Ellen Margaret Mary Kelly was born to Margaret and William Kelly of St. John’s on February 22, 1851, just nine years after the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Newfoundland.
Little is known about her early life. On September 8 1871 she entered as a postulant at St. Michaels’ Convent, Belvedere and at her reception received the name Sister Mary Joseph. She was professed in April of 1874 and spent her early religious life at Belvedere.
In 1872 a severe outbreak of typhoid fever occurred at St. Michael’s Orphanage, affecting both children and sisters. A number of children were sent to the Fever Hospital at River Head but the sisters who were infected remained at the convent. The disease claimed the life of Sister M. Clare Tarahan, who had been at Belvedere since the Orphanage and Convent were established in 1859. This deadly disease and its aftermath took a heavy toll on Sister M. Joseph and the St. Michael’s community. Sister M. Joseph remained at Belvedere until 1901 when she was named superior of St. Bride’s Convent, Littledale.
Sister M. Joseph was a gifted writer, and her poems and literary pieces regularly appeared in the local newspapers, with the initials S.M.J. being the only identifying mark. At Littledale she fostered the love of literature in her students and soon after arriving at the College, established a literary club for the senior students and a school journal, Littledale Leaves, which provided opportunities for students to hone and share their literary skills. Sister M. Joseph worked tirelessly in the interests of the College and was an influential presence at St. Bride’s for fifteen years. During her tenure, the Talbot Wing, consisting of the chapel, music rooms and recreation hall, was completed. However, conscious of the steady increase in student population and attuned to the educational trends of the time, she saw the need for even further expansion. She was wise enough to seek the assistance of her good friend, Archbishop Howley in this venture and worked hard herself to procure funds for the project. The West Wing, the current O’Connor building, was ready for occupancy in 1912.
In 1916 with amalgamation of the Mercy Convents around the island, the new Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland came into being. Sister M. Joseph was appointed as a member of the first General Council. However, not long after her appointment she became ill and died on May 14, 1917. Her replacement on the Council was Sister M. Antonio Egan from St. Michael’s Convent, St. George’s.
Sister M. Joseph is remembered as a woman of culture and sensitivity. She stands as one of the leading figures in the growth of Littledale. She is buried in Belvedere cemetery.
Ellen Margaret Mary Kelly nació de Margaret y William Kelly de St. John’s el 22 de febrero de 1851, sólo nueve años después de que las Hermanas de la Misericordia llegaran a Terranova.
Poco se sabe de sus primeros años. El 8 de septiembre de 1871 ingresó como postulante en el convento de San Miguel, Belvedere, y en su recepción recibió el nombre de Hermana Mary Joseph. Profesó en abril de 1874 y pasó sus primeros años de vida religiosa en Belvedere.
En 1872 se produjo un grave brote de fiebre tifoidea en el orfanato de San Miguel, que afectó tanto a los niños como a las hermanas. Varios niños fueron enviados al Hospital de Fiebre de River Head, pero las hermanas infectadas permanecieron en el convento. La enfermedad se cobró la vida de la hermana M. Clare Tarahan, que había estado en Belvedere desde que se establecieron el orfanato y el convento en 1859. Esta enfermedad mortal y sus secuelas se cobraron un alto precio para la hermana M. Joseph y la comunidad de San Miguel. La hermana M. Joseph permaneció en Belvedere hasta 1901, cuando fue nombrada superiora del convento de Santa Novia, Littledale.
La hermana M. Joseph era una escritora dotada, y sus poemas y piezas literarias aparecían regularmente en los periódicos locales, con las iniciales S.M.J. como única marca identificativa. En Littledale fomentó el amor por la literatura entre sus alumnas y, poco después de llegar al colegio, creó un club literario para las estudiantes de último curso y una revista escolar, Littledale Leaves, que ofrecía a las estudiantes la oportunidad de perfeccionar y compartir sus habilidades literarias. La hermana M. Joseph trabajó incansablemente por los intereses del Colegio y fue una presencia influyente en St. Bride’s durante quince años. Durante su mandato se completó el ala Talbot, compuesta por la capilla, las salas de música y la sala de recreo. Sin embargo, consciente del constante aumento de la población estudiantil y en sintonía con las tendencias educativas de la época, vio la necesidad de una mayor expansión. Tuvo el acierto de solicitar la ayuda de su buen amigo, el arzobispo Howley, y se esforzó por conseguir fondos para el proyecto. El ala oeste, el actual edificio O’Connor, estuvo lista para ser ocupada en 1912.
En 1916, con la fusión de los conventos de la Misericordia de toda la isla, surgió la nueva Congregación de las Hermanas de la Misericordia de Terranova. La Hermana M. Joseph fue nombrada miembro del primer Consejo General. Sin embargo, poco después de su nombramiento enfermó y murió el 14 de mayo de 1917. Su sustituta en el Consejo fue la Hermana M. Antonio Egan, del Convento de San Miguel, San Jorge.
La hermana M. Joseph es recordada como una mujer de cultura y sensibilidad. Es una de las figuras principales en el crecimiento de Littledale. Está enterrada en el cementerio de Belvedere.
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