Singing Nun Leaving Convent

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31190, 14 October 1966, Page 15

Singing Nun Leaving Convent

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter— Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 13. The “Singing Nun,” whose record “Dominique” was in world hit parades in 196364, will leave holy orders, the “Daily Mail” reported. The reason for the sudden departure of Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile) from her Pom-

inican convent at Fichermont, near Waterloo, was the American film, “The Singing Nun,” the newspaper said. Her mother superior said: “Too many liberties were taken by the American producers and the name of Soeur Sourire can no longer be associated with the convent.

“She is going out into the world as an ordinary person to spread the message of the Dominican order.” Soeur Sourire’s real name is Sister Luc-Gabrielle, and she is aged 33. Before fame overtook her she had been training to be a missionary in the Congo. Her pop ability was discovered when her mother

superior was ordering copies of her songs for nuns in the Congo, and the recording manager of the company heard them. “She has finished her studies at Louvain University, where she studied the methods of mass communications media. She will probably make new discs, but that is up to her,” the mother superior said.