Presentation Sisters Pilgrimage to Grave-sites

Kildare community joined with the Presentation Sisters during their Pilgrimage Retrail on Presentation Day, 21st November 2017 to remember the Sisters buried in the College grounds:

We remember and give thanks to the Sisters buried here

Remembering Sisters buried here

Sr Catherine Legge Mary was born in Coburg, Melbourne. She entered Mount Erin as a lay Sister, that is, she was engaged in home duties. At this time for those living in the area conditions were harsh, drought prevailed and the Sisters were no exception to the suffering. She was received as a novice in 1879, given the name Catherine and most likely professed on her death bed, aged 24, in 1883.
Sr Gertrude Fogarty was born in Raheen, County Offaly, Ireland. Margaret together with her sister entered Mount Erin in 1884. She was given the name Gertrude. She taught in the Wagga Wagga Schools. Her death came at the early age of 26. She was noted for the love of her students and her gentle nature.
Mother Evangelist Kelly. Julia was born in Mountrouth, County Kildare. When her parents died she entered the Presentation Sisters at Portlouise. She was moved to Kildare when she was professed in 1872 and became known as Sister Evangelist. She volunteered for the Wagga mission and was one of the pioneering Sisters. Sister Evangelist established the music and drama tradition at Mount Erin. She died of tuberculosis, aged 42, at Mount Erin in 1892.
Sr de Sales Walsh. Bridie was born in Knockawell, County Tipperary, Ireland about 1866. At the age of 19 Bridie came to Australia to enter Mount Erin in 1882 and was given the name De Sales. The local paper describes her as “young, gifted, accomplished, amiable, zealous and self -sacrificing and loved by her students”. She died, aged 26, from tuberculosis in 1892.
Sr Magdalen Crowe. Maria Theresa Crowe was born in Wagga, one of eight children. Together with her parents and seven siblings they lived at Pullitop station. Maria entered Mount Erin in 1884 and given the name Magdalen. The day after her profession Sister Magdalen travelled with four other sisters to make the Young Foundation in 1886.

After brief times of teaching at Young and Hay, Magdalen returned to Wagga Wagga. She suffered patiently for many years with tuberculosis. Her care for students, her self-sacrifice and dedication were demonstrated through her many acts of thoughtfulness even visiting the classrooms in the week before her death. Aged 33 she died in 1894.
Mother Xavier Byrne Born in Swords, Dublin, Ireland. Anna Maria entered the Presentation Convent Carlow, where she was professed and given the name Sister Xavier in 1844. In 1856 she was sent to Mountmellick where the people were destitute because of famine and disease. Sister was gifted with financial ability and given the difficult task to make sure there were sufficient finances for the Sisters and the impoverished people. She used her gifts to teach the children lace work which was highly valued by wealthy people. This enabled her students to obtain employment.

Together with her Sister, Mother John, Mother Xavier, volunteered for the Wagga Wagga mission arriving in Wagga on 29 May 1974. She was known for her gentle and loving nature. To her is attributed the plan for Mount Erin Convent and further developments of the Boarding School. Mother died suddenly of a heart attack in the presence of the community at Mount Erin, in 1906, aged 85.
Sr Monica Hartnett Annie was born about 1875. She lived with her parents at Umbango, Tarcutta. They were generous supporters of the Sisters at Mount Erin. In 1904 Annie entered Mount Erin and with the name of Sister Monica. She was sent with a pioneer group of Sisters to found the school and convent at Ganmain in 1906. In 1907 she developed pleurisy and died at Mount Erin, aged 34, in 1909. She was professed on her deathbed.
Mother Michael Gleeson Julia was born at Woodlawn, near Coolac, in Victoria. Together with her Sisters she attended the Presentation Boarding School at Elsternwick, Victoria. She entered Mount Erin in 1882 with her sister Ellen. They were sent, while novices ,in the pioneer group to Hay.

In Hay she was appointed Superior five times and known as Mother Michael. A great business woman, she was able to free the Sisters of debt even in times of severe drought. Funds were raised through bazaars, music lessons and other events providing necessities for the Sisters and the school. She was a gifted musician. Her compassion extended beyond the convent and school walls. She was known as ”a friend of all in need”.

After 30 years in Hay and with her health failing, she returned to Mount Erin. She died in March 1913, aged 55 years.
Sr Camillus Ley Mary, called Mollie by her family was born in 1876 in Kew, Melbourne the youngest of nine children. Together with her parents and siblings they lived on the farm in Tallangatta, Victoria. At the age of 31 she entered the novitiate at Mount Erin in 1907 and was professed as Camillus.

She taught in the schools around Wagga. She was gentle, kind, had an unselfish disposition, and was a gifted teacher. She died during the influenza epidemic in 1919 aged 43.
Mother Augustine Mulhall. Was named Frances when she was born in Ballenakill, County Kildare, Ireland. She came from Ireland to enter Mount Erin and was professed as Sister Augustine in 1883. She taught in schools and was superior at Young, Berrigan, Ganmain and Hay.

She was remembered by residents of the towns where she taught as having a bright and genial disposition and an unfailing interest in her pupils. After 9 months of illness she died in 1923 aged 69 years.
Mother Stanislaus Dunne was born in the small village of Rathangan in County Kildare the eldest of five children and called Mary Kate. She entered the Kildare Convent, Ireland. She was professed in 1874 a month before the Sisters sailed for the Australian colony.

Mother Stanislaus was superior for many years and together with Mother Xavier Byrne travelled through the Riverina and to Sydney to make foundations of new convents and Schools. Under her leadership in 1900, the year of Australian Federation, foundations were made in Longreach, Queensland and Southern Cross in the goldfields Western Australia.

Mother Stanislaus was a noted educationalist with a deep love of learning and people. She was a powerful influence in the schools and people in general. Mother Stanislaus was the last person buried in this cemetery.

You Raise Me Up

When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary

When troubles come, and my heart burdened be

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence

Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up to walk on stormy seas

I am strong when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can be

Pilgrimage Committee