The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 34, 22 August 1901, Page 27

The Catholic World

ENGLAND.— JubiIee of a Convent. The Bisterb of Mercy of the first convent of the Order in the Archdiocese of Westminster, St. Edward's, Harewood avenue, kept the jubilee of their foundation recently. St. Edward's Convent was built in 1851 under the direction of the late Canon O'Neal, V.Gk, the funds being raised by subscriptions. A few years later the House of Mercy was erected by the late Mr Pagliano. In this House nearly 7700 young girls have been reoeived and trained for service. St. Anne's Room, another branch of the establishment, provides board and lodging at a low charge for servants who have been in place, and assists them to find fresh situations. This department has been exceedingly useful, not only in providing shelter and employment for Catholic servants, but also in bringing many strayed sheep back to the Fold. For the last 34 years the Sisters have visited daily the Mary le bone workhouse and infirmary, and their work here in caring for the poor inmates and assisting the sick and dying has met with very great success. The Sisters are allowed great liberty in these institutions, and are treated with marked consideration and respect by the officials. They also visit regularly the Paddington Infirmary and St. Mary's Hospital, and the poor of their own parish (St. John's Wood), and the parish of Homer row know them well, and have every reason to be grateful to them. Besides teaching the sohoolß at St. John's Wood, Portland Town and Richmond street are also taught by the Sister*. They work in their own convent, have a guild for young girls who have left school and are in business, a large Congregation of the Children of Mary, a numerously-attended mothers' meeting, and they have lately ventured on a boys' club. Church Extension in Southwark. So recently as the beginning of the year 1892 there was no sign whatever of Catholicism in Sittingbourne. Nor were there any known Catholics, except two inmates of the Milton Union Workhouse. In both these respects the year 1901 presents a remarkable contrast. Where nine years ago no sign of Catholioism was visible there are now to be seen a presbytery, a Catholic club, a large school recognised by the Board of Education, a convent with boarding and day school attached, and the foundations of a large church. And no old inhabitant can pass along West street on Sunday mornings, when worshippers defile from the service in the Catholic sohoolchapel, without being struck by the contrast in this respect between 1901 and 1892, especially if he knows that there was an earlier service attended by many others. It was Boon after the beginning of 1 892 that the first sign of resurgent Catholicism became visible. This was when the foundations were marked out for a school-chapel. The Catholic building in West street went on till its completion im November, when a priest arrived from Chatham. This was Father O'Sullivan, who is still in charge of the mission.