Letter to Cardinal from Abbey

Acknowledging instructions of Congregation

Full Title: Letter to Cardinal from Abbey

Catalogue number: 2023-01-27/489

Extent and Medium: Three single sided A4

Detailed description: Acknowledging instructions of Congregation AI CLEANED TEXT My Lord Cardinal, The instructions issued by this Sacred Congregation to Religious Institutes of Women on February 11th, 1936, has afforded great joy and encouragement to those who realize from their own experience the urgent need of making more adequate provision for the care of mothers and children in pagan lands. After several years of active Missionary work in Africa and a careful study of the whole delicate question, I have long desired to take part in the forme qualified doctor. one fourth-year medical student intending to join when qualified, and five other candidates, including one qualified nurse, are considering joining. From the outset our little Society has striven, not only that its members should be fully qualified as doctors and nurses, but also that they should be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of their holy vocation. For the provision of the spiritual safeguarding of our members, we have been able, thanks to the benevolence of His Grace the Archbishop of Cashel, to put ourselves, since 1934, for our spiritual formation under the direction of the Benedictine Fathers in Glenstal Priory, Murroe, Limerick. A member of the Community was appointed as Spiritual Director, and has instructed the members in the obligations of the religious life, and more particularly in the spirit and work of the future Institute, directing them in the practice of religious virtue. With regard to the financial aspect of our undertaking, we have hitherto been self-supporting, having an income of £250 per annum, the pension of one of our members, and a sum of £1000, first contribution to building fund. The generous contributions of the Irish people may be relied upon as soon as the work will have received official sanction from the Apostolic See, when it is our intention to start burses for training expenses. Eventually, dowries and pensions of candidates will be received. From the Mission field, we shall have financial support from the Vicars Apostolic, salaries from the Government for our qualified doctors and nurses, and Government grants for the hospitals. As for the prospects of our missionary work, Mons. Moynagh, prefect Apostolic of Calabar, has a Hospital awaiting our first unit, which will be ready to ation of a new Society which, while embracing all branches of medical assistance, would, in imitation of Our Lady's visitation to St. Elizabeth, be dedicated more specially to maternity cases—a project which seems to conform exactly to the desire of this Sacred Congregation. Actuated by the same motives, a number of Irish women have joined with me in dedicating their lives to the spiritual and bodily succour of their sisters in missionary countries. This group at present consists of two certified midwives, one of whom is a fully-trained nurse, two members, having completed time of probation and spiritual year, leaving for maternity training in the National Maternity Hospital this spring, having first taken private vows. Other members are being spiritually formed and tested with the view of being trained technically. One A ORIGINAL OCR TEXT M Lord Cardinal, Ahs inetructione issueb by this Lacreq Lonerepation to Keligious etatutions of Women on Fepruary Llch., 1036, nas afforded orcat soy anq Encouragoment to those who realize from thcir om Erperiencs the ursent nesd of making mors adeouate provision for the care of mothers and childrem im Dgam lands. AGter several years of active Missionary Mork in Africe snd a crcful study of the whcle dclicate Aucstion, have lons desircd to take sart in the forme Aualified doctor. one Courcheyaar madical student in- Lending to scim when qualificd. and Cive other candidates, Including one qualified nurse, are considering scining. Irom the outset our litvle Society has striven, not ondy that irs members snouls Se Sully qualiticd as Aoctors and nurscs, but alse chat thoy should be thoromehdy imbued wich the spirit of their holy vocation.For the provision of the spirituol safepuarding of our memberS. We have bcen able, thanks to the benevolence of Mis GracE the Archbichop of Cashel,(to put oursclves, since 1084, for our epicitual formation under the direction of the Benedrctins fatmere in Caenetal Eriory, Aurroe, Limerick. A mamber of the Commity wae appoined as Spiritual Dircctor, and Has instpucted the members in the oblige Aticne of the raligious 1ile, and more pamticularly in the Sbirit and worke of the Suture Ioecitute, directing the 19 the practite of religious virtuE- MitB repard to the financial aspect of our umder- Laking, we have hicherte Seem sclf-supporting, Having ar Income of 2250 per annum, the pension of one ofour Mebers, and a oum of 1000, first concribution to building fund. he seneroue contributions of the irish people mas De rclicd upon as scon. as the work will Have rccclved Ssficial sanctiom from the Apostolic Sce, when it is our Imtention to start burses for training exDenses. Mventually, domrias and pensions of candidates wili Be reccived. om che Mssion ficld, we shall have financial Support from che Wicars Apostolic, salaries from the Hovermmont (or our cualificd doctore and hurecs, and Hovernment grants for the hospitale. He for the proepecte of our miesionary MorES Hons. Moynach, presect Apostolic of Calabar, Has s Hos. Sitad amadtins our arst unit, Mich sil se ready to Ation of a new Society waich, while amoracime all branches of medical acsistance, would, in imitation o2 Dur lady's weitaciom to St.micabeth, be dedicated more specialiy to maternity cascse a prosect thich scemo 1o conform exactly to the dcsire of this sacred Con. Sresation. Actuated My/ the same Motives, & nanber o2 mrieh women have icined wich me in dedicating thciD Lives to the epirituol and bodily succour of thcir Listers in missionary couptrias. This group at prepent consists of two certified midwives, one on mhom is & Sudly-trainod nurse, two members, HavinG complcted time of wronation and spiritual year. icawire for matomity troinine i the Mational Matermitr Moepital this srdng. Having irot taken private womo Sther membors are being spiritualdy Cored and teSteG Mich the wie oA Scine LrAined tocnoieLe One A

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