Sister Mary Valerian Murphy
Submitted by Bill SweeneyThe First Superior for the Sisters of Devine Providence in Texarkana, 1922, Providence Academy.
The Rev. Oliver B. Clarendon, Ph.D., J.C.D., L.L.D., arrived in Texarkana, Sept. 23, 1918, and assumed duties as pastor of St Edwards Catholic Church. In 1921, Providence Academy was founded by Father Clarendon. The Olivetan Benedictine Sisters of Jonesboro, Ark. were replaced with the Sisters of Devine Providence from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas.
Sister Mary Valerian was the first Superior in Texarkana. What follows is a short biography of Sister Mary Valerian Murphy.
On Oct 26, 1899, a group of young Irish ladies arrived in San Antonio. They had left their loved ones in Ireland to sail to America to become Sisters of Devine Providence. Miss Annie Murphy was one of the thirty who entered the Convent of the daughters of Blessed Father Moye that October night. She was born April 26, 1878, at Warrington, County Kilkenny, Ireland. Her parents were James Murphy and Bridget Palmer. Both were born in this same area.
Miss Murphy received the white veil, Dec 24, 1899. On July 14, 1901, Sister Mary Valerian, as she was then named, received the black veil and religious habit. She made her profession Aug 10, 1904. She was remarkably pius.
Sister Mary Valerian taught school in Natchