Remembering Our Sisters
Like the ancient New Zealand tree fern, the Ponga – ‘As one frond dies, so a new frond unfurls’, – the Community in Auckland Carmel has grown, and as older members have been called Home to the Lord, new members have entered the Monastery. Our deceased Sisters are buried in Panmure Catholic Cemetery. A brief account of their lives follows.
Mother Mary of Carmel
The founding Prioress of Auckland Carmel was the first of its members to die. However she was in her eightieth year and the fiftieth of her Religious Profession having lived a long and faithful life as
a Carmelite. Ellen was born at Lochinvar, Australia on September 4, 1865, of Irish parents, Patrick and Ellen Glasheen.
She entered the Sydney Carmel on September 7, 1890 and remained there until 1937. Two younger sisters were also called to the Religious life; one of them joined her in Sydney Carmel and became the founding Prioress – Mother Mary of the Cross – of Brisbane Carmel.
After having served the Auckland Carmelite Community for two terms as Prioress, Mother Mary of Carmel had a sudden stroke on June 6, 1945 and died at the Monastery on the following Sunday evening, June 10, 1945. Simplicity and humility were the qualities in her that other people especially noticed.
Mother Mary of St. Joseph
Mary Healy was Sub-Prioress and Novice Mistress in the first six years of the Auckland Carmelite Community. She was born at acres, Rathe, Dallyduff, in County Kerry, Ireland on May 6, 1873. Her parents, Jeremiah and Catherine Healy, together with their young family came to Australia and settled in Queensland while Mary was still a child.
She entered the Sydney Carmel on October 28, 1906 and was Professed three years later, on September 12, 1908. In1943 Mother Mary of St. Joseph was elected Prioress and during her three years in office she suffered much from ill health. Skilled at sewing and widely read, Sacred Scripture was always her favourite reading. Early in August 1959 she contracted a severe form of influenza and died peacefully in the Auckland Carmel on August 8.
Sister Mary Catherine Teresa of the Trinity
Sister Mary Catherine was born at Koraih, Victoria. Australia on November 5, 1903. Her parents, Cornelius and Anne O’Sullivan had nine children and Mary Catherine inherited from them a strong and deep faith. In 1937 she entered the Carmel of where her sister, Margaret was Prioress and made her Profession in 1938. In response to the need for help in the Auckland Carmel – Sister Mary Catherine joined this Community in 1946 being called Sister Mary Teresa. It was evident soon after her arrival that she was not well and underwent several major operations. These were followed by intense suffering, not only for a time but in various ways for the rest of her life. Later in life it was necessary for her to receive medical care outside the Monastery and it was while Sister was at the Home of Compassion in Wanganui that she collapsed and died on July 26, 1973. Sr. Mary Teresa had a profound trust in God and a loving sympathy for the sufferings of others.
(We do not have any photos of Sister Mary Catherine Teresa, as, for many years no photos were taken here.)
Sister Angelina of the Cross
Angelina Helen Picone was born at Sale, Victoria on November 11, 1912, she was the second of seven children of profoundly Catholic Italian parents, Francesco and Francesca Maria Picone. Angelina was twelve when her father died. She entered the Carmelite Monastery in Melbourne on May 3, 1934, and during her postulancy, her mother died. This double grief of the family was assuaged by a loving and devoted grandmother who gave herself completely to the family. In December 1953 the Carmel of Melbourne made a new foundation in Adelaide and Sister Angelina was one of the founding members. She made her Profession on August 15, 1936. Eight years later when Auckland Carmel appealed for help she volunteered and arrived in Auckland on February 16, 1944. With her generous spirit and cheerfulness Sister was a great help in the making of Altar breads and the work of the house. Her full strong voice was a real asset in the Choir. Community recreations were enlivened by her ready wit and dry humour. She was elected Sub-Prioress and later Prioress. In 1957, and again in 1974 Sister Angelina underwent major surgery; she died the following year on August 19, 1975 at Mercy Hospital.
Sister Catherine of the Infant Jesus
Hannorah Catherine Clifford was born on June 17, 1897 in Hatham, Victoria, Australia, of a family strong in the Catholic faith. She entered the Sydney Carmelite Monastery in 1919 and made her Religious Profession on December 12, 1920. In 1937 Sister Catherine came to Auckland as one of the seven Foundation members of Auckland Carmel. In 1952, due to her ill health, Sister returned to Australia and was admitted to Mount St. Margaret Hospital in Ryde, New South Wales where she received the devoted care of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary until her death on April 15, 1978. She was visited there each week by Extern Sisters from the Sydney Carmelite Monastery. Sister Catherine was prayerful and had a deep love of Our Lady; she offered all her sufferings for the Church and remained devoted to the Carmelite Order and to the Auckland Community. Her Funeral took place at the Sydney Carmelite Chapel.
