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Archiver > NY-IRISH > 2002-03 > 1015640311


From: Margaret Malloy <>
Subject: [NY IRISH] Re: NY-IRISH-D Digest V02 #71
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 21:18:31 -0500
In-Reply-To: <200203082328.g28NSnr00583@lists5.rootsweb.com>


> My greatgrandfather's sister took Jane Francis as her religious name
> when she became a Sister of Charity in the 1880's and I was curious to
> learn more about Jane Francis.
> Thank you,
> Melissa
>
Melissa,

My Aunt Margaret was a Sister of Charity too. She took the veil in the
1920s. Back then you didn't get to choose a name. You were given one.
There may have been some variation from house to house but that early, I
doubt there was much. You just took what you were given and did as you
were told.

When it came time for Margaret to take her final vows she was informed
that her name would be Sister Ceril (sp?). Well, just before entering
the convent, she had turned down a proposal of marriage from a fellow
named Ceril so she asked not to have to take that name. They offered
her Alicia as an alternate and she knew better than to mention that she
really didn't care for that name either. So she became Sister Alicia.

My mother was named Margaret Alicia after her and I was named after my
mother.

The Dominicans I had in the 1960s all had double names but I am pretty
sure that they were two separate saints. You need to check into St.
Jane and St. Francis (note: a feminine and a masculine name)

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