The times., 1899-09-18
A NEW CONVENT.
Sisters of Perpetual Alteration to
Have n Home Here.

Sisters of Perpetual Alteration to
Have n Home Here.
The erection of convent and chapel for
the Sisters Of Perpetual Alteration on the
lot adjoining the rectory of ST. Paurs Cath
Thomas F. Ryan. of New York City, who
gave 100000 for the endowment of this
convent, is in Washington. The edifiee viii
be completed during the coming winter.
Mrs Ryan is guest of Miss Fannie Whe-
Ian, who is prominently connected with the
Catholic Tabernacle Society.
Mrs. Ryan is a daughter of the late John
5. Barry, and a nisee OF the late Robert
Casey Barry. of Baltimore. She resided
there previous TO her marriage. Her hus-
band is Thomas F. Ryan, the well known
New York capitalist and railroad magnate-
Mrs Ryan will not only contribute the
amount necessary for the building Of the
convent. but will also endow it in order
that the support of the institution will not
be a burden to the nuns.
The nuns are to form the nucleus OF the
establishment VIII come from Brussels
Their headquarters are in Italy The con-
vent viii be the mother house of the order
in the United States The arrival of the
nuns Will not Interfere with the labor5 OF
the tabernacle society. which has recently
been incorporated under the title "AssOeia-
ton for the Perpetual Alteration and Work
of Poor Churches" The society will have
its workrooms in the convent
The sisters of the order prepare children
for their first communion They do not
nurse the sick, but they prepare the dying
to receive the last rites OF the Catholic
Church. Their noyitiate lasts for two years.
at the close OF which they make perpetual
nd oha17aUr4a
Prayer. reading. and pious meditation sue
eeed each other in the course OF the day.
Some of the sisters are allowed TO receive
visitors and visit the outer world. as the
affairs OF convent demand The habit or
the nuns varies slightly from that worn
by other Catholic orders Houses OF the Or
der have been established at Brussels,
Watermael, Client and Liege; at Rotterdam.
at London, and one at Rome, which IS the
centre of the association.
The order was founded by Anna de
Meeus. the daughter of a noble family IN
Belgium. During her school days IN the
Convent of the Sacred Heart at Paris, lar
attention was attracted to the poverty OF
some Of the country churches, and she de-
cided TO form an association among her
friends in her own land for the purpose OF
furnishing these village churches with the
yestments necessary for the proper eeis-
| bration of the services. The resolution
was forgotten until it was vividly recalled
by the story of poor cure OF the poverty
of his church and altar After many dis
couragements ten persons became sun
| eientiy interested in the undertaking 10
form themselves into an association, whose
object would be the making Of vestments
| for churches that were unable TO purchase
! them. The first meeting was at the Con-
vent of Notre Dame. and the first donation
made in 1913. IN November OF the next
year the work was affiliated with the dreh-
/ fraternity of nocturnal alteration IN Rome
| and the name of the Association OF FeF-
petuaI Alteration of the Blessed Sacrament
| and Work of Poor Churches was taken
The growth OF the society caused Mile
De Meeus to perceive the necessity OF
religious institute TO give permanenee to
the work already begun. In 1905 the re-
lig:ous order was founded