslaught of Covid and its health system collapsed totally. Together with our co-workers, the Conference of Religious of Lima, and The Conference of Religious of Chimbote, plans were made to look for and purchase an Oxygen Plant for the city of Chimbote.
In the Diocese of Chiclayo the Sisters had much support from Caritas organization, along with many individuals and NGOs, especially for their outdoor neighborhood kitchens . These kitchens are the main way people receive a hot meal each day.
financial resources to obtain medical supplies and food for the people. Other aid came from the Peruvian government and other international agencies.
These last couple of years the Mission Fund has been able to respond to many needs caused by anti-government protests in the country when people could not work as usual; then the very heavy rains and floods have taken away not only peoples place of work, but many have lost homes and possessions. The fund has been used to form comedores and ollas communes (dining areas and common pots) and was able to lessen hunger and disease in many pueblos. Migrants, older people, and children are a special concern for our communities and the Mission fund works constantly with our lay people and coordinators to identify their needs and respond.
Let us remember, too, all new families— the struggling not just the celebrated— and all those mourning the absence of family members dear to them, including the widowed, refugees, prisoners, the homeless, runaways, trafficked persons, separated parents…
Because the bee population is under threat, this day is a call to protect them and other pollinators which are critical to the heath of our ecosystem. May was chosen for World Bee Day because in the northern hemisphere the need for pollination is greatest at that time, while in the southern hemisphere it is a time for harvestinghoney and other bee products.
For our own mothers, living and deceased …
Por nuestras propias madres, vivas y difuntas …
On Tuesday May 21 about thirty of us attended a grand celebration in the parish of Eucharist followed by a hot roast beef dinner. Sister Roisin Gannon represented the Presentation Sisters. Bishop Anthony Daniels surrounded by seven priests of the Grand Falls Diocese celebrated Eucharist in St. Anne’s Church with participation of the sisters and parishioners in readings, music and other moments in the liturgy. The church was sparkling and beautifully decorated with roses. A large banner hung in the church acknowledging the 150 years’ anniversary – Our Journey Together! At the end of Mass, a plaque was presented to the Congregation which will be placed in the church to commemorate the anniversary. In his homily Bishop Daniels connected the call and ministry of the sisters to that of the early disciples of Jesus and gratefully commended their life and ministry among the people of Conception Harbour and surrounding area.
In Canada Indigenous women and girls are targeted for violence more than any other group. More than 4000 Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or been murdered in the last 30 years – an appalling statistic! Canada’s National Inquiry into this tragic history called upon all governments – national, provincial, territorial and indigenous – to work together to build an effective and accountable National Action Plan to address this crisis. Indeed, there is an urgent need for all Canadians to make efforts to raise awareness of this Canada-wide tragedy and to do whatever we can to make Canada a country for all Canadians.