Mother Mary Vincent Whitty, R.S.M., (3 March 1819 – 9 March 1892) was an Irishreligious sister known for her work in the colony of Queensland. She was a leading figure in the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, both in Ireland and in its expansion into the Australian colonies.
She was born Ellen Whitty at Pouldarrig, near Oylegate, a village seven miles from the town of Wexford in Ireland. She was the fourth of the six children of William and Johanna Whitty (née Murphy).[1][2]
One of Whitty's two sisters also became a Sister of Mercy, known as Sister Mary Agnes. The other sister married the brother of a famous convert and publicist, Frederick Lucas. Father Robert Whitty, S.J., leader of the Jesuits in Great Britain, was her brother.[3]
Religious life in Ireland
At the age of 19 Whitty joined Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, at the convent in Baggot Street, Dublin, in 1839. Serving as Whitty's spiritual guide through her novitiate, Catherine McAuley was extremely close to her and requested Mother Vincent to sit by her side in her dying hours. She was made Mistress of novices in 1844, and in 1849 Superior General of the religious congregation, third in succession to Mother McAuley. While she was served in that office, the Crimean War was being waged and she offered the services of the congregation to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers. Her own sister, Mary Agnes, was one of those who went to the seat of war.
Involved in the planning of the Mater Hospital in Dublin, Whitty was especially skilled in organisation and as such was considered invaluable to the Sisters of Mercy community in Ireland. Additionally, she founded five new convents and established three institutions in Dublin for the care of neglected children and underprivileged women.[2]
Religious life in Queensland
It was this that held Whitty in Ireland until Bishop James Quinn, who had recently been named as the first Bishop of Brisbane for Queensland, encouraged her and five Sisters to become the first women religious in his pioneer diocese. The new diocese, as large as France, Spain and Italy together[according to whom?], had then only two priests and four churches. Whitty's religious community were initially reluctant to release her for this missionary venture but this was overcome by the direct command of Archbishop Cullen.[1][4] Whitty was appointed as the Superior of the group.
Whitty arrived in Brisbane with five other Sisters on 10 May 1861 and that following November founded All Hallows' School, a Catholic girls school. Although the bishop removed her as Superior in 1863,[2] the community of Sisters she founded soon spread throughout the new colony, with more than 20 convents founded before her death
Bishop Quinn's decision to include Whitty in his pastoral plan proved to be inspirational, and under her leadership the Sisters of Mercy were able to make a positive contribution to the growth of the Catholic community throughout Queensland.
She left behind "a group of 222 Sisters in 26 schools of 7000 students and welfare institutions protecting some 200 children" (Mercy Women, 2001, p. ix). A Mercy Training College for teachers had also been established at Nudgee. In addition to the various educational institutions founded under her leadership, the Sisters of Mercy of Brisbane form an independent congregation within the tradition of Catherine McAuley. A street in Canberra was named after her, in honour of her contribution to Australian education.[7] A thesis about Whitty's influence on education in Queensland was also completed in 1969 at the University of Queensland.[8]
References
^ abcO'Donoghue, Eileen M., "Whitty, Ellen (1819–1892)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 14 March 2021
^ abc"Who We are: Mother Vincent Whitty". Sisters of Mercy, Brisbane Congregation. from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
^Russell, Matthew. ""Ellen Whitty." The Catholic Encyclopedia". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 14 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Vincent, Mother (1819–1892) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
^"Obituary - Ellen Whitty - Obituaries Australia". oa.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
^Staff writers (6 March 2004). "Nun who shaped education in Australia". The Catholic Leader. Retrieved 14 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^O'Donoghue, Frances. "Mother Vincent Whitty : With special reference to her contribution to education in Queensland". espace.library.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 14 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
Further reading
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Ellen Whitty" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Mercy Women Making History: From the Pen of Mother Vincent Whitty, Brisbane: Sisters of Mercy (2001).
