to their children. Although not rich in a worldly sense, their deep faith and strong values were precious assets which enriched them and the lives of their family. They were committed to giving their children a good start in life.

All of the Keefe children attended the two—room school in Kinkora, and they were strongly encouraged to study hard and to succeed. Education was viewed as one of the keys to a better life. In Ireland, Roman Catholics had been denied educational opportunities, a situation they sought to redress in the new world. John himself had attended Saint Dunstans University for a year, and he kept up—to—date on world events. He became a trustee in the Kinkora school, and strongly supported advancements

in the local educational system. A new school had been constructed in Kinkora in 1908, with more up—to—date facilities.

Given the family’s deep religious faith, and the importance they attached to education, it is not surprising that three of their children would enter religious vocations. They also followed in the footsteps of other members from St. Malachy’s. With the active support and encouragement of Father Patrick Doyle, parish priest at St. Malachy’s for 25 years, eight young men from the parish joined the Christian Brothers in 1894. In 1899, John Murphy was ordained as a priest in Rome. Two young women from the parish, Margaret McCarville and Emily McIver, joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in Minneapolis in the early 1890s. By the 1930s, Kinkora saw many of its sons and daughters enter religious vocations.

One of those was Wilfred, John and Angelina’s fourth child who was born in 1908. He completed school in Kinkora and went on to graduate from St. Dunstan’s University. He taught school in Alberton for two years. After that, he enrolled in a seminary in Quebec City, and was ordained

a Roman Catholic priest in 1934 at St. Malachy’s along with two other priests from the area, Father Wilfred McCardle and Father Harold Croken. It was, however, a bittersweet occasion. Angelina was a patient

in the Charlottetown Hospital and was unable to attend the ordination; Father Wilfred said his first mass in her room the following morning.

50 KATHLEEN MURPHY, MAITRIARC