Archival Material
LETTER WRITTEN BY BISHOP MICHAEL POWER TO REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL, 25th June, 1847
Transcription OF LETTER WRITTEN BY REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL TO BISHOP MICHAEL POWER
Loretto Abbey
Rathfarnham
Dublin
20th July 1847
​
Most Honored Lord,
"I was gratified with your Lordship's letter, dated from Toronto, 25th of last June. I wrote today to inform Dr. O'Connell P.P. of Sts. Michael and John's Chapel that five of our Nuns will be prepared to sail from Kingstown to Liverpool 2nd August to proceed by the Packet, which will sail 3rd August for Boston U.S.
​
"The sixth Religious selected to complete the number desired by your Lordship exchanged this life, we trust, for heaven 5th of last July: possibly a candidate for Religious life may offer at Toronto and be trained to supply the place of one, who we hope, will intercede for the little colony, who go to propagate the holy faith under the auspices of the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary and under the patronage of our glorious protector St. Michael.
"No Titles[?] can be more appropriate for the numbers of our Institute, than that of the Diocese. It will not be easy to supply the places vacated by our Sisters, who volunteer for Canada we wish to send steady persons, who will be creditable abroad, as they have been edifying in their native country."Since writing the above Dr. O'Connell P.P. called and will be ready for our five to sail from Kingstown 10th August and from Liverpool to New York U.S. 11th August by the "Garrick". Passages for each from Liverpool to New York 25 pounds[?].
​
We have chosen Mrs. Anne Hutchinson for Reverend Mother she is 30 years of age; her religious appellation is Mary Joseph Loyola.
"Her assistant will be Mrs. Fleming, called Mary Gertrude she is aged 27 years. Mrs. Dease in religion Mary Teresa is well educated and intimate with Mrs. Phelan known to us, by the name of Mary Bonaventura and prized.
"The fifth is Sister to Reverend Mother, we style her Mary Valentina, she was educated in our school. All enjoy health and are are amiably disposed. If it meet your Lordship's wishes I can have a person with a religious vocation trained in the model school Dublin who can forward free schools in Canada by introducing the most approved plans for conveying knowledge.
"Two were already benefited, a third is to join a class in the Model School next month.
This is the 14th anniversary of our first filiation from this Abbey. Toronto will be the 10th Foundation from Loretto, Dublin. May it be equally prosperous with the preceding establishments.
"Since I received the honor of your Lordship's visit, a very beautiful demesne superior to Rathfarnham has been added to our acquisitions: a fine house too on it.
"All our Sisters enjoy their usual health. Soliciting the benefit of your Lordship's prayers,
"With esteem and respect,
Your humble servant in Jesus Christ
Frances Teresa Ball
"To Right Rev. Dr. Power"
LETTER WRITTEN BY REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL TO M. PURIFICATION OULLAHAN, July 16, 1857
Front of note sent by M. Teresa Ball to M. Ouallahan
Back of note sent by M. Teresa Ball to M. Ouallahan
Image of M. Ouallahan
Front of note sent by M. Teresa Ball to M. Ouallahan
TRANSCRIPTION OF LETTER
FRONT
S. Ingnatius used to
dismiss his children
with this sentence
"Go brother, and set
the whole world
on fire with the
love of God".
I say the same
through you on
this occasion with
1000 loves to each dear child.
​
BACK
Written by Rev Mother
Ball on my leaving
Ireland for Canada on
July 16. 1857
S.M of the
Purification Oullahan
I.B.V.M
In 1847, Bishop Michael Power travelled to Europe to recruit aid and funds to serve the growing Catholic population in Canada. Upon his return, he wrote to M.M. Teresa Ball whom he had visited during his voyage to again request that Sisters be sent to serve as educators. M.M. Ball responded favourably with her plans to send 5 Sisters aged 30 and under to start a community in Toronto. She sent these members of the flock out with the words that Saint Ignatius used to dismiss his children “Go brother, and set the whole world on fire with the love of God.”
​
Scroll down to explore the galleries below to view correspondence between Bishop Michael Power and M.M. Teresa Ball, as well as a note that she gave one of our sisters leaving Ireland for the Canadian Mission in 1857.
LETTER WRITTEN BY BISHOP MICHAEL POWER TO REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL, 25th June, 1847
LETTER WRITTEN BY BISHOP MICHAEL POWER TO REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL, 25th June, 1847
LETTER WRITTEN BY BISHOP MICHAEL POWER TO REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL, 25th June, 1847
Transcription OF LETTER WRITTEN BY BISHOP MICHAEL POWER TO REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL IN RATHFARNHAM, IRELAND
Toronto, 25th June 1847
Madame
I have just returned to Toronto and I feel more convinced than ever that a branch of your community will succeed admirably after a short time in Toronto. I cannot inform you of the number of scholars (boarders) you might have because you are as likely after a few months to have fifty as twenty. As soon as you are known, the good ladies whom you intend sending out will have as much as they can do. As a matter of course, it will be my business to see especially in commencing that they may have no reasonable motive to complain. I shall immediately see where I can find a convenient residence in order that every thing may be ready at their arrival of a few days afterwards in case that I cannot know the precise time of their coming. I have written today to the Rev. D. O'Connell of SS. Michael and John's [sic] to advance whatever sum of money may be requisite for defraying their traveling expenses. The day school will, I hope be numerously attended after a few weeks and the common school by a great number. However, I am aware that for a short time there may exist among Protestants a slight prejudice, but when the parents will find that they can give a chance of a better education to their daughters than in any other establishment they will certainly avail themselves of the
advantage. By requesting your Chaplain the Rev. Mr. Farrelly to inquire of Roche Bros. & Co. in Dublin of the day of sailing of the fastest ship of the line, you can engage passage of the ladies immediately. A clergyman who is going to New York intends speaking to some member of the firm in that city in order to afford you every convenience, but I am sure that by adopting the line I have marked out, you will not meet with the slightest difficulty in sending the good nuns to Liverpool. I had made up my mind to settle everything with the captain of the Yorkshire, which I was led to believe would sail from Liverpool on the 6th August, but I find now that she sails on the 1st July; but there are other ships in every respect as good and as comfortable as the Yorkshire, for instance, "The Queen of the South."
I would like to know the day that the ladies are to sail, the probable day of their arrival in New York so as to have some one on the spot to meet them. I shall write also to the Bishop of New York to request one of his priests to watch for the arrival of the ship in order to avoid any delay or disappointment. You remember that I informed you that the Catholic people (mostly Irish or of Irish descent) are not rich. Some families are unable to educate their daughters, but many families will feel happy in being able to avail themselves of the opportunity of giving their daughters a good sound education. I beg of you to write to me by the mail of the 16th July or the hit of August, so that I may be fully prepared to have everything ready. I suppose it would be better not to furnish the house until their arrival. If they have those things which are necessary for the celebration of Mass, so much the better; they can bring with them in that respect as much as they please. Everything else can be had here as cheap as in Ireland. I have the honour to remain with many feelings of respect and kind regard, Madam,
​
Your most obedient & humble servant in J.C.
+ Michael Bishop of Toronto
P.S. I have written under the full impression His Grace, your Excellent Archbishop will sanction & recommend the undertaking: I said but a few words to His Grace on the subject, but he gave me to understand that if nothing was wanting but his approbation, it would be given.
+ M. Bp. of T.
LETTER WRITTEN BY REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL TO BISHOP MICHAEL POWER, 20th July, 1847
LETTER WRITTEN BY REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL TO BISHOP MICHAEL POWER, 20th July, 1847
LETTER WRITTEN BY REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL TO BISHOP MICHAEL POWER, 20th July, 1847
LETTER WRITTEN BY REV. MOTHER TERESA BALL TO BISHOP MICHAEL POWER, 20th July, 1847