Sister Madeleine of St. Joseph
Antalena (Nina) Hutchinson was born on August 1, 1897 in Red Hill, Queensland, Australia. Her Irish father and a Maltese mother were good Catholic parents. Nina had a great desire to be a nun but when her father died she set aside this hope in order to support her family, and cared for her mother until her death. Nina’s spare time was spent in helping others in a quiet and unobtrusive way, especially through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Institute for the Blind. The Discalced Carmelite Friars made a foundation in Brisbane in 1948 at it was through them that Nina came to Auckland Carmel to be an Extern Sister in 1954. Her brave decision involved separation from family and friends; however her quiet dignity, sympathetic manner and ready smile won the respect and confidence of all who came in contact with her. In 1973, after a slight stroke, Sister Madeleine was cared for within the Monastery Enclosure until her death on November 2, 1978.
Sister Monica Beatrice of St. Albert
Monica Casey was born in Melbourne on March 6, 1907. She was the youngest of six children born to William and Mary Anne (Lawrie) Casey. After having trained as a teacher she planned to enter the Congregation of Faithful Companions of Jesus, with whom she had been educated. However Monica and her sister Kathleen were called to be Carmelites. They entered Melbourne Carmel on January 31, 1932. They made their Profession on September 24, 1933. When help was needed in Auckland Carmel Sister Beatrice volunteered and came to Auckland in May 1946. (Kathleen, who was named Sister Teresa of St. Joseph, had transferred to Auckland Carmel in 1944.) Sister Beatrice was sacristan and fulfilled her duties with unfailing devotion and quiet competence. On May 13, 1981 – memorable on account of the attempted assignation of Pope John Paul – Sister Beatrice had a severe stroke. She died peacefully in the Monastery on March 31, 1982.
Sister Ethna Mary of the Trinity
Olive Ethna Burgess, the eldest of six children was born on March 15, to Richard and Abigail Burgess in Woodville, New Zealand. After completing her schooling at Seddon Technical College, Auckland, Ethna worked at a big city emporium and lived with her parents and family in Onehunga until she entered Carmel at the age of twenty-nine. Just six months after the Carmelite Nuns arrived in Auckland Ethna joined them on August 14, 1937 and made her Profession of Vows on March 31, 1939. She received the name Sr. Mary of the Trinity and generously gave herself to the life of the Community sharing its poverty and hardships. Over many years Sister cut millions of Altar breads with quiet regularity, accuracy and speed. Her hand-made prayer cards were received with gratitude and appreciation by many people. At recreation Sister was a gifted story-teller. About five years before her death Sister Mary of the Trinity was found to have cancer. She bravely endured sickness and pain and remained quietly grateful for all that was done to help her. She died peacefully on November 17, 1982 and her Funeral and Burial followed two days later.
Sister Teresa of St. Joseph
Kathleen Casey, born in Bendigo, Australia on December 26, 1904. Kathleen and her sister Monica entered Melbourne Carmel after they had both helped their elder brother Edward when he began his medical practice in an outback town in Queensland. Kathleen had time there to reflect on the life of St. Therese whose biography she had read and she chose to enter Carmel without realizing that Monica had also been led to that decision. Together they received the Carmelite Habit on September 22, 1932, and made their Profession the following year two days later.
In 1944 Sr. Teresa of St. Joseph responded to the appeal for help from Auckland Carmel and she arrived in Auckland in March of that year. Her sister Monica – Sr. Beatrix also offered to help in Auckland Carmel and she arrived in 1946. That year Sr. Teresa was elected Prioress, an office she was repeatedly called to fill, at different times for five Trienniums. The Community is gratefully indebted to her for her long and faithful service as Prioress and at intervals as Formator. In October, 1985 Sister had a sudden stroke which caused paralysis. Toward the end of 1988 she was very admitted to Mercy Hospital. Later Sister was transferred to Mercy Parklands and finally she was cared for at the Sisters of St. Joseph Marian Wing, Mission Bay, Auckland, where she died on January 28, 1997.
