Mother Vincent Whitty
Encyclopedia
Ellen Whitty better known by her religious name of Mother Vincent Whitty, was an Irish
nun known for her work in the Australia
n state of Queensland
. She was a leading figure in the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy.
She was born at Pouldarrig near Oylgate, a village seven miles form the town of Wexford
,
She joined Catherine McAuley
(the founder of the Sisters of Mercy
) at the convent in Baggot Street, Dublin in 1839. Serving as Ellen Whitty's spiritual guide through her noviceship, Catherine McAuley was extremely close to her and requested Mother Vincent to sit by her side in her dying hours. She was made mistress of novices in 1844, and in 1849 superior general, third in succession to Mother McAuley. While she was superior, the Crimean War
was carried on, and she offered the services of her nuns to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers. Her sister Mary Agnes was one of those who went to the seat of war.
Involved in the planning of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, Mother Vincent was especially skilled in organisation and as such was considered invaluable to the Sisters of Mercy community in Ireland. It was this that held Mother Vincent in Ireland until Bishop James Quinn
(a Dubliner who had recently been nominated as the first bishop of Brisbane, Queensland
, Australia
) encouraged her to come to his pioneer diocese
. The new diocese, as large as France
, Spain
, and Italy
together, had then only two priest
s and four churches.
Mother Vincent Whitty arrived in Brisbane at 10pm on 10 May 1861 and in November founded All Hallows' School
, a Catholic girls school in Queensland. The congregation she founded soon spread throughout the new colony, with more than more than twenty convent
s founded before her death
Bishop Quinn's decision to include Mother Vincent in his pastoral plan proved to be inspirational, and under his leadership the Sisters of Mercy were able to make a positive contribution to the upbuilding of the Catholic community throughout the State of Queensland.
When Mother Vincent Whitty died at All Hallows' Convent in 1892 she left behind "a group of 222 Sisters in 26 schools of 7000 students and welfare institutions protecting some 200 children" (Mercy Women, 2001, p. ix).
. Father Robert Whitty
, S.J., was her brother.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
nun known for her work in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n state of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. She was a leading figure in the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy.
She was born at Pouldarrig near Oylgate, a village seven miles form the town of Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
,
She joined Catherine McAuley
Catherine McAuley
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
(the founder of the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
) at the convent in Baggot Street, Dublin in 1839. Serving as Ellen Whitty's spiritual guide through her noviceship, Catherine McAuley was extremely close to her and requested Mother Vincent to sit by her side in her dying hours. She was made mistress of novices in 1844, and in 1849 superior general, third in succession to Mother McAuley. While she was superior, the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
was carried on, and she offered the services of her nuns to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers. Her sister Mary Agnes was one of those who went to the seat of war.
Involved in the planning of the Mater Hospital, Dublin, Mother Vincent was especially skilled in organisation and as such was considered invaluable to the Sisters of Mercy community in Ireland. It was this that held Mother Vincent in Ireland until Bishop James Quinn
James Quinn
James Quinn may refer to:*Bob Quinn , born James Aloysius Robert Quinn, American executive in Major League Baseball*J. D. Quinn, James "J. D." Quinn, American football offensive guard*James J. Quinn, general in Irish Army and United Nations...
(a Dubliner who had recently been nominated as the first bishop of Brisbane, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) encouraged her to come to his pioneer diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. The new diocese, as large as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
together, had then only two priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s and four churches.
Mother Vincent Whitty arrived in Brisbane at 10pm on 10 May 1861 and in November founded All Hallows' School
All Hallows' School
All Hallows' School is a Catholic day school for girls, located close to the central business district of Brisbane, Queensland.Founded in 1861, the school follows in the tradition of the Irish Sisters of Mercy, and caters for over 1,300 girls from years five to 12...
, a Catholic girls school in Queensland. The congregation she founded soon spread throughout the new colony, with more than more than twenty convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
s founded before her death
Bishop Quinn's decision to include Mother Vincent in his pastoral plan proved to be inspirational, and under his leadership the Sisters of Mercy were able to make a positive contribution to the upbuilding of the Catholic community throughout the State of Queensland.
When Mother Vincent Whitty died at All Hallows' Convent in 1892 she left behind "a group of 222 Sisters in 26 schools of 7000 students and welfare institutions protecting some 200 children" (Mercy Women, 2001, p. ix).
Family
St. David's Well, which has lately become again the object of extraordinary devotion, lies besides her father's land; it is dedicated to St. David of Wales, said to have been the confessor of St. Aidan of Wexford. Of her sisters one became also a Sister of Mercy; the other married the brother of the famous convert and publicist, Frederick LucasFrederick Lucas
Frederick Lucas was a British religious polemicist and founder of The Tablet. His brother Samuel Lucas was a newspaper editor and abolitionist.-Biography:...
. Father Robert Whitty
Robert Whitty
Father Robert Whitty, S. J. was an Irish Jesuit priest.Born at Pouldarrig, near Oylgate, he entered Maynooth College in his fourteenth year. Having added two years on the Dumboyne Establishment to his college course, he was still too young for ordination. He offered his services to Dr...
, S.J., was her brother.