'As Long as New Melleray Exists,
Them Kind-Hearted Sisters Should be Remembered'
by Jean M. Byrne, BVM

The connection between the Trappists and the BVMs goes back to the early days on the Prairie; the BVMs came there from Dubuque in 1846 and the monks founded their monastery three years later. An excerpt (spelling and punctuation as in the original) from an account by one of the group, Brother Kiernan Mullaney:

“Our live stock then was very limited, a pair of horses and one old cow, the same cow was made a present to the Brothers by the Sisters of St. Joseph's convent (BVMs) residing three miles east of here. It is difficult indeed to tell all the acts of kindness them good Sisters with their Father and founder, the Very Rev, Terrence Joseph O'Donahue done for our little community. For instance the baking of bread for us during the years 1848 and 50. Yes, and a part of 1851.

“During those three years the good Sisters made and mended our stockings, and it can never be forgotten what they done at the time we had but four horses. Br. Barnaby drove a pair of them to the convent to bring home a batch of bread. They were not more than twenty minutes in the shed when lightning hit it, killing the horses in an instant. Three of the sisters had a narrow escape. They were milking cows in the shed and had gone out of it only a few minutes when it was knocked down by the lightening.

“But our loss was very soon made all right by father O'Donahue sending over the price of a pair of horses. And what did the good Sisters ask of us for their many generous deeds? Simply our prayers, and a priest once in a while to fill in for their aged pastor.

“Truly as long as New Melleray exists. them kind-hearted Sisters should be remembered.” (1)

That the appreciation was mutual shows in this excerpt from Pulcharia McGuire's Annals:

“The monks from the Trappist Monastery at New Melleray were friends in need to the Community. Often they came to lend assistance when it was almost impossible to get a sufficient number of workmen…. The friendly relations which sprang up between the two Communities during those days of hardship have never dissolved.”

In 1853, (2) Abbot Clement Smyth commented: “You also are silently working miracles at Saint. Joseph's… the very stones of your buildings will become eloquent in publishing abroad such wonders, and will prompt the thoughtless strangers as he journeys by to acclaim, ‘The Lord is here, and I knew it not.'” (3)

Down to this Generation

This mutual helpfulness through the years has continued. One domestic example: BVM Laurette Tiernan, who prepared meals for the BVM Center in the 1960s, was very friendly with them. She baked some of her marvelous pies and had them delivered to the monastery.

In the mid 1990s the Trappists decided to use their extensive forest as a means of revenue for the monastery. Using the talents and skill of a local craftsman, Sam Mulgrew, they launched into the casket making business.

They demonstrated their products in the Marian Hall chapel; since then Sisters have had the option of requesting a simple casket crafted by the monks.

BVM Helen Kerrigan (Paulita) sprinkles the Trappist casket used for her sister, BVM Phyllis Kerrigan, as part of the funeral's opening rite.

In the past three years alone, 25 BVMs have been laid to rest in a beautifully sanded and lacquered, traditionally shaped, pine box; BVMs are still helping their Trappist brothers.

When the Trappists celebrated their Sesquicentennial several years ago, a Sunday afternoon was dedicated to their friendship with the BVMs and the memory of the mutual forebears who had shared such rough beginnings on the Prairie.

The BVMs were the guests in the monastery and were warmly hosted by the monks. Said Abbot Brendan Freeman, “You have been a part of our lives from the very beginning.”

That's exactly how we all felt and feel.

Footnotes:

1. Pulcharia McGuire Typed Manuscript of Annals p 149, 253
2. ibid, p 255
3. Ibid. p 257

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©2008 Sisters of Charity, BVM