General Superiors of the Congregation of Saint Martha

Sister Ellen Mary Cullen 1921-1933 Sister M. Paula McPhee 1933-1945 Sister M. Teresa Walsh 1945-1951 Sister Ellen Mary Cullen 1951 -1 963 Sister Mary Angela Keefe 1963-1973

Sisters oftbe Precious Blood

Founded in 1861 at St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, by Aurelia Caouette and Bishop LaRocque of St. Hyacinthe, this order From the beginning was a contemplative community rather than one directed to a more active style of liFe.

In 1929 the Diocese of Charlottetown was celebrating its centennial and Bishop Louis O’Leary was anxious to have a contemplative community established in the diocese in thanksgiving For the many blessings bestowed on the diocese during these 100 years. The Sisters’ Administration agreed on a Charlottetown Foundation.

On lune 6,1929 seven Sisters oFthe Precious Blood arrived by train in Charlottetown and were met at the station by Bishop O’Leary and taken directly to their new home, a reasonably sized brick house, at 126 Sydney Street, next door to the cathedral. Some years later a major extension was added to the monastery there.

After thirty—three years on Sydney Street, and having accepted a number oFlsland young women as members oFthe community, the Sisters in 1962 moved into their new and spacious monastery on University Avenue, just opposite St. Dunstan’s University. At the same time the Sisters ceased being an independent Religious House and joined the other houses oFtheir religious Family to Form a Generalate, the mother house onhich is in London, Ontario.

Sister Mary lrene McKinnon 1973-1981 Sister Stella MacDonald 1981-1989 Sister Kathleen Bolger 1989-1997 Sister Lauretta White 1997-

AFter another thirty years the sisters in 1992 moved to a new but more compact monastery attached to the motherhouse of Mount St. Mary’s on Mt. Edward Road where they continue their quiet and prayerful presence to this day.

It is interesting to note that one oFthe original seven sisters to arrive in 1929 is still a member oFthe Precious Blood community here. Sister Elizabeth Ann wasjust a postulant when she came 73 years ago. Today at age 92 she remains very active and still asjovial.

Sisters Off/96 Precious Blood Chapel.

RELIGIOUS ORDERS o 29