Although we have repeatedly reminded you, both by letter and otherwise of your obligation concerning the money which you sometimes receive from externs, necessity seems to call for another reminder on this head, as well as on a few other points which deserve equal attention & we sincerely hope that your spirit of Religious Obedience will prompt you to lend a willing ear to the regulations we here set forth for the greater conservation of order & regularity among you, and that the spirit of holy charity and Peace may increase daily in your midst. We wish to call your attention and urge you to be faithful to the Rule, which says, “They will hand over to the Procure all the gains of each week”. This includes all donations, in fact all monies received by the Sisters to be given to the Econome, as she is held responsible by the Community for the Finances. We again request that all letters addressed to us be stamped (with the private seal) by the Superior or (in her absence) her Assistant and mailed as soon as possible. Also all letters received from us are to be given to the Sisters without any unnecessary delay. Such letters are not to be detained in consequence of the Superior’s absence. She who replaces her will give them to those to whom they may be addressed as soon as she can conveniently do so. I positively forbid any Sister to send or go to the Post Office for letters. It is now the custom of the Mother House to await the delivery of the letters by the carrier and I wish it also to be that of the Mission. I hereby authorize the Assistant to open all dispatches which may be received in the Superior’s absence even though it were thought her absence would not exceed a couple of hours as business communications are often sent by this medium and grave inconveniences might be the result of delays in such matters.
To prevent loss of time, Our Very dear Sisters, we deem it necessary to say that all trips farther than Holyoke and its boundaries will be henceforth classed as “journeys” and as such cannot be made without permission. The privileges accorded thus far in this line have been abused, to correct which restriction is necessary. Besides there is not the same necessity now as formerly to go elsewhere for supplies. Holyoke has grown a pace and with a very few exceptions, everything required can be had there. Occasionally it may be necessary to go to one of the neighbouring Cities to make purchases; this however should be but seldom and at such times let the different wants be foreseen and the necessary permission obtained. In conclusion, dear Sisters, let us exhort you to unite with your dear Sisters here, in prayer and supplication during the remaining time of this holy season of Advent that we may prepare worthily and well for the great festival of Christmas. Let it not be with us as it was with the Jews, when Christ was born amongst, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not”.
Wishing you all, our very dear Sisters, the blessing and protection of our Immaculate Queen.