Contemplative nuns arrive from United States
From Peter OW
MANCHESTER
SIX smiling American nuns belonging to the contemplative order of Passionists, founded by St. Paul of the Cross, arrived in Manchester last week to open their first house in this country,
Mr. Bernard Owens
MR, BERNARD, OWENS, a Catholic company director who stood in 1959 and in the 1961 by-election as Conservative candidate for Small Heath, Birmingham. announced last week that he is to fight his home division of Solihull as an Independent Conservative. Earlier, the Solihull Conservative Association had adopted Mr. Percy Grieve. Q.C.. the defeated Conservative candidate in the Lincoln by-election last year. as candidate, to succeed the retiring M.P. Mr. Owens, 27 years a member of the Solihull Council, said: "I feel that Solihull needs a local man".
The nuns from the Covington Diocese in Kentucky, are to make their foundation in the Liverpool Archdiocese at the invitation of Archbishop
Heenan.
Meanwhile, they are staying with the Sisters of the Holy Cross and Passion at St. Gabriel's University Hall of residence. Manchester, Until they find premises in Liverpool.
The six nuns entrusted with the foundation are the Mother Superior, Mother Catherine, Mother Cremma, Mother Regina, Mother Bernadette. Sister Pius and Sister Dorothy.
Opening a house in Britain has been a wish near and dear to the Passionist congregation for many years.
AFFECTION
Their founder, St. Paul of the Cross, had a special affection for England and its conversion. and he prayed unceasingly for this for 50 years.
Shortly before his death in 1775, he had a vision that his congregation. priests and nuns. would one day work in England.
The first part of his vision came true in 1841, when the Venerable Dominic Barberi brought the Passionist Fathers to England from Hely.
Now. 122 years after, the Passionist nuns, who are a contemplative order, are also to open a house over here.
To quote Fr. Philip, Provincial of the Passionist Fathers in England. "you could say that at last the family are over here".
One of the first things the Sisters did when they arrived over here was to visit the tomb of the Vetterable Dominic Barberi at Sutton, near St. Helen's.
The Venerable Dominic, whose beatitic-ation cause is proceeding. was a tireless worker for the conversion of England and a person who played an important part in the.Catholic revival.
It was he who received Cardinal Newman into the Church.
The Passionist nuns hope to support themselves by doing such things as sewing.