Englandȱ - School Sisters of Notre Dame

Transcription

ȱ
ȱ
Celebratingȱȱ
150
theȱ
ȱȱ
Anniversaryȱȱ
ofȱSSNDȱinȱ
th
Englandȱ
Celebrating 150th Anniversary
of SSND in England
Adapted and edited by S. Joan Helm, SSND
I
n the mid-1800s, economic and political changes in
Germany and Austria precipitated an exodus of Germans to England. English priests were eager to have
German-speaking sisters to teach the immigrant children
and the working girls. Mother Theresa Gerhardinger
responded by opening six missions in England between
1864 and 1875. The following abbreviated accounts of
each of these missions do not give the full details of the
numerous challenges and hardships of our sisters.
Although Mother Theresa did not visit the sisters, she sent
letters of compassion and encouragement, and communicated concerns to church officials. She sent her assistant,
Sister Margaret of Cortona Wiedemann, to visit some of
the missions.
Locations where SSNDs have served in England
Birmingham
Whitechapel
Woolwich
Greenwich
Lingfield
Faversham
Crowborough
Chapter 1
Birmingham
Greenwich,London
SouthendͲonͲSea
(laterbecame
WestcliffeͲonͲSea)
Woolwich,London
Whitechapel,London
Chapter 2
Woolwich,London
Crowborough
Faversham
IsleofMan
Sisters’reflections
Chapter 3
Lingfield,Surrey RegionofEngland
PioneersofLingfield
Sisters’reflections
Chapter 1: Missions Founded by Mother Theresa
j
Whitechapel 1864 – 1872
I
n 1859, Fr. Arthur Dillon-Purcell,
Mother Theresa and Fr. Mathias Siegert
pastor of St. Boniface parish, White-
set out with six sisters. Unfortunately,
chapel, London asked Mother Theresa
Mother Theresa took ill and had to re-
for sisters to teach girls of his German
main in Paris, while Father Siegert ac-
immigrant parishioners. Whitechapel
companied the sisters to Whitechapel.
was a poor, industrial district of London.
There were Irish families living in the
The sisters held evening classes for the
area as well. To help Father Dillon-
factory girls and gave religious instruc-
Purcell Mother Theresa sent handcrafted
tion on Sundays. Within two years the
articles to sell so that the proceeds could
school and teachers had received gov-
be used for his building plans. She also
ernment certification. Financial support
offered that the sis-
from the parish and diocese was not
ters teach without
provided. Hence, the health of the sis-
pay for the first few
ters suffered due to their poverty,
years and that the
polluted air and crowded conditions.
Congregation would
S. Gerhardine Westermayer died in
pay their rent. On
August 1868. When Father Dillon-
Oct. 13, 1864, Cardi-
Purcell left in 1871, the new pastor, an
nal Wiseman gave
Oblate, preferred to have Oblate sisters
his approval for our sisters to conduct
in his parish. In June 1872, with deep
the school for girls.
sorrow, our sisters departed.
Photos: http://www.referenced.co.uk/lost-london-75-early-photographs/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset_Street_%28London%29
1
Cardinal John
Henry Newman
U
Birmingham Oratory 1869 – 1881
T
he Rev. Henry Bittlestone, superior
of the Oratorians in Birmingham,
asked for School Sisters for the Oratory
Girls’ School. In April 1869, Mother
Theresa sent two sisters. Later, after
more sisters arrived, the school
enrolment increased. Evening classes
for factory girls were also held.
Dr. John Henry Newman (later Cardinal
Newman) was a frequent visitor to the
school. He was familiarly called, “The
Reverend Father.” Each Christmas he
provided a tree for the school and a
goose for the sisters’ dinner. When a
younger priest was given charge of the
school, he wanted sisters who could visit
the sick in the hospitals and those in
their homes. Mother Margaret Cortona
decided to withdraw the sisters in 1881,
much to the regret of the older Oratorians. On their departure, Cardinal
Newman wrote, “They have worked hard
and successfully in our schools . . . and
have indirectly done our people great
spiritual good; and I am very sorry to
lose them.”
Photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Birmingham
http://annaarcosdiary.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/pope-to-go-to-birmingham-oratory/
2
U
Birmingham
St. Peter’s School
1872-1894
In 1872, the Rev. Cannon Ivers, pastor of the neighbouring parish,
St. Peter’s, requested sisters. Initially, two sisters were sent. The
bishop of Birmingham, William Ullathorne, visited the community and
brought items for their chapel. The government inspector commended the sisters but recommended that the old school building
needed repair. The pastor, who had limited funds, needed to combine the boys’ and girls’ schools. He wanted our sisters to remain.
However, our rule did not permit sisters to teach boys older than 6
years of age, so our sisters withdrew in 1894.
Drawing: Munich Archive
Photo: http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/536/
3
f
Southend-on-Sea 1870-1910
St. Mary’s Convent
other Theresa had hoped to establish a house in a healthier district rather than in the industrial area, so
that sisters could recuperate from illness and relax during holidays. Southend seemed like an ideal location. The
Rev. John Moore invited the sisters to
open an orphanage in his parish. Cardinal Henry Manning negotiated with
authorities to seek permission to educate the Catholic “workhouse children”
in Catholic schools.
Mother Theresa purchased two plots of
land near the church
and hoped to erect an
orphanage for girls
when funds became
available. Father
Moore’s promises of
financial assistance
and a number of
orphans never materialized. However, Mother Theresa, determined to establish an orphanage,
purchased the Mitre Hotel in 1875. It
was named St. Mary’s Convent. With
the appointment of S. Agnella
Rauchenegger as superior in 1878, definite progress was made. She put the
orphanage on a sound basis by obtaining the status of a “Poor Law School,”
thus securing legal and financial support. In 1895, the Generalate gave permission to teach boys up to age 10.
Convent chapel
Community room
M
Photos: Waterdown Archive
4
Unfortunately, newly elected Mother
Bruno Thoma did not have all the facts.
Sister Rosa Hutter, superior at
Southend, learned from the Vicar General of the diocese about Mother’s letter
to the Archbishop of Westminster adIn time, Southend-on-Sea became a
vising him of the closure. Sister Rosa
popular resort. The name of the town
immediately
was changed
wrote
to Westcliffe-on
to Mother
-Sea. With the
Bruno detailincreased cost
ing reasons
of living and
why she
high taxes, the
should
sisters had to
change her
depend on
decision and
contributions
inviting her to
from Woolwich
visit the
and Munich.
school and
orphanage.
In 1909, the
When Mother
General ChapBruno came
ter of Elections
to St. Mary’s
discussed the
Convent, she
situation of
St. Bernard’s Convent and High School
realized her
missions in
unwise, premature decision, but the
England and decided to close Southendsale to Les Dames Bernardines could
on-Sea.
not be reversed.
The convent became a canonical novitiate during 1888-1909. Candidates from
England, Ireland and Bavaria entered
there.
(The school was renamed “St. Bernard’s Convent and High School.” In
1991, the Bernadine sisters handed
over control of the school to the Diocese of Brentwood. The original
chapel which has been renovated continues to be a chapel. In St. Bernard’s
School Mission Statement we read,
“St. Bernard’s is a school community,
which aims to live by Jesus’
commandment ‘Love one another as I
have loved you’.”
The burial ground of our sisters is now a
grassed area. Though it is no longer
marked, the students are aware that it is
consecrated ground and that sisters are
buried there. Photos of the original
gravesite and the grassed area are in the
Waterdown archives.)
Photos: http://portal.stbernards.southend.sch.uk/SchInfo/default.aspx
5
Z
Greenwich 1872-1875
T
he Dean of Greenwich invited sisters to take charge of the elementary and secondary schools. Mother
Theresa took advantage by opening a
convent in Greenwich and sending
sisters from Whitechapel and Southend
to Greenwich. However, the enrolment
remained low, and when Greenwich
was divided into different educational
districts, our sisters could no longer
maintain the school and withdrew after
three years.
Greenwich 1874
j
Woolwich 1875-1927
T
his was the last convent in England
founded by Mother Theresa. While
our sisters were closing Greenwich, a
request came to teach at St. Peter’s
School, Woolwich, also in the Diocese
of Southwark. In January 1875, three
sisters and a candidate moved into a
rented house. As accommodations became inadequate, three more cottages
were purchased. In December 1902, a
large convent was built. This also became a novitiate. The school flourished.
The Woolwich convent was blessed
with daily Mass, retreats and ceremonies for Reception and Profession of
Vows. Sisters en route to convents in
Bavaria, Germany, and Gorizia, Italy,
stopped over in Woolwich. Students
boarded with the sisters to become
fluent in English.
Fees were kept low so that poor children could attend. But the debt on the
new convent and high taxes caused
financial problems even with the funds
sent from the Generalate in Munich.
After World War I, student enrolment
dropped. Those who worked at the
nearby military arsenal moved away or
became unemployed. A donation from
Mother Bruno in 1925 covered the last
payment on the debt. This offered new
Photo: Waterdown Archive
6
6W3HWHUÿV&DWKROLF6FKRRO:RROZLFK
hope to the community. However, the
General Chapter of 1922 decided to
close Woolwich convent. No reason
was given and no date was set. In
January 1927, the sisters learned that
the school would close in July. Parents, clergy and friends grieved to learn
that the sisters were departing. The sisters, too, had difficulty dealing with the
reality. Five sisters returned to Bavaria;
10 professed sisters, a novice and a
postulant emigrated to Canada.
At the entrance to the chapel at Notre
Dame Convent, Waterdown, is a crucifix, the corpus of which is an original
Oberammergau carving which was
brought from the Woolwich Convent
when it temporarily closed in 1927.
(In May 2007, we received an email requesting information about pupils who attended
our convent school in Nightingale Vale. The
person making the inquiry wrote that in that
family two girls became nuns of St. Andre in
Tournai, Belguim, and a boy became a Jesuit
priest. He concluded, “Obviously, there had
been a very strong Catholic influence in their
early life.”)
7
Chapter 2: Canadian Province assumes responsibility
Woolwich reopens
each location schools were founded
which provided excellent education.
This second segment of the history of
SSND in England begins with the reopening of the Woolwich convent. The
decision was made at the General
Chapter of 1934 to transfer the responsibility for England to the Canadian
Province. Gradually the work of the sisters expanded from Woolwich to Faversham, Lingfield and Crowborough. At
Many former pupils entered the professional fields of education, health care,
literature, business and politics. Testimonies from former students continue
to laud the excellent education they received that prepared them for the challenges in their future life. At the same
time they share the many happy memories that continue to enrich their lives.
j
Woolwich 1934 – 1969
Woolwich
Convent
School on left;
St. Joseph
Hall, where
commercial
classes were
held, on right
W
hen the Woolwich Convent
School closed in 1927, the sale
of the property was entrusted to a company of solicitors. By 1931 no sale was
envisioned and the buildings were beginning to show signs of deterioration in
spite of the fact that a family known to
the sisters had rented the property and
served as caretakers.
In the hope of resolving the situation,
Mother General Almeda Schricker
decided to send Mother Isidore
Schumaker, former Provincial of the
Mankato Province, and Sister Cecilia
Linnet to investigate. Sister Cecilia was
a former member of the Woolwich convent and at the time a resident in Canada. They stayed in Woolwich for nine
months, but no sale seemed possible.
8
It was decided, therefore, to reopen the
convent in the hope that the sisters
would be able to teach in the local elementary schools. The Bishop of Southwark advised the sisters, however, that
they could not replace teachers who
were under the local Education Council.
They were free, on the other hand, to
reopen their former private school, and
it was decided that this was the best
option for them.
The sisters arrived on July 23, 1934.
They were warmly welcomed by the
bishop as well as Canon W.H. Monk.
Furniture for the convent and school
had to be purchased, and repairs to the
neglected building were initiated.
Financial help from Bavaria and trunks
filled with useful items from United
States assisted greatly in making the
first steps to settling in. At the same
time, Canon Monk advised Mother Isidore, superior, to apply for Statuary Relief. This significantly lowered the
taxes. Several of the sisters from England who were resident in Canada were
sent back to England. This partially
eased the staffing problems of the
newly opened school.
It was at this time also that rumours of
war began and Mother Almeda began
to seek out ways to send sisters to
safety as well as to insure the future of
the congregation. Hence, several sisters from Germany, both teachers and
homemakers, were sent to Woolwich,
Mary Ann Harocks, age 4, in uniform,
August 1927
providing much-needed help in establishing this new foundation.
The school started with the commercial
department and private lessons in German, French and music. Soon, however, elementary classes were opened
and enrolment increased slowly. Following a favourable report by the minister of education more pupils were registered. At the senior level the commercial students were successful in their
exams, and the music pupils at both
levels received high marks in the festivals in which they participated. Word of
these successes spread, and requests
for the sisters to open new foundations
began to come in.
9
Sister Ignatius Kopp teaching typing
In June 1938 the first of these moves
was made. Mother Isidore and Sister
Calasanctia Keinz, who had moved to
England from Mankato, Minn., moved
to Faversham to begin arranging for
opening a private elementary school at
the request of the Carmelite Fathers
who managed that parish. Sister
Agnes Tannenburg was appointed superior at Woolwich.
Sister Leontine Schmitt with piano and
violin pupils
Following the rumours of war, the political scene became more volatile as the
tensions between Nazi Germany and
European countries grew. When Hitler
launched his “Blitzkreig,” Britain decided to declare war on Germany on
Sept. 3, 1939. Woolwich, as an arsenal
town, was considered a prime target.
10
Consequently, parents approved the
evacuation of their children. Sisters
Raphael Arnold (Canadian) and
Laetantia Distler (German) accompanied 25 children who were billeted in a
town in Kent. By Easter 1940, the
situation seemed less dangerous and
the children returned home. However,
the chronicles from 1940 onward recount terrifying days and nights endured by the sisters. They slept on
boards, benches and deck chairs in
their air-raid shelter. The sisters very
generously shared their shelter with
their neighbours. A number of their
more frightening experiences were recorded in the chronicles. To quote one
such entry:
“November 1, 1944 at 2:30 a.m. a
rocket exploded. A number of
people were killed and many injured. Our convent was badly
blasted. Part of the roof was
blown off, the walls were
cracked, ceilings down, doors
with window frames blown out.
Three Sisters were covered with
plaster and broken glass. Those
who slept in the shelter came
rushing into the house to assist.
In the morning many injured and
dead were dug out. A travelling
canteen provided meals for those
who were homeless. On March 26,
1945, the last rocket fell in the
neighbourhood; on March 30th /31st
the last bombs fell on England.
On May 7, 1945 at 9:00 p.m. victory in Europe was announced.”
Sisters
Theodgarda Zinkl,
Dagoberta Kroiss
and Malberta
Ziegler working in
the garden at
Woolwich
11
1952 First Communion class with Sisters Clara Foeckersperger, Vilhada Suess,
Arimathea Kreidl, Paula Eckl, Martina Klotz and Anselm Hartleib
Post-war years brought some degree of
stability, and the pupil enrolment increased. However, by the early 1950s,
due to the decrease in the number of
sisters available for teaching, lay staff
had to be employed. This put a strain
on financing.
In 1968 the community heard that the
London County Council intended to
requisition the convent property for
development. Sister Rita Ryan, Canadian Provincial at the time, visited Woolwich on her return from the General
Chapter. She conferred with the local
clergy as well as with the archbishop
regarding the prospect of closing the
convent school due to a lack of personnel. After much negotiation it was decided that the school would be operated
as an annex to St. Peter’s School and
the property itself would be purchased
by the diocese.
12
Y
Faversham 1938 – 1959
Faversham Convent School
I
n January 1937 Fr. Elias Lynch, Prior of Carmelites in Faversham,
applied for sisters to open a Catholic school. The old priory of the
Carmelites was offered to the sisters at a reasonable price. When
Mother Almeda, General Superior, viewed the premises she saw a
statue of St. Joseph in the building and a statue of Our Lady enshrined
in an oak tree outside. This impressed her.
The dilapidated building required a great deal of repair. By the end of
September it was ready for classes. But, during the first year enrolment
was low. Catholics were in the minority in Faversham, and the sisters in
their long black habits met with prejudice. It was Mother Isidore’s
friendly manner that won the respect of the people.
13
Internment of German sisters on
the Isle of Man ʊ 1940
On Sept. 3, 1939, England and
France declared war on Nazi Germany, and in England an area 20
miles in from the coast was marked
off as a “Restricted Area.” The Faversham convent was located in that
area. On the morning of May 27,
1940, a policeman knocked on the
convent door. Mother Isidore was
informed that the six German sisters
living at Faversham ʊ Christa
Schmitt, Gisela Waffler, Walbert
Gampl, Merena Spiessl, Aurelia
Baier and Carpa Grahammer ʊ
were to pack within an hour and be
taken away.
The sisters were taken to the police
station, where the wife of the chief of
police sent tea and biscuits served in
her fine china. They were then transferred along with other German
women by coach to London. Each internee was given a luggage label and
a number to be hung around her neck.
On arriving in Liverpool the women
were herded into an amphitheatre, and
during the night all were packed into a
boat. At dawn the boat arrived in
Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man.
Another train journey took them to Port
Erin, to be housed in large hotels. The
six sisters were lodged together in a
Sister Alberta's class in Faversham
Girl, 2nd from left, was taught catechism by
sisters interned on the Isle of Man, 1940
hut behind the hotel, Bradda Glen,
where beds were the only furniture.
The sisters were allowed to attend daily
Mass at church which was a half-hour
away. When they returned late for
breakfast, the superintendent turned
his back, so that he would not have to
reprove them as he did the other
14
ladies. Food was limited. Occasionally, Irish priests and nuns
from Douglas brought the sisters
oranges, the only fresh fruit they
saw. One woman received a head
of lettuce and gave a few leaves to
the sisters.
Faversham community celebrating Jubilee of
S. Frances Turner (center). (From left) Sisters
Agnes Begin, Aurelia Baier, Raphael Arnold,
Colette Ryan and Alberta Krawczyk
Plays - marching boys
Maypole
Sisters Walbert and Merena
cleaned the small church, for
which they received 10 shillings
a week. Knitting and caring for
the children also brought a little
remuneration. Sister Christa
tutored children of a Jewish
mother and assisted girls in writing English letters.
Through the efforts of the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster the
German sisters were released
on Aug. 3, 1940. Sister Gisela
recorded, “When the superintendent announced at dinner, ‘The
Notre Dame Sisters may go
home!’ we rose full of joy while
everybody rejoiced with a long
applause. Mother Isidore sent a
telegram: ‘Come to Lingfield’.”
Meanwhile, the American sisters, who
were considered aliens, had been
forced to leave Faversham as well;
they were sent to Lingfield. After the
United States joined the war, the
American sisters became allies and
were permitted to return to Faversham.
15
When school reopened in September
1940 the enrollment increased significantly. Through the years the school received favorable reports from the education authorities. However, when the
school was inspected in 1958, several
recommendations were suggested
which involved major renovations to the
building. The priory was too old for
these. And no suitable property in the
area was available for expansion or
development.
The sisters arranged for the transfer
of their pupils to other schools for
September 1959.
(In May 2004 Patrick Ronayne
organized a reunion of former
Faversham students. Fifty-two were
delighted to renew acquaintances, for
some after 45 years. The next May,
2005, Sister Colette Ryan, teacher at
Notre Dame Convent School from
1951 to 1957, surprised all with her
presence. Not in the black habit! She
recognized her former students. Since
she was missioned in Barnsley, England, she also attended the reunions in
2006 and 2007. Encouraged by the
response, Patrick continued to
organize reunions in 2008 and 2009.)
When the pastor in Crowborough
applied for sisters to establish a school
in his parish, the offer seemed providential in light of the situation in Faversham.
V
Crowborough 1959 – 1980
W
hen the Presentation Sisters,
who had conducted a private
school in Crowborough, left after two
years, Fr. Archibald MacDonnell, pastor of St. Mary’s Church, was eager to
have sisters educate the children in
his parish. At Christmas 1958 he sent
Mother Hildegard Volk in Lingfield a
donation and suggested a property
that was for sale a short distance from
the church. In early 1959, Mother
Loretto Gies, Provincial, and her
assistant, Sister Ernesta Stroeder,
and Mother Hildegard viewed the property. They were impressed with the
building and grounds. Permission from
the civil authorities was obtained. The
Bishop of Southwark approved the closing of Faversham convent but deferred
the opening of a convent school in Crowborough. Finally, in June 1959, the desired permission came from the chancery. Immediately the Carmelite Fathers
and parents in Faversham were notified
about the Faversham school closure.
The school in Crowborough would open
in September.
16
Front entrance of estate house that became
a convent, with intricate iron gates
At the entrance to the driveway of the
country home of Sir John Anderson
was the tall, black wrought-iron gate
adorned with the Scottish thistle and
English rose. The Andersons were
spiritualists, so the wood exterior of the
estate house was painted a vibrant red
and the interior sulphur yellow. The 11acre property, located on the picturesque Sussex Downs, not only offered
a panoramic view of rolling hills and
paddocks but also had fruit trees and
shrubs of colorful rhododendrons and
azaleas. Since the house had been vacated for some years, the interior required repairs.
The pupil enrolment at Crowborough,
named St. Mary’s School, increased
each year. A prefab room was erected
for a dining room which was needed to
serve a hot lunch to the children at
noon.
Side view of house and school addition
An addition was built in 1965 ʊ four
classrooms, an office and an allpurpose room. The long-term plan was
that this school would become a secondary school. There was a fine spirit in
the school community. Parents were
pleased with the academic progress.
School plays and the annual fete were
well-attended. Father MacDonnell sold
many raffle tickets to his parishioners
for the fete.
In the mid-1960s the Catholic Council
State-Aided School at Heron Ghyll,
about four miles from Crowborough,
was transferred to a new building behind St. Mary’s Church. Understandably, some parents opted for the non-fee
-paying Catholic school. When Fr. A.
White-Spunner, the new pastor, arrived
in September 1966, he publicly encouraged parents to send their children to
17
First Communion class, 1960, with community ʊ Sisters Lidoria Balk,
Clement Marie Bender, Frances Turner, Innocents Jobst
St. Mary’s School. In 1974, the school
enrolment began to decline due to the
struggling economy and competition
from nearby preparatory schools. The
hope of becoming a secondary school
no longer seemed possible.
In December 1978 the Provincial Council met with Sister Rita Wilhelm, interim
regional administrator, and Sister Joan
Helm, headmistress, to discuss the pros
and cons of continuing the school. In the
spring of 1979 the sisters in the Region
of England spent time discerning what
would be the best decision. After this
information was shared with the Provincial Council, it seemed clear that the
school should close in July 1980.
In October 1979 parents, teaching staff
and the pastor were informed. This
allowed ample time for parents and staff
to make suitable arrangements for the
following school year. The parents were
saddened by the news, but they continued their wholehearted support.
Sister Lorraine Collins arrived in early
July to assist with the sale of furniture
and prepare for a giant garage sale.
School supplies were taken to Lingfield.
Sister Lidoria Balk, who lived in Crowborough for 19 years, retired to Bexhill.
Sisters Edwin Zettler and Rose Sieben
returned to Canada, and Sister Joan
Helm was appointed headmistress of
the junior school in Lingfield.
The property was purchased by the
Wealdon District Council to be developed into a residence for seniors.
18
SISTERS’ REFLECTIONS
`xÅÉÜ|xá Éy Å|Ç|áàÜç
Faversham & Lingfield
Sister Mary Albert Bartsch
Faversham: 1946-1947, 1952-1954
Lingfield: 1947-1952, 1966-1976, 1977-1986
I
n the summer of 1946, I volunteered to go England, and to my surprise I
was asked to go to Faversham. There were four of us in community. In addition to handling the usual tasks of a convent homemaker, I prepared a hot
meal at noon for approximately 60 school children.
The following year I was missioned to Lingfield. Sisters and boarders were living together in Batnor’s Hall. The classrooms were in the converted stables.
Eventually overcrowding necessitated an extension. A scullery was added
with bedrooms above.
We cooked for the boarders and provided noon meals for the day pupils.
To feed the chickens we cooked the potato and carrot peelings and mixed in
grains. We had enough eggs for cooking and baking.
When I returned to Lingfield in January 1966 St. Joseph’s wing had been built.
The large kitchen had adequate equipment with big ovens and boilers to prepare meals for the day pupils, now numbering approximately 400, and the 70
boarders. Although there were four sisters in the kitchen we all were kept
busy. In those days there was no processed food or frozen produce. Vegetables were grown in our garden. All desserts were homemade.
Our day started shortly after the 7 a.m. morning Mass, serving breakfast to the
boarders and sisters. Around 8 p.m. we left the kitchen. Some days we had a
short break in the afternoon.
Each summer the school held a garden fete which was attended by parents
and villagers from near and far. We did extra baking for the bake booth.
I have happy memories of my 27 years in England.
19
Experience in England
Sister Colette Ryan
Faversham: 1951-1957
Woolwich: 1957-1962
North Yorkshire: 2003-2007
have had two opportunities to be missioned to England ʊ both very different
experiences. The first was from 1951 to 1962. During that period I served in
two places: Faversham, Kent (1951-1957), and Woolwich, Greater London
(1957-1962). Both were happy experiences which left joyous memories.
I
During the summer of 1951 I had been kept busy in Ontario conducting summer catechetical classes preparing children who attended public schools for
their First Communion and/or Confirmation. Upon my return to the motherhouse I was met with the news that Mother Pius Gaenz was searching for
someone to go to England. I do not really know to this day what prompted my
actions, but upon hearing that news I raced up to Mother Pius’ office, knocked
on the door and when allowed to enter fell to my knees and said, “Mother Pius,
I beg to go to England!” By the look on her face I believe she was as surprised
as I was. The next question, of course was “Why?” My only reply was that I felt
God was calling me to that ministry. I heard no more for several days until I
was called to the office to be told that I would be going to England to be stationed in Faversham, Kent. The preparations began for the day of my departure from Toronto.
I was met in London by two sisters who, though strangers, were most welcoming. We gathered up my luggage, made our way to the train station and
headed for Lingfield. This was not my true destination, but the sisters from Faversham were in Ireland on a school trip with their students. I was graciously received by the Lingfield community and spent that week becoming slowly aware
of the many subtle changes of life in England.
Finally, a car arrived and the sisters from Faversham were ready to take me to
my final destination ʊ Faversham, Kent. The introduction to this new situation
was made easier by the fact that one of my companion sisters was my cousin,
Sister Agnes Begin. I was not completely alone with strangers.
(Continued on Page 21)
20
(Continued form Page 20)
Sister Colette Ryan: Experience in England
The Faversham school was a small, private, elementary school with three classes
ʊ primary, middle and senior classes, which included those children preparing for
the departmental exams. These exams determined whether the students would
proceed with their future education in a grammar school or a comprehensive
school and, therefore, generated a great deal of pressure on the teacher as well as
the students. Upon my arrival, Sister Agnes took over the senior classes and I
moved into her position with the middle classes. Sister Frances Turner had the
primary classes as well as serving as Local Leader of the community.
Although the country was still recovering from the devastation of the war, those
years in Faversham were happy years. Sister Frances served as a gentle Superior who did all she could to make life happy, while the two sisters who served as
cooks also worked to make our home a happy one.
In 1957 I was called to move to Woolwich, Greater London, as head teacher as
well as local leader of the community. This was a very difficult call and one I had
not expected. I served in this capacity from 1957 to 1962, when Mother Loretto
Gies called me back to Canada to serve as Superior and Principal at a small rural
school in Maryhill, Ontario.
My years in England were, on the whole, happy years. Many times the situations
were so completely foreign to any experience I had ever had in Canada, and yet
those occasions broadened me as an individual and gave me occasion to grow
spiritually, culturally and academically. I have never regretted my impromptu move
to race up the stairs to Mother Pius’ door and beg for the opportunity to move to
England. I have been deeply grateful for the experience within a foreign culture,
the chance it gave me to stretch my gifts within an entirely different school system
and be exposed to the customs and practices of a different culture. All helped me
to grow as a person and come to realize that with the grace of our loving God one
can surmount any difficulty and work to spread His love among so many different
people.
My second experience in England was completely different in every aspect. First
of all, the call came unexpectedly as I was finishing sabbatical time in Hawkstone
Hall in 2003. I had spent the six weeks within a very relaxing atmosphere and was
gradually preparing for my return to Canada. One evening I received a phone call
from Sister Delia Calis, the Provincial Superior at the time. She asked if I would
stay in England with Sister Miriam Bruder in Barnsley, North Yorkshire, as a temporary companion while they searched for someone to companion her permanently. I had no difficulty answering that request. My heart had always been open
to any call back to England, and so the response was an immediate “Yes!”
The differences were immediately apparent. First of all, I was in a completely
different part of this wonderful country ʊ north rather than south.
(Continued on Page 22)
21
(Continued form Page 21)
Sister Collette Ryan (center) at
Faversham reunion, 2007.
(Inset): Close-up of icon by Giovanni
dal Ponte, egg tempera and gold
panel, limited edition
Secondly, I was not involved in a school situation but was a companion to a sister, working as a pastoral minister and relieving her as much as I could by cooking, helping with the many behind-the-scenes tasks that had to be done and finding other ways to relieve her difficult work. The greatest difference, however,
was in the cultural exposure. The north of England in no way compares to the
south, and that exposure broadened me in a whole new way. My family roots
are in northern England, and the parish in which I grew up in east end Hamilton,
Ontario, was predominantly peopled by individuals who had originated in this
part of England. Deep within me was an innate response to this new situation.
Therefore, when Sister Delia phoned and asked if I would be willing to stay
longer, my immediate answer was whole-hearted “Yes!” Thus began one of the
happiest spells of my life.
Finally, however, ill health prompted me to ask for a return to Canada for medical
reasons. Sister Dorothy Goetz came to England in 2007 to help me prepare for
the trip and to accompany me on the journey. I have never regretted the years I
spent serving God’s people in England. Those years enriched my life both culturally and spiritually and gifted me with a tolerance for differences I had not had
before.
22
Crowborough
Sister Rose Sieben
Crowborough: 1976 – 1980
T
his was my last teaching assignment and the only time in my
40-plus years in the classroom that I had a single grade ʊ
Infant II: 6- and 7-year-olds. My classroom was on the second
floor of the main convent building. Next to it was a vacant room
which became an extension of my classroom for various group
activities. The children were eager learners and welcomed selfdirected exercises. Our community of four walked to Mass each
morning, a short walk down the road.
During school breaks and for celebrations, we visited our SSND
neighbours in Lingfield and Bexhill.
Our pupil enrolment began to decline, since there were non-feepaying schools in the vicinity. When our school closed in 1980, I
moved to Alberta, Canada, for studies at Newman College.
23
Chapter 3: Notre Dame Convent Day and Boarding School
_
Lingfield, Surrey 1940 – 1986
Aerial view of convent, school and gardens of Lingfield
I
n 1940, during World War II, when the
six German sisters in Faversham were
interned on the Isle of Man, the three
remaining American sisters, who were
considered aliens, were told by the British government to leave Faversham
within three days. The Rev. R. F.
Eisenberger found accommodation for
them at Welstrode, the home of Grace
Wheeler in Lingfield, Surrey. On June 7,
1940, Mother Isidore Schumacker
and Sisters Calasanctia Keinz and
Hildegarde Volk moved into six tiny
rooms at the front of the house. These
rooms had not been used in a while and
needed extensive cleaning and repairs.
A week later the furniture from Faversham arrived.
Within two weeks, Sister Anselm
Hartleib, a Canadian who was permitted
to remain in Faversham, came with 14
24
children. The next day classes began.
The eight little girls slept at Wisteria, another rented house which was about 10
minutes from Welstrode. Local children
also registered. Thirty children were
served lunch in a very small dining
room at Welstrode.
On Aug. 7, 1940, the six German sisters
who had been released from the Isle of
Man arrived in Lingfield. Aug. 8 was the
day for Sister Merena Spiessl to profess
her final vows. With no retreat, nor extra
preparation, she professed her vows
before Mass in the pre-fab church in
Lingfield. Her prayers had been answered, for she had been released just
two days before the expiration of her
temporary vows.
On Christmas Eve 1941, the chaplain of
the Irish Guards celebrated midnight
Mass in the convent. A classroom/
community room/playroom was prepared for this special Mass. Several soldiers accompanied the chaplain. Both
the Canadian and American soldiers
shared their gifts from home with the
children and arranged for a movie in the
church as well as a luncheon.
The Rev. Canon Monk, who was in
charge of religious in the diocese of
Southwark, insisted that the sisters
have better living conditions. With generous financial assistance from the Canadian and Milwaukee provinces, Oakleigh house was purchased. On
Sept. 22, 1942, friends and neighbours
helped with the move.
The summer of 1944 was especially
frightening as the pilot-less planes
known as “doodlebugs” flew overhead.
These planes would approach swiftly.
When the engine stopped, all waited
breathlessly to hear if or where a deadly
explosion might occur. When the siren
sounded, children took shelter under a
table with a metal top until the all-clear
signal was heard. This went on for several months.
Batnor's Hall – Original convent and school
Because the sisters knew the crowded
teaching conditions in Lingfield would
not meet the approval of the Ministry of
Education once the war ended, a long
search began for another place. Batnor’s Hall, an estate dating back to
1589 which had been occupied by the
army during the war, was for sale. A
barrister, Patrick McLean, wrote to the
owner, Lady Roffey, about purchasing
it. She consented to sell it to the sisters.
The 11 acres included two small cottages, stables, vegetable gardens,
25
Stables were converted into classrooms
orchards, a peach house, a summer
house, a pond, tennis courts and a
sports field. The soldiers who were
housed there during the war had left the
place in a terrible condition. Ladies and
men from the village helped with cleaning and repairs. By May 1945 the house
was ready for the 80 day pupils, 25
boarders and the community of seven
sisters. The stables were converted into
bright classrooms.
The nearby racecourse stable area was
used as a prisoner of war camp. The
German prisoners constructed equipment for the children’s playground,
made toys and picked bushels of
apples.
Junior pupils on climbing apparatus
Prisoners were invited for meals, and
several sang at Sunday Mass in the
church. When the sisters heard that the
government was selling at a low price
the army huts from the racecourse, they
purchased two and had them put together as an all-purpose room. This
26
served as a gym, playroom, chapel
for Sunday Mass and place for
performances.
In May 1945 a historic event took place.
To quote the local paper: “First for 400
Years ʊ Lingfield, Surrey saw the first
Corpus Christi procession since the
Reformation. Some 40 soldiers of the
Irish Guard walked in procession on the
convent grounds.”
As astute educators, the sisters realized
that it was necessary to include college
preparatory classes at the school. For
this an adjoining property of 10 acres
with a beautiful house was purchased in
1947. It was named LeClerc House.
This was home for the senior boarders,
and senior classes were taught there.
Purchased in 1947, LeClerc became home
to senior boarders and classrooms.
Arthur Walker, a skilled builder who did
repairs at the Woolwich convent, moved
to Lingfield and lived in LeClerc. Mrs.
Walker took charge of the senior boarders during the night. This she did for 18
years. In 1952 Mr. Walker designed
and constructed a building for the junior
school. In 1955 he built an extension to
Batnor’s, called St. Joseph Hall, which
provided a lovely chapel, individual bedrooms for sisters, a large community
room and a dining hall for the students.
In 1958 he added an annex to the
senior school.
Children ages 4½ to 18 commuted by
train from neighbouring towns. Boarders
came from countries including Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland,
Nigeria, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Junior children who commuted by train
27
Senior girls' orchestra
Although not all students were Catholic,
religion classes were attended by
everyone. Retreats and other religious
events were offered.
Sports and dancing were part of the
school curriculum. Students were encouraged to take music, speech and
dance taught by qualified teachers.
These students received awards from
the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, the Royal Drawing Society
and the Royal Academy of Dancing.
The girls also did well in O and A level
exams for the London University Examinations. With the completion of a large
gymnasium and auditorium with stage
and balcony (considered the finest in
southern England) application was
made to the Ministry of Education for
Recognition. Following several visits
Senior tennis players in front of LeClerc.
28
the annual July Garden Fete. Busloads
of children and visitors from far and
near came for this highly regarded
event. There were numerous stalls and
sideshows for children and adults. The
finale of the day was an elaborate
dance performance by the junior and
senior students. The proceeds from
these fetes provided equipment and
other supplies for the school.
Junior pupils in library
Lingfield was the largest convent in
England and considered the central
house. It was a welcoming home for
neighbouring missions, SSND visitors
from abroad, sisters from other religious
communities wanting to learn English
and many guests. This community was
truly international, with SSNDs from
Germany, Canada, England, Ireland,
Romania and the United States. Vocations from England and Ireland and two
from Germany had their postulancy and
novitiate in Lingfield. Retreats, prayer
days and celebrations were graciously
hosted by the Lingfield community.
Junior pupils with goat
from inspectors, on Aug. 11, 1962,
Notre Dame Convent Day and Boarding
School was approved by Her Majesty’s
Government as “Efficient.” This gave
prestige to the school. Student enrolment increased through the years.
Christmas plays and other performances at the school were well-attended.
The highlight of the year, however, was
By 1985 it was clear that the future of
Lingfield needed serious evaluation.
Fewer SSND teachers were available;
the number of boarders was decreasing
and day students were increasing. In
1986 a group of parents was approached and asked to consider the
feasibility of a Parents’ Trust to purchase and govern both the junior and
senior schools. Under the leadership of
Paul Yeates parents rallied to save the
29
Sisters in England celebrating Jubilee - 1959
school. An agreement was reached for
the sale of the property, and in January
1987 the trust began administration of
the school.
The village of Lingfield planted a Canadian maple tree on the school grounds
as a tribute to the 46 years of the valuable service of the sisters. As this tree
grows and matures, so does Notre
Dame School continue to flourish. Plans
are underway to celebrate the 75th anniversary in 2015 of Notre Dame School
in Lingfield.
In 1986 the village of Lingfield planted a
maple tree in honour of SSND’s long
presence in the village.
30
exÅxÅuxÜ|Çz
Ministry in Lingfield
S. Walbert Gampl taught young pupils in
the Infant 2 classes.
S. Walbert Gampl was awarded
the papal Bene Merenti medal at
the request of St. Bernard Parish,
Lingfield, for 40 years of service.
She cleaned the sanctuary and
sacristy and gave religious instruction to children not attending Catholic schools. The Rev. O.
Charlton, pastor, presented the
award.
Sisters Merena Spiessl (rear) and
Jacqueline Lewis handled altar
linens, wimples and boarders’
uniforms in the convent laundry.
Reception of first
novices, 1950: Eileen
Rix (left) of Redhill,
Surrey, and Edwina
Roberts (far right) of
London were both
converts. Mother
Hildegarde Volk
(center) and
S. Lidoria Balk, novice directress (rear),
are also pictured,
along with the priest
who officiated at the
first reception
ceremony.
Sisters (from left) Mary Albert
Bartsch, Aurelia Baier, Teresa
Walker and Dolores Eckl spent many
hours in the kitchen preparing meals
for sisters and students with the
help of lay staff.
31
e
Region of England 1971 – 1981
I
n 1971 the SSND missions in England were formed into the Region of
England. There were 29 sisters living in
five communities. On June
2, 1971, a memo from the
provincial leader, Sister
Carla Marie McCarville, announced the results of the
election for the regional
leadership: Sister Christa
Schmitt, regional leader;
Sisters Arimathea Kreidl
and Margaret Liethen,
councillors. With regional
status, England was
granted representation at
both the General and Provincial Chapters and was
allowed to function with a
regional assembly. The first
regional assembly was
held in Bexhill on June 2,
1973.
dialogue about the pros and cons of
continuing as a region. The relationship
with the Canadian Province was essentially that of oneness with
regular communication.
In 1980 the regional assembly reached consensus that
England no longer be a region and that a leader or coordinator be appointed by the
Provincial Council in consultation with the sisters. At this
time, 27 sisters were living in
England ʊ at Lingfield, in two
houses in London and in Bexhill, a retirement home. After
her visitation to England in
March 1981, Sister Carla
Marie communicated to Sister
Margaret Mary Johanning,
General Superior, the leaning
of the sisters in England.
In September 1981, Sister
In 1977 the General ChapMargaret Mary announced
ter asked for a study of all
the following:
regions and provinces.
“Our government structure of
When Sister Christa reS. Christa Schmitt,
region for the Sisters living in
signed as regional leader in
regional leader from
1971
to
1978
and
headEngland will be terminated as
May 1978, Sister Rita
mistress of Notre Dame
of September 1, 1981. The
Wilhelm was appointed as
Convent School.
Sisters serving in England
interim administrator. When
and those who will serve there in the
Sister Rita was elected to the Provincial
future will be incorporated into the norCouncil in 1980, Sister Helen Schneimal provincial structure of the province
der replaced her as coordinator in the
of Canada instead of maintaining
region. The regional assembly and all
SSND regional government.”
the sisters living in England engaged in
32
e
Remembering the Pioneers of Lingfield
Mother
Hildegard
Volk
×
Mother Hildegard Volk was professed in Mankato, Minn., in 1919. In 1940 she
opened the mission in Lingfield, and for the next 25 years she successfully
administered Notre Dame Convent Day and Boarding School. From 1959 to 1965
she was vicar of the missions in England.
Sister
Christa Schmitt
×
Sister
Walbert Gampl
×
Sister
Merena Spiessl
×
Profession - Munich 1938
After her internment on the
Isle of Man in 1940, she
went to Lingfield and
taught history at the senior
school. From 1971 to 1981
she was headmistress.
Then she took a less demanding role as librarian of
the senior school. From
1971 to 1978 she was also
regional leader of the Region of England. Sister
Christa was highly esteemed by the sisters and
by the entire school
community.
When she was released
from the Isle of Man she
was missioned in Lingfield.
She was an excellent
teacher of Infant 1 and 2
classes. When not in the
classroom she would be
outside feeding the chickens and ducks. On Saturdays she walked to the village church to do church
work. Her entire life was
one of service. She retired
to Waterdown in 1987.
She returned from the Isle
of Man the day before she
was to take her final vows.
From 1940 to 1986 she was
the laundress. Not only did
she do the general laundry,
the wimples and boarders’
uniforms, but she also
laundered the altar linens
for St. Bernard’s Church.
Sister
Gisela Waffler
Sister
Aurelia Baier
Sister
Laetantia Distler
×
×
×
She was proud that her
home was near the famous
Regensburg Cathedral.
Following her detention on
the Isle of Man, she moved
to Lingfield, where she
taught French and music
for 31 years. Later she assisted in the community,
until she retired to Waterdown in 1982. Although
she had failing eyesight,
she enjoyed a grand
celebration on her
100th birthday.
She, too, was held on the
Isle of Man. For 33 years
she worked in the kitchen.
Although tiny of stature she
handled the large pots and
pans. She was noted for
her baking, especially her
delicious buns for Sunday
breakfasts and her Easter
and Christmas bread. She
retired to Waterdown in
1981.
For 30 years she served in
Lingfield as teacher and
later as headteacher of the
junior school. Her many
talents were a great asset
in the Lingfield community
and the junior school. She
not only directed plays but
also designed and sewed
costumes for the children.
These performances and
fetes were an important
source of funds for the
school.
33
f
Sisters from Germany who also ministered
in Lingfield
Sister
Vilhada Suess
×
Sister
Clara Foeckersperger
×
Sister
Lidoria Balk
×
Profession - Milwaukee 1930
Her love of teaching was
evident in her creative
methodology using her musical and artistic skills. At
Easter she would decorate
the blackboards in the junior school with beautiful
chalk murals. When she
retired to Waterdown, she
worked with the senior sisters teaching them various
crafts.
For her personal safety she
had to leave her homeland
in 1939. Her influence and
popularity with the young
girls seemed to threaten
the Nazi leaders. Schools
in England benefited from
her many talents, especially in art and music.
Upon retiring to Waterdown
she helped in the craft
department and later visited the elderly and sick in
Formosa.
Since private schools were
closed in Bavaria, after her
profession she volunteered
to emigrate to USA. Later
she moved to England. In
Lingfield she taught in the
junior school and was novice directress. She wrote
and directed plays for the
children. She was also
asked to help with German
translations.
Sister
Arimathea Kreidl
Sister
Dolores Eckl
Sister
Jacqueline Lewis
×
×
×
Profession - Lingfield 1952
34 years of faithful
community service
During her 19 years in
Lingfield she held administrative positions of local
leader and bursar. As bursar she did the bookkeeping for the missions in England and was responsible
for the payroll for the lay
staff in Lingfield.
For 33 years she worked in
the kitchen, preparing
meals for the 70+ boarders
as well as the 400 day students who were also
served the noon meal. After
a long day in the kitchen
she would work in the
kitchen garden until dusk.
In the early days she also
tended to the chickens.
Born in Lancashire, England, she was professed in
Lingfield in1952. She
helped in the laundry and
cleaned Batnor’s Hall, the
residence of the junior
boarders. She had a vast
knowledge of historical and
political events in England.
34
Sister Eileen Donohoe
My journey to Lingfield
During the early 1950s two sisters from Lingfield travelled to
Ireland in the hopes of establishing a convent and inviting
young women to join the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The
bishop with whom they met did not favour another congregation establishing a house in Ireland because there were so
many congregations already in existence. However, they
were given permission to speak at some of the Masses in
the city of Cork. It was through that opportunity that some young women came
forward and decided to join the SSNDs in England.
A friend of my family was one of these young women who had entered in Lingfield
in 1959. That Christmas she came home for a visit and shared her Lingfield experience with my sister, who at that point was interested in entering a congregation but as yet had not decided where to go. My sister in turn entered in Lingfield.
When, as a family, we visited my sister I was struck by the friendliness of the sisters, in particular the homemakers who went out of their way to interact with me.
This impressed me very much, and that experience stayed with me and had a
bearing on my decision about joining a community.
My sister and I were born and educated in Ireland. My mother was a Londoner
and my father was Irish. My parents had not planned on living in Ireland and were
considering living in Vancouver or New York due to my father’s work. World War
II changed everything, and they settled in Wexford where I was born. When I was
4 we moved to Cork, where my sister and I were educated by the Ursuline Sisters. They were wonderful educators, but somehow they seemed rather distant.
On Sept. 8, 1964, I entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
in Lingfield. Because of moving to a different country I had to pick up my studies
and immerse myself in the English educational system. My postulancy was spent
alone and so it was decided that it would be a good idea for me to travel to Canada, where I knew no one and would join a group of 10 postulants moving into the
novitiate. Although extremely homesick I struggled through and really enjoyed
being with other novices, who went out of their way to make me feel welcome.
Following the year of novitiate I returned to Lingfield, where I completed my education and trained to become a teacher at La Sainte Union College of Education
in Southampton, Hampshire. I took my final vows in Lingfield.
In 1984 I returned to Lingfield as headteacher of the senior school and was involved in the hand-over of the school to lay management in 1987.
35
Sister Cecilia Reitzel
Life and ministry in Lingfield
1966 - 1980
In 1966 I arrived in England by boat, the Queen Elizabeth. It
was a seven-day trip. I was greeted at Notre Dame Convent,
Lingfield by an international community of 26 sisters ʊ
American, Irish, British, Canadian and the pioneers from Bavaria. I taught religion,
general science, biology and chemistry in the senior school to girls ages 11 to 18.
In the beginning, I had difficulty understanding their English accent and their unpronounced “r’s”.
The younger girls in my religion class wanted to start a club. They called themselves “The Young Apostles.” They were interested in learning about different religions. An older student was a Mormon. Her parents accepted our invitation to
meet with the group to explain their faith. We later visited the Mormon temple.
Each year the group went to the Carmelite Monastery in Aylesford for a retreat
day. As a missionary project, some girls knitted 6-inch squares to make afghans
to send to Mother Theresa in Calcutta. We made about 25 afghans.
In the senior school, each morning the students gathered in the long corridor for a
short assembly. I played the guitar to accompany the folk group with their hymns.
Our headmistress, Sister Christa Schmitt, then gave a brief spiritual talk, followed
by announcements.
The grand finale of the school year was the Annual Fete. Many volunteers set up
booths and tables on the grounds. Sisters from United States sent a variety of
gifts. Our community spent months knitting, crocheting and embroidering articles.
Sister Monica Reil had her domestic science class bake 100 sponge cakes and
other pastries. There were pony rides and other games for the children. Refreshments included tea cakes from the local bakery and an ice cream van. The afternoon concluded with a ballet performance by students from the junior and senior
schools. This was a magnificent highlight at the conclusion of the fete.
In 1980, during an experiment for my chemistry class, there was an explosion.
This caused me to have a significant hearing loss. As a result, I had to retire from
the classroom.
During my 14 years in Lingfield my prayer life was deepened. I had the opportunity to take a three-year course in biblical studies, a Christian meditation program
directed by Father John Maine, a Benedictine, and to be involved in an ecumenical prayer group.
36
Sister Alfreda Kimpel
“There will always be an England”
-- from British patriotic song
In August 1969 I was on the plane to England. My assignment was to be
mistress of the senior boarders in Lingfield, Surrey. Quite a change from 12
years in charge of the boys at St. Agatha Orphanage! During the first two
years, on many days, I would have walked across the ocean to Canada.
That changed. Now, I believe I have left part of my heart in England.
There were 40 boarders, an international group from various countries including France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Bahrain, Trinidad, Nigeria, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The library served as an all-purpose room
where the girls studied, recreated, watched TV and had snacks.
In 1971 two bedrooms were converted into a lounge and small kitchen. The
following year a washer and dryer were installed. This greatly relieved the
two laundresses in the main building who continued to do the sheets and
uniforms. On the weekends the boarders cooked their own meals. Not only
did they like preparing their favourite meals, but they did not have to walk
over to the main dining room.
England was very enriching for me. I soon realized that my home town of
Preston, Ontario, was not the only place in the world. I appreciate the richness of the various cultures to which the boarders introduced me.
37
Sister Rosalie Reitzel
1971 - 1981
When I left the school in Birkenhead, England, in 1971, I moved to our
Notre Dame Senior School in Lingfield. This new situation offered the
challenges of presenting religious education and the sciences to classes
of 11- and 12-year-old girls as well as Scottish history to 13-year-olds.
The latter opened up an opportunity to tour the relevant sites in Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and others. A great learning experience!
While I was in Lingfield, I was given a sabbatical during which I studied
for a year at Corpus Christi College, London. This year included a tour
through the Holy Land.
Another highlight was a Charismatic Conference at the Catholic Cathedral in London. On my return to Lingfield, I continued to be an active
member of our ecumenical group, and suggested we use the sessions
of the “Life in the Spirit.” In the aftermath, each church continued with
weekly prayer groups and all the churches gathered for monthly sessions. In 1981 I returned to Ontario.
38
Sister Estelle Malleck
1971 - 1973
In August 1971 I went to Lingfield as music
teacher for the junior and senior schools.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I taught
singing in the junior school to classes of children ages 4 to 10. After
school I taught piano to individual students. Ballet classes were part
of the curriculum in both the junior and senior schools, so on Tuesday and Thursday I played piano for these classes. The senior girls’
choir, which I directed, performed at various school events and in
festivals.
Having played the organ in parishes for years, I found playing for the
Sunday liturgy in the convent an easy task. The resident chaplain,
Father Adrian, was very supportive.
In 1973 I volunteered for an exchange program, which took me
to Sacred Heart School in St. Paul, Minn.
39
Sister Doreen Lackenbauer
1978 - 1986
In August 1978 I began a new ministry: being in
charge of 35 junior boarders ages 7 to 12 at Batnor’s Hall, Lingfield. The girls were an international and ecumenical mix from Hong Kong and
Africa, but mostly from various British military bases. Their parents
were frequently transferred. As boarders they could remain in the
same school environment and not move with their parents. They
bonded with peers and had a home away from home.
Whatever their faith, they eagerly joined in night prayers, based on a
scripture verse and hymns of their choosing. On Saturdays we walked
to the village of Lingfield to spend pocket money, mostly on sweets.
On Sundays, if it did not rain, our walks took us to one of the lovely
sites in the area.
On weekends the girls engaged in cooking and baking. Chinese
meals, sloppy joes, pizza and casseroles were favorites. Their homemade cookies, cupcakes, scones and turnovers filled with berries and
fruit they had picked provided tasty after-school snacks. The girls enjoyed these experiences, since in Hong Kong and on the military
bases the kitchens had limited space.
When the junior boarding school closed in July 1986, I moved to
Peckham Rye, London, to assist in the pastoral ministry. After this convent closed, I returned to Ontario in August 1987.
40
Sister Connie Harkin
1979 - 1986
A telephone call on a Sunday evening in April 1979, from
Sister Carla Marie McCarville, provincial leader, was to
change my life for the next seven years. I was invited to
serve as a teacher at Notre Dame Junior School in Lingfield, England. I had been teaching Grade 5 (10-year-olds) in Hanover, Ontario.
The new challenge would be to teach 4- and 5-year-olds. After praying over this
request, I accepted the invitation.
The school year began in mid-September, and I was as ready to learn as were
the 16 little faces whom I met that first day in Reception/Infant 1. With much
support and guidance from Sister Walbert Gampl, who taught Infant 2, and Sister Laetantia Distler, our headmistress, I would learn what teaching 4- and 5year-olds entailed. Early in the school year, we prepared for the Christmas concert, a major undertaking indeed! My little students would walk in full costumes
for the Nativity scene over to the senior school for rehearsals.
Each new class brought its own challenges but also many joys and surprises.
Some children came with eagerness to start school while others were rather apprehensive. At Notre Dame Lingfield, there were new admissions after Christmas and Easter breaks. The little September students became the “seniors” eager to help their new class buddies adjust to the world of education.
When I reflect on the years of living and teaching in England from 1979 until
1986, I am reminded of our SSND internationality. My companions in community were from Germany, Romania, Ireland, England and Canada. Our common
love for Blessed Mother Theresa and for our efforts to bring others to reach their
potential were evident. I will always be grateful for having been given the opportunity and the privilege to live with such wonderful women who share this love
and belief in SSND.
41
Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of SSND in England Copyright ©2014 by School Sisters of Notre Dame. All rights reserved.

Englandȱ - School Sisters of Notre Dame

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