CONVENT (Daughters of Wisdom)(La Sagesse)
Sisters of La Sagesse in Chorley.History
The congregation of the Sisters of La Sagesse (Daughters of Wisdom), founded in 1703 bySt. Louis Marie de Montfort, began with only one member – Mother Marie Louise de Jesus.
After ten lonely years she was joined by other women. Following this, schools, hospitals and dispensaries were founded. By the next century, the Sisters were working in most parts of France. Working for both rich and poor without distinction, they were respected and loved by their friends and neighbours.
Then came the period of tension between the Church and State in France – beginning with the French Revolution and coming to a climax in the 1890’s with the anti-clerical Laws, which caused the Sisters of many Religious Congregations, including La Sagesse, to leave their homes and seek refuge abroad.
This was how the first sisters of La Sagesse came to England, sowing the seeds of the Province of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Sisters in Chorley
The Reverend Canon Crank, Parish Priest of St Mary’s, Chorley, together with his parishioners, asked Archbishop Whiteside of Liverpool, if he knew of any Religious Sisters who could work and live in the parish. The Reverend Mother Provincial of the Daughters of Wisdom was approached about this appeal. She accepted, and on Saturday February 14th, 1914, she, with four Sisters, of whom two were French, arrived in Chorley.
Canon Crank arranged for the Sisters to be met at the station and driven by car to their new residence – 10 Park Road, Chorley. On arrival they received a warm welcome from Canon Crank, who blessed the house and promised to return later.
10, Park RoadThis new foundation was unlike the others begun in England up to that time. The generosity of the parishioners, under the guidance and encouragement of their parish priest, Canon Crank, had seen to everything, providing amply for all their needs. The house was adequately and pleasantly furnished, including a piano, wall pictures of imitations of Old Flemish Masters, and a beautiful clock, with Westminster chimes. One Sister remarked that the chimes were “like a gentle call from God to face their new life with confidence and gratitude, especially for their benefactors.” Besides the provisions which the people had given, the finishing touches were a bowl of fresh fruit and floral arrangements, all of which were very much appreciated by the Sisters. The Sisters found bread, eggs, sugar, vegetables, butter etc. One Sister, looking round, cried out with joy, “here is a cooked chicken. The good people have even thought of our dinner for the following day.”
As the 15th February was a Sunday, the Sisters attended Mass at St. Mary’s, after which they received many and varied expressions of welcome from the crowds of people waiting for them outside the Church.
On their first visit to town to buy groceries, the shop-keeper, who was an elderly lady, told the Sisters how happy she was to have a Convent in town. She had prayed for fifty years that, like the neighbouring towns, God would bless Chorley with a Convent. She exclaimed that her prayers had been answered and asked the Sisters to come back often to see her. They did and later a Sister was with her in her last illness.
Everywhere the Sisters met with kindness and generosity. The dairyman gave them milk for three months free of charge; the dentist, optician, doctor and shoe-repairer offered their services free.
The rooms within the house destined for classrooms, were later furnished by the Sisters and the school opened on March 2nd 1914. This was for girls 5 to 14 and boys up to l0.
When repairs had been completed, the clergy were happy to present the house to the Sisters, free from debt, but hoped that from then on they would be self-supporting. Some families had been asking for a school run by Religious, and were encouraged to give every possible financial support.(taken from The Messenger of Sacred Heart April 1914.
The first intake was very disappointing, as only 4 children arrived, but the Sisters were reassured, by friends, that this was probably due to it being in the middle of a school term.
During this period, one French Sister was fully occupied giving French lessons to adults. She profited of these times to bring to their attention the School, and the need for more pupils. These pupils were of tremendous help, and the numbers attending school slowly but surely increased.
During the first half of March, 1914, the Sisters had a very happy and memorable visit from Archbishop Whiteside of Liverpool Diocese. At this time the Superior went to France to make her annual Retreat. During her absence, a rumour went round Chorley that the Sisters were dying of hunger, and to prove it the Superior had returned to France! As soon as the rumours spread, the Sisters were inundated with eggs, bread. vegetables, meat, cakes etc. They could not understand this, so one Sister made discreet enquiries, and to her astonishment, discovered the truth. The situation was quietly rectified and everything returned to normal. The Sisters were impressed that these kind people did not wish to allow their Sisters to die of hunger. However, Mrs Catterall a parishioner, did continue to supply the Sisters with home-baked bread every week for many years. Her daughter Agnes, later entered the Congregation of La Sagesse, and became known as Sister Elizabeth.
In June 1914, the Sisters welcomed into their community, Sister Marie de Saint Gabriel, a French Sister, who was appointed to visit the sick and poor of the parish, also for a time Sister helped in the Sacristy, and with the Children of Mary.
St. Joseph’s Junior School was opened on 12th October, 1914, and Sister Marie Winefride, one of the first group of Sisters to arrive in Chorley, was appointed as Headmistress.
During the following 3 years, more Sisters joined the Community to help with the ever increasing numbers attending the school.
During 1917, the Archbishop of Liverpool was in contact with Mother Provincial, regarding a new work to be undertaken by the Sisters, namely, the care of the mentally handicapped. In view of this the larger property of Gillibrand Hall, was acquired by the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Gillibrand HallOn April 4th 1918, after the most urgent repairs had been completed, the Sisters left Park Road, and took up residence in Gillibrand Hall, to begin the new work God had confided to them. The house, however, still in poor condition, and also cold and damp, which was the cause of serious illnesses among some of the first mentally handicapped ladies to arrive.
In June 1918, the first Mass was celebrated by His Grace Archbishop Whiteside, in the small poorly furnished Chapel.
A few more Sisters joined the community, to help with this work, among whom was a native of Chorley, E. Moss, in religion Sister Marguerite.
When the Sisters left Park Road, and moved to Gillibrand Hall, they rented another property 2, Southport Road, Chorley, and the teaching Sisters continued the school.
As soon as the Sisters moved into Gillibrand Hall, they began organising it for the care of their special charges. They carried out this work so well, that by the following year, an inspection by the Authorities responsible for the care of the mentally handicapped, resulted in a very favourable report.
In 1929, Gilibrand Hall was approved by the Government for the care of 40 mentally handicapped, female adults. For some time this number had been reached, and could have tripled, had there been the space.
Inspections took place twice a year, by the Board of Control, and later by the Local Authorities. The reports which followed were always very encouraging. The Inspectors were impressed by the variety of occupations, adapted to the capabilities of each individual, the politeness of the mentally handicapped, and the good relationships between the Sisters and their charges.
In later years, when more financial help was given by the Government the Sisters were able to improve the social life of the residents, including many happy holidays.
In August 1964, Sister Francis, Canon Joseph Cartmel and Mr Tom Jackson, with the help of members of the parishes of the Deanery, were responsible for pioneering the formation of the Chorley Catholic Handicapped Children’s Society. This was founded to give Religious instruction to disabled and/or mentally handicapped children and adults who attended Training Centres, to enable them to receive the Sacraments.
As well as caring for their charges the Sisters also instructed converts, and one Sister was responsible for the Legion of Mary.
On June 30th 1989 the Sisters moved from Gillibrand Hall to their present residence on Southport Road. Prior to this, in the Marian year 1988, the annual Mass for the Sick and Elderly was held at Holy Cross School. Mgr P. Cookson used this occasion to thank the Sister publicly for the work they had done over the years.
The Sisters continue to keep contact with their former charges and give their support, they also welcome to their home any visitors.
The Sisters present role is availability and hospitality to all peoples.
ST MARY'S PARISHIONERS AT WORK