Sister Canisius of the Holy Spirit
Margaret Martin was born at Huntly, New Zealand on January 27, 1907 was the younger of two children. Margaret was unusually intelligent. She specialised in Latin and Greek. One of her teachers had a profound influence on her and Margaret began to read deeply on religious issues and firmly resolved to become a Catholic which caused intense grief to her mother. She did secretarial work for Bishop Cleary. When the Carmelite Nuns came to Auckland in 1937, Margaret was the first postulant to enter and received the name Sister Canisius. Over the next thirty years she served the Community as Sub-Prioress, Formator, then as Prioress for a number of years while bearing the burden of ill-health. The spirit and observance of the Monastery was much influenced by her strong personality. Over the years Sr. Canisius felt drawn to a more solitary life and in 1974 obtained permission to live a hermit life in Fiji with the support of Auckland Carmel. Eventually she settled at the Krist Jyoti Ashram, Namata. In 1997 she was admitted to Nadi Hospital and died there on October 17, aged 91. Her Funeral and Burial took place at the Krist Jyoti Ashram, Fiji.
Sister Bernadette of the Mother of God
Ronalda Bernadette Marlow was the younger of two children born to Eileen and Ronald Marlow. She was born July 30, 1930 in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1946 the family moved to Dargaville, – 120 miles north of Auckland – where Ronald took up the position of Bank Manager. Bernadette began work also at the Bank and was a member of the Legion of Mary. Gradually she became aware of the call to Religious life in Carmel and began to correspond with the Prioress at Auckland Carmel. She entered this Monastery on April 16, 1950 and made her Profession on All saints Day, November 1, 1951. Sr. Bernadette was very conscientious, gladly ready to help any Sister and to do the heavy and tedious work in the house. She served the Community for several terms as Prioress and was for many years a member of the Community Council. Always reliable and dependable, Sr. Bernadette had an even temperament, simplicity, humour and true humility. In 1998 she was found to have cancer and after receiving treatment was given about one year to live, she got on with life. Shortly after Easter 2000, her condition began to deteriorate and her final weeks were spent in St. Joseph’s Hospice, Mercy Hospital where she died on June 23, 2000.
Sister Paulina of Jesus
Paulina Munivoco Dau is the first Carmelite from the peoples of the South Pacific Islands to be called Home to the Lord. She was born at Lomeri, Fiji, on July 31, 1957, the seventh in a family of twelve children. Paulina was educated at Lomeri and Levuka. After some years in the work force and many colourful experiences she returned to her home village and was a very active Parishioner and Legionary of Mary. She made contact by mail with Auckland Carmel and in 1999 came for a three months ‘Live-in, then returned to Fiji. She applied to enter the Monastery as a postulant and did so on August 25, 1999. She quickly adapted to the life of silence, work, prayer and good solid reading. She was eager and enthusiastic to learn new skills and doggedly persevered until she acquired them. Sr. Paulina was a reserved, perceptive and compassionate person with single-minded simplicity and integrity. At times too she was delightfully spontaneous. Her Profession of Vows took place on March 19, 2002. The following year, just six weeks after her annual renewal of vows, she was unexpectedly found to have terminal cancer. The disease rapidly took its course and Sr. Paulina died peacefully on July 11, 2003.
Sister Mary of Carmel
Carmel (Pamela Mary Little) was born to Leo and Doris Little in Melbourne, Australia, on the 16th August, 1922. Sister was educated by the Presentation Sisters, Star of the Sea, Melbourne. After leaving school, Sister entered the Presentation Sisters Congregation at the age of nineteen, where she remained until it was time for her final vows. She then asked to enter Carmel – and was directed here to Auckland, where she was welcomed on January 21, 1950…She was Professed February 19, 1951 (temporary vows) and was Solemnly Professed on February 19, 1954. Sister Mary of Carmel lived the Carmelite life with great fidelity and generosity. She held many important offices over the years-Sub-Prioress, Novice Formator, Council Sister and Prioress. Her health was never robust, but she had a strong spirit. Sister had a keen intellect, deep faith, understanding and compassion. Sister died peacefully on April 14, 2008.
