THE LATE SISTER MARY AUGUSTINE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 50, 11 April 1874, Page 7

THE LATE SISTER MARY AUGUSTINE.

Thkbb died at Wellington lately, Sister Mary Augustine, well known in connection with St. Philomela's Girls' School, To Aro. She mi the first sent to that school, and directly it was established her health gave way. Her interest in the children of the school was great and unceasing. Her death was most edifying. She waa received and professed on the feast of St Joseph, aud, as she had hoped for, she died on the same duy after having received extreme unction and the last blessing, and with the community of the content assembled ia prayer around her. Her funeral, which was most imposing, was attended by over 1500. There walked in the procession, the Catholic Young Men's Society, in regalia j the confraternity of the Livfng Rosary and Scapular ;" the children and sisters of tho Providence Institution ; the convent children, boarders and community; the boys' schools ; Revs Father O'Reilly, McCoy, and Petit Jean t and a large number of citizens of all denominations. Rev Father Cummins, wLra conducted the ceremonies and procession, preached a panegyric, taking for hi 9 text some verses of the xxxi Chapter of the Book of Proverbs. He pointed out tho spirit of the Sister of Mercy, and tho nature of the of the Evangelical Councils and religious vows and virtues, and showed how perfectly Sister Mary Augustine had illustrated all in her holy hfe and death. The whole congregation were deeply aiFoctod. Her loss is lamented by all who knew her. Sister Mary SLugustine was born in Kilkenny \ her family was highly respectable; From an early uge she wished lo embrace a religious iile ; her health wa9 always delicate. She joined the Presentation Nuns at Tralee, remuined with them till near the time of profession, when, owing to delicate health, she was obliged to leave. Later on, her health improving, she volunteered to join some Sistere of Mercy g»ing from Carlo vr to Auckland in 18\>7, to reinforce a convent already established there. In 1801 she came to Wellington, soon after her profe^B!on in the order of Mary, and laboured amoKgst the children with greut devotion. Uer zeal made her unmindful of herself, nnd fioin ejposure to wld, slio brought on the attack of bronchitis wltieh finally terminated her useful hfe. — U J. P.