Mary Xaverius O'Donoghue, Mother Vincent Whitty: Woman and educator in a masculine society, Melbourne University Press, Carlton Vic, 1972. 9780522840179
August 24, 2023
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Mother Mary Vincent Whitty R S M 3 March 1819 9 March 1892 was an Irish religious sister known for her work in the colony of Queensland She was a leading figure in the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy both in Ireland and in its expansion into the Australian colonies Memorial card for Mother Mary Vincent Whitty Contents 1 Early life 2 Religious life in Ireland 3 Religious life in Queensland 4 Later life 5 Legacy 6 References 7 Further readingEarly life EditShe was born Ellen Whitty at Pouldarrig near Oylegate a village seven miles from the town of Wexford in Ireland She was the fourth of the six children of William and Johanna Whitty nee Murphy 1 2 One of Whitty s two sisters also became a Sister of Mercy known as Sister Mary Agnes The other sister married the brother of a famous convert and publicist Frederick Lucas Father Robert Whitty S J leader of the Jesuits in Great Britain was her brother 3 Religious life in Ireland EditAt the age of 19 Whitty joined Catherine McAuley the founder of the Sisters of Mercy at the convent in Baggot Street Dublin in 1839 Serving as Whitty s spiritual guide through her novitiate Catherine McAuley was extremely close to her and requested Mother Vincent to sit by her side in her dying hours She was made Mistress of novices in 1844 and in 1849 Superior General of the religious congregation third in succession to Mother McAuley While she was served in that office the Crimean War was being waged and she offered the services of the congregation to nurse the sick and wounded soldiers Her own sister Mary Agnes was one of those who went to the seat of war Involved in the planning of the Mater Hospital in Dublin Whitty was especially skilled in organisation and as such was considered invaluable to the Sisters of Mercy community in Ireland Additionally she founded five new convents and established three institutions in Dublin for the care of neglected children and underprivileged women 2 Religious life in Queensland EditIt was this that held Whitty in Ireland until Bishop James Quinn who had recently been named as the first Bishop of Brisbane for Queensland encouraged her and five Sisters to become the first women religious in his pioneer diocese The new diocese as large as France Spain and Italy together according to whom had then only two priests and four churches Whitty s religious community were initially reluctant to release her for this missionary venture but this was overcome by the direct command of Archbishop Cullen 1 4 Whitty was appointed as the Superior of the group Whitty arrived in Brisbane with five other Sisters on 10 May 1861 and that following November founded All Hallows School a Catholic girls school Although the bishop removed her as Superior in 1863 2 the community of Sisters she founded soon spread throughout the new colony with more than 20 convents founded before her deathBishop Quinn s decision to include Whitty in his pastoral plan proved to be inspirational and under her leadership the Sisters of Mercy were able to make a positive contribution to the growth of the Catholic community throughout Queensland Later life EditFollowing an attack of bronchitis Whitty died at All Hallows Convent in Brisbane on 9 March 1892 5 Her funeral service was held in Cathedral of St Stephen Brisbane and she was buried in the Nudgee Catholic Cemetery 1 6 Legacy EditShe left behind a group of 222 Sisters in 26 schools of 7000 students and welfare institutions protecting some 200 children Mercy Women 2001 p ix A Mercy Training College for teachers had also been established at Nudgee In addition to the various educational institutions founded under her leadership the Sisters of Mercy of Brisbane form an independent congregation within the tradition of Catherine McAuley A street in Canberra was named after her in honour of her contribution to Australian education 7 A thesis about Whitty s influence on education in Queensland was also completed in 1969 at the University of Queensland 8 References Edit a b c O Donoghue Eileen M Whitty Ellen 1819 1892 Australian Dictionary of Biography Canberra National Centre of Biography Australian National University retrieved 14 March 2021 a b c Who We are Mother Vincent Whitty Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation Archived from the original on 27 November 2012 Retrieved 15 December 2012 Russell Matthew Ellen Whitty The Catholic Encyclopedia www newadvent org Retrieved 14 March 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Vincent Mother 1819 1892 Encyclopedia com www encyclopedia com Retrieved 14 March 2021 Obituary Ellen Whitty Obituaries Australia oa anu edu au Retrieved 14 March 2021 DEATH OF REV MOTHER WHITTY Freeman s Journal Sydney NSW 1850 1932 Sydney NSW National Library of Australia 19 March 1892 p 18 Retrieved 24 December 2013 Staff writers 6 March 2004 Nun who shaped education in Australia The Catholic Leader Retrieved 14 March 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link O Donoghue Frances Mother Vincent Whitty With special reference to her contribution to education in Queensland espace library uq edu au Retrieved 14 March 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Further reading EditHerbermann Charles ed 1913 Ellen Whitty Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Mercy Women Making History From the Pen of Mother Vincent Whitty Brisbane Sisters of Mercy 2001 Mary Xaverius O Donoghue Mother Vincent Whitty Woman and educator in a masculine society Melbourne University Press Carlton Vic 1972 9780522840179 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mother Vincent Whitty amp oldid 1093315440, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
