Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-26
interesting and Imposing Ceremony

tntcFcStl1S anu imposing ceremony /
One of the most interesting and impress
sive ceremonies connected with the Catho- |
lie church took place yesterday morning in
st. Demands Convent, on Cedar street,
where nine noyices made their profession,
and were received as Sisters of Our Lady
of Mercy.
At eight o'clock the Right Rev. Bishop,
assisted by the venerable Vicar General,
Father Jarboe, Revs. NJ Meagher, and p
F. Coyle, entered the convent chapel, and
were Immediately followed by the process
sion, Ellie Donovan leading, bearing. the
cross, and followed by six little girls, all
tastefully and appropriately dressed, the
nine novices, and the Mother Superior and
her assistant, each bearing a lighted taper.
All having entered the chapel, they were
stationed as follows:
Right Rev Bishop.
Rev. N. Meagher. Rev. Father Jarboe.
Rev. P. F. Coyle.
Mother Assistant. Mother Superior.
-Four Novices.
Five Noviees.
Three Attd'ts. Cross Bearer, Three Attd'ts.
Sisters.
Choir.
On a former occasion we gave a full
account of the interesting ceremony, and
viii at present only allude to few promi-
nent points.
The Bishop preached a very plain,
touching, and appropriate sermon, from
the 10th chapter of st. Matthew'S Gospel,
the oath to the 28th verses. In speaking
| of the duties of the Sisterhood, he spoke
of their visiting and nursing the sick, and,
during pestilence, risldng their lives in the
service Of God, which called to our minds
the trying times of cholera and yellow
fever in Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, and
other States, where the Sisters were the
chief, and in many cases the only solace
of the afflicted.
The sermon ended each of the Sisters
in turn expressed desire ito be received
TO the Holy Profession, when the Mass
commenced, and at its conclusion, each,
Novice in turn made her act of profession,
signed it, and received Holy communion,
the Bishop pronouncing these words.
''What God has commenced in thee, may
he himself perfect; and may the body OF
our LORD JESUS CHRIST preserve thy SOU
unto everlasting life. ="
The following is a copy of the act of pro
ksfession, the names being changed TO suit
each novice:
&" In the name of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. and under the protection o.
His Immaculate Mother Mary, ever Virgin,
l, Alice Feehan, called in Religion Sister
Mary Catherine, do vow and promise tC
God, poverty, chastity, obedience, and the
service of the poor, sick and ignorant, anC
to persevere until death in this Institute o
Our Lady Of Mercy, according to its ap'
proved rules and constitutions, under the
authority and in the presence of you, IN!
Lord and Right Reverend Father in God
Patrick Feehan, Bishop of this Diocese
and OF our Reverend Mother Mary McMa
hon, called in Religion Mother Mar
Clara AlOysius, Mother Superior of TIM
Convent of Our Lady of Mercy, at Nash
vile, this 25th day of October, in the yea
of our Lord one thousand eight hundre'
and siXty-nine.
Several prayers having been recited b,
the celebrant, the newly professed receive,
the black veil, and soon after prostrat
themselves on the floor, in which position
they remain some minutes, while the choi
of Sisters sing the ''Te Deum." The hymn
being finished, the Bishop and Priests con
T clude the ceremony with appropriate pray
ers, when each Of the newly professed knee
to the Superioress, who embraces each il
turn, when the choir sing the 132d Psalm
behold how good and how pleasant it j
for brethren to dwell together in unity,
: ETC., and the Religious retire in the sam
order in which they entered
The entire ceremony lasted about tw
hours and half, and impressed all with it
great solemnity The following ere tn
names of the newly professed Sisters:
Miss Alice Feehan-in religion, Siste
| Mary Catherine
Miss Margaret Foley-in religion, Siste
Mary Joseph.
Miss Bridget Harley-in religion, Siste
Mary Augustine.
Miss Catherine Flynn-in religion, Siste
Mary Rose.
Miss Maria Cassidy-in religion, Siste
Mary Gertrude.
Miss Alice Rice-in religion, Sister Mar,
Berchmans
Miss Mary Ann Callaghan-in religion
Sister Mary Philomena.
Miss Nellie Donoyan-in religion, Siste
Mary Bernard.
Miss Mary Ann Walsh-in religion, Siste
Mary Agnes.