CHAPTER III THE FOUNDING OF STELLA MARIS CONVENT

Pioneer Sisters, Superiors and non-teaching Sisters

The preface to the Annals of Stella Maris Convent was written by Sister St. Mary Aloysius (Margaret MacNeil) Provincial Superior of the C.N.D. convents in the Maritimes. Sister tells the story of the founding of this new mission:

“For three years the devoted pastor of Stella Maris had pleaded for Sisters to take charge of his school but the dearth of subjects made it impossible for our Community to accede to his wishes. On my arrival in Charlottetown as Provincial in 1938, Father McNeill begged me to put his case before our General Council.

“At his request I went to North Rustico to look over the possibilities of a future mission. On my arrival there I confess my enthusiasm somewhat waned when I visualized all that would have to be done before the venture would materialize. “Where is your school?” I asked Father McNeill as we stood in front of his church. “There”, he answered, pointing to a dingy building on the opposite side of the road. And then, in moving words he went on to tell how he had, in

a miraculous manner, obtained the building which had once been a factory.

“I ventured to point out the difficulties of transforming this building — standing on stilts — into a habitable school and urged that, since there was no residence for the Sisters, prudence would demand delay, but my words fell unheeded. Like the poet, Father had seen a visionf‘Souls were to be saved so why should obstacles stand in the way? These would be conquered? And Time proved the wisdom of his words.

“A year later I again visited North Rustico. What a transformation had taken place! A cement foundation had replaced the stilts, the roof had been raised, windows added, and now resplendent in white paint the old factory had assumed a youthful and gracious appearance. Within were four classrooms, a library, and assembly hall and a spacious basement. And there, on the wall of the first classroom we entered was a picture of our Venerable Foundress, Marguerite Bourgeoys! It was my turn to see visions, and I could easily picture the number of young people who, through the years here, would be formed ac- cording to the philosophy of education bequeathed to us by this heroic woman who, at the request of the Governor of New France, had left a comfortable home in France to become the first teacher in Montreal. '

“Another year followed during which Father McNeill never relaxed his efforts to have our Community grant his request. He made several trips to our Mother House in Montreal where he pleaded his cause in person. Finally, on the feast of the Assumption, 1940, permission was granted provided that two Sisters could be spared from their assignments on the Island. And so it was that