Published Histories of St. Columban, "SHAMROCKS IN THE LAURENTIANS". BY Thomas Edward Kennedy5 

(Likely written about 1970)

Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, on August 5 1828, daughter of John and Mary Phelan who emigrated to Canada in 1830. They settled in St. Columban and here she lived until about twelve years of age. She then went to Montreal to become a novice in the Congregation of Notre Dame. Some time later, before taking her religious vows, she suffered a painful accident. The injury was a dislocated ankle which the physicians said was incurable. As this was very painful, she therefore returned to her parent’s home in St. Columban. It is assumed that these good people were greatly saddened at this turn of events, as was their daughter. A short time later, her uncle, Bishop Phelan heard of her accident and, having compassion for his brother and his family, visited St. Columban. It was during his stay that her ankle miraculously returned to normal. Bishop Phelan then gave special permission for Sister Mary to take her vows under her father’s roof, and to lead her religious life in her aged parents household. In this house, which still stands today, a few hundred feet from the Church, Sister Mary had her own chapel. For sixty years, Sister Mary St. Patrick served the people in many ways. Apart from her many hours of meditation and prayers in her private chapel, she had three special tasks. The first was that of looking after the Alter and Sacristy of the parish church, which she preformed with loving piety. She became an artist in her floral decorations of the main Alter. The second was the care of the sick in the settlement. Her wise counselling and tender solicitation saved many of the sick, gaining for her the love and respect of all. Wherever and whatever time sickness befell one of the settlers, she was sure to be on hand ministering to their ills. Day and night, Sister St. Patrick was combination doctor, nurse and friend to the sick and lonely of the parish. The third and probably dearest to her heart, was the religious training of the children. She taught them from their catechism and prepared them for their first Holy Communion. This good woman wisely waylaid their childhood fears and patiently dealt with their candid questions. There are many who have gone out from her class into the world with integrity and sure of their faith.Among Sister Mary St. Patrick’s treasured possessions was a relic of the True Cross, given to her by Father Flavey. The relic remained in her chapel until after her death, whereupon it was then returned to the church by her relatives. Many years later Gerald Phelan and Peter Casey emptied her old medicine chest, destroying many bottles marked with the old skull and crossbones, the last physical reminder of her nursing days.The Parish of St. Columban suffered a great loss in the death of Sister Mary St. Patrick. On the morning of Friday, January 27th 1905, she passed away peacefully from pneumonia, leaving a great void in the community. Her funeral was held on Monday, January 30th 1905 in the parish church. Father Forget, then pastor of St. Columban, sang Mass, assisted by Father Hétu, pastor of Ste. Scholastique. The combined choirs of St. Columban and of Ste. Scholastique sang the Mass for the dead. The community turned out to a man to pay a last tribute to this great lady. Many also came from St. Jérome, Ste. Scholastique, St. Canut and even Montreal, where she had many friends. The funeral procession was the largest in the history of the community. The chief mourners were her two brothers, M.J. Phelan, postmaster, and Dr. C. Phelan of Waterloo, Quebec, and her sister Mrs. S. O’Rourke. The parish cemetery, in which she is buried, dates back to over one hundred and thirty years.