Memories of Mary MacKillop - Sr Alphonsus (Mary) Jones

During my novitiate in Mount Street Australia I was nursing Sister Romaeus in the old infirmary which adjoined Mother Mary’s room. Before retiring for the night, Mother always visited the invalids, though she herself was not well that year. When a sick sister was brought in from the country, Mother insisted on the sister taking her bed and she herself slept on the floor in a corner of the room partitioned off by a draught screen. I often heard her making aspirations during the night and it was while occupying this little corner that Mother wrote some of her meditations by candlelight.

In those days, there was often hardship to be endured. One day I was late in coming to the refectory. Mother had a chop on her plate. She brought the chop to me and had bread and dripping for herself.

Mother Mary often took me with her as companion when visiting the sick. She had a sweet and affable manner towards anyone in trouble. No matter what the trouble was, she would find a way to help.

When Mother Mary was taken ill at Rotorua, while visiting New Zealand she was brought up to the convent at Remuera to recuperate. I was her night nurse. We tried to keep all worry from her, but she was very keen. Late one night the door bell rang. Mother asked us who was there. We told her it was a woman from the country, a perfect stranger to us. Mother told us to make up a bed for her in the reception room and keep her for the night.

Sister Alphonsus Jones 05.04.1859 - 21.08.1940

Back to Stories