BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST
December 13th is the anniversary of the foundation of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, the only religious congregation founded in Kingston. Let’s look at the Congregational Annals to see how Foundation Day was celebrated over the years.
In the early years of the congregation postulants oftentimes received the habit on Foundation Day.
1862 – On the 13th Dec. the Ceremony of Taking the Habit by our first two Postulants (Misses Catherine McKinley and Anne O’Reilly) was performed and it is needless to say that we gave it all the Solemnity possible. It will be remembered that this was the Anniversary of our Foundation. …Miss Murray, the Bishop’s niece, and two other young ladies aided the Choir. The crowning favor of the day was the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament given by his Lordship in the evening. Thus closed the first anniversary of our Establishment.
1864 – On December 13 the anniversary of the Foundation, Sister Keating received the holy Habit at the hands of the Bishop. His lordship with the members of this little Company returned God thanks for the success of the House and for the increase he has been pleased to give, for from four, who but three short years before had composed the entire body of the Community, twelve are now engendered in it. May that same God continue to lavish His Blessings upon our little band and send other good subjects into his vineyard to labour for Glory.
A simple way to celebrate seems to have been by adding singing to the Mass on Foundation Day:
1905 – Feast of St. Lucy and the forty-fourth anniversary of the Community’s foundation in Kingston. Mass by Rev. Dr. Kingsley. First class decorations and singing.
1909 – Communion Mass by chaplain … Being the feast of the foundation altars are decorated, singing during service. His Grace makes a short visit.
According to the Rules and Customs of the congregation, which was first published in 1900 but updated over the years, Foundation Day was considered a grand holiday or Congé. “On Congés Sisters may speak in the refectory all day, may take a walk around the grounds, are exempt from all work which is not of absolute necessity, and may perform their exercises of piety either publicly or privately according to their inclination. Recreation may be continued till nine p.m. on these days.”
The fact that it was a holiday sometimes meant special treats:
1920 – Fifty-ninth anniversary of our foundation. Our Mother allowed us to sleep until 6 a.m.
1958 – Today we are observing the 97th anniversary of our foundation in Kingston by the Sisters of Providence from Montreal. We had a nice picture this evening “The Enchanted Forest”. Scenery etc. very admirable.
Sometimes Foundation Day was treated as a birthday:
1972 – Our 111th birthday. In 1861 the foundation was laid for the Kingston Sisters of Providence in the old Mess House on the corner of Ordnance and Montreal Streets. We had a festive Mass and were just about to commence breakfast when the lights went out. Sister Mary Alphonsus and her staff produced a number of Christmas candles and we were enjoying (or enduring) a birthday breakfast by candlelight. Before we were half finished the light came on and we thanked God for electricity.
1976 – The feast of St. Lucy and the 115th anniversary of our foundation in Kingston. We had a pleasant recreation in the auditorium with spontaneous entertainment, singing, stories, games and some dancing. Sister Mary David produced a birthday cake with numerous candles – I don’t know if they numbered 115 -, home made candy and Cokes.