Sister Mary Joyce of the Cross
(Bertha Joyce Matthews) The eldest of four children, Joyce was born on August 28, 1916 in Auckland. Her early years and schooling were all at Warkworth. In her mid-teens the family moved back to Auckland city and were in St. Benedict’s Parish at Newtown. Joyce took an active part in the Parish and became Akela to an enthusiastic group of Cubs who continued to remember her with appreciation in later years. She excelled as a tailoress and enjoyed going to socials, especially those which included young blind and deaf people. Good spiritual reading and the wise council of friends led her to discern her vocation and she entered the Carmelite Monastery in Auckland on October 30, 1949, making her Religious Profession as a Lay-Sister on November 1, 1951. In this capacity she was a really good cook and productive gardener. After the Second Vatican Council, as a Choir Sister she had a special love for the Divine Office and her sewing skills were put to abundant use in the service of the community. With advancing age and ill health Sister Mary Joyce asked to stay in rest home care, however she always enjoyed coming home to the Monastery on special days. She died peacefully at Mercy Parklands Hospital on Holy Saturday afternoon, April 11, 2009.
Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity
An Account of Sr Elizabeth’s death.
The death and Funeral of a loved Sister in Community is as you well know a precious time for us all, so it will not be easy for you to be away at a time like this. I write to share with you some details of our recent days and of the coming ones.
Last Sunday Sr Margaret asked me if I would like to go with her at 1 pm to spend some time with Sr. Elizabeth. Dorothy drove us there and my TM Card enabled us to return easily by taxi when we were ready. The only indication of awareness we have was the movements of Sister’s eyelids, however her colour was good. She raised her head only when thickened fruit juice was offered her on a teaspoon. She opened her mouth slightly a number a times to receive from it but her intake was minute. Sr. Marguerite read out the short formula of Profession slowly, encouraging Sr. Elizabeth to give some indication of assent. We could not discern any reaction, however throughout our visit Sister’s handgrip was strong.
The next day Sr. Maria Nive and I think Sr. Elena accompanied her, had what Dorothy would call a window experience. Sr. Elizabeth was able to communicate with them in some small ways, which was a great joy for them. After Reading that night the phone rang and word came that Sister looked clammy. Later in the afternoon Srs. Jane and Teresa Margaret went and replaced Sr. Mary of St. Joseph. They remained until 8.30 pm. We had worked out a tentative schedule in the afternoon and Sr. Marguerite graciously allowed me to remain the night so I went with her and Sr. Helena in Dorothy’s car at 7 pm and gave them prime time with Sr. Elizabeth until the four Sisters all returned home with Dorothy at 8.30 pm Shortly before they left the nurses readjusted Sr. and she was lying on her back, without the foot guard to lift the blankets above her feet. Her head was raised but her breathing was laboured and her dear face had lost its fullness and colour, To see her brought to mind the dying Lord Jesus.
Sr. Elizabeth’s bed had been placed lengthwise beside the window which gave more space in the room, although it needed to be moved out to allow a second nurse to move in beside the window when they needed to attend her. There was a big Lazy-boy chair just inside the door ready for the night watcher but I sat near her on an ordinary seat and prayed aloud, quietly there for some time until I noticed her breathing growing slower and more laboured. Her beautiful eyes, which had been almost closed now gradually opened and looked, glazed upwards but as it were without seeing, nor any movement of her eyelids. In case she may have been able to see I held her Profession Crucifix up above her head in the line of vision and was repeating softly the Taize chant: Jesus, remember me, when you come into Your Kingdom. Then Sister slowly closed her eyes, even tightly as though in a moment of pain with her forehead slightly furrowed and her last breath came as a tiny gasp, then she lay still, her forehead smooth and her eyes peacefully closed. There was no more indication of movement, I waited and prayed a short while before pressing the call button, then looked at the time, it was about 9.40 pm. A nurse came soon and checked for pulse then said she would get another nurse. When they both came I asked to go and phone the Monastery, and did so from the main lounge just inside the main entrance. Sr. Maria Nive answered on the second ring and got Sr. Marguerite to whom I gave the news that Sister was now in peace with the Lord. It was a very sacred time to be with her and one could only know a very quiet joy that now her labours were ended and be thankful to God for her loving fidelity and her long generous living out of her vocation. The nurses were wonderful and Sister looked very peaceful after they had laid her out. One of them who lives in Campbell Road said that she could drive me her when she came off duty at 11pm, if I was able to wait. It was not yet 10 pm and I had already arranged with Sr. Marguerite that I would go home by taxi and that the gate would be opened. Nothing more physically, could be done for Sister until a doctor would see her after 9 am.