A NOBLE CATHOLIC

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 5

A NOBLE CATHOLIC

CAREER OF MOTHER MEGHTELDES [Special to the 'Stab.'] CHRISTCHURCH. February 29. The death occurred* suddenly in Greymouth of ' Mother M. Mechteldes Boland, of St. Mary’s Convent, Colombo street. ‘ She had been spending a short holiday at the Convent of Mercy, Greymouth. Rev. Mother M. Mechteldes Boland was horn in 184 G at Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland. At the ago of twenty she entered the Convent of Mercy, Ennis. When the late Dean Martin, of Hokitika, asked for sisters for his distant mission Mother Mechteldes was one of the first to volunteer, and with nine companions she_ set out in the s.s. Garonne in July, 1878. After a journey of nearly three months they reached their destination, and immediately began their, work of mercy in Hokitika, being the pioneer Sisters of Mercy of the South Island. Four years later the convent was opened in Greymouth, Mother Mechteldes being installed as superior. In 1894, on the invitation of the late Bishop Grimes, she led a colony of sisters to St. Mary’s, Christchurch. The fine pile of buildings in Colombo street north is a monument to her great business capacity no less than to her zeal and devotion. Mother Mechteldes has left her mark on Roman Catholic education in Canterbury. The remains of the late mother will be conveyed to Christchurch by the West Coast express to-morrow evening.