Sept. 21, 1891 – To Sister, Kingston ON from General Superior Sr. M. Edward, Holyoke MA

J.M.J.
Mt. St. Vincent,
Monday Morning
Sept. 21, 1891
Sister
My dear Sister

I received a lot of letters yesterday amongst them yours written by Sr. M. Ursula thanks for kind wishes, you may imagine dear Sister that I do not feel very comfortable here, but I am rather glad that I have the excuse of not being through with the Visitation and I can keep out of sight of the Lady in the City until after tomorrow. I came here on last Friday week and she has never seen me since nor has she addressed a word to me in writing one way or the other. Sr. M. Genevieve came out once and Sr. M. Stanislaus once each with Sr. M. Cyril who was seeing about placing her Sister at school at the Mt, that is the most of the civility that I have seen. Oh Sister we have a queer lot of people to deal with and as soon as God is satisfied with me I am willing and ready to go to Him. Sr. M. of Mercy told me the other day that once when she lived here she went to Springfield with Sr. M. Providence to see the Bp and he spoke of the separation and asked if she was a young Sister and when told No that he went on at a great rate and said that with me at the head of affairs he never expected to get what he wanted, that if Sr. M. John had lived it would be accomplished any time and a lot other stuff which goes to prove that this is a subject often brought on the tapis* I said to her why did you not at the time tell this to your Com. Well she said that Sr. M. Providence told her after they came out that he often said that to me and so she held her tongue. You see the poor Community is the last to be considered. Self, first, last, and at all times.

I am glad to hear that you are feeling a little bit better and hope that God will be pleased to let you live a good while longer for we need you oh so much. I am blessed be God well, and hope to so continue. The weather is fine, but cold today. The steam is on for the first time and I for one enjoy the hot pipes. The priest is here hearing confessions and I must go; but Dear Sister I never had such a feeling in all my life before. I feel that he will tell me that the Bp. will not allow me to be heard by any of the priests and Oh God what will I do if that happens Thank God I am after going and no one but myself can imagine what I have undergone each time I went, this is only the second time since I came. I fancy that is the way the Bp will get rid of me out of his Diocese – comfortable feeling is it not. I suppose it is only my own wicked mind that conjured up this but I think of everything. It does seem to me that at no other time was I ever asked so often if I am going to stay long or when are you going. I may not have noticed it before; but now I notice every [time]. I enclose a few lines which I wish you to have read it is all that I intend to do in the way of acknowledging the letters and to wish them all to see or hear it. God bless you my dear Sister and I hope to hear soon that you are a good deal better. A chance present to send so I will close.

Aff
Sister Mary Edward
Notes: The original letter is undated, but is marked Monday Morning.
Source: 105.6-C, Mother Mary Edward General Superior sous-fonds, Correspondence series, Letter undated [September 21, 1891], Archives, Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul.
Catherine McKinley’s Letters

This letter is part of a large database of correspondence written by and to Catherine McKinley, who is considered one of the founders of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul. As a Sister of Providence she was known by her religious name Mother Mary Edward.

Letters Navigation

⇐ Return to Main Page:
Catherine McKinley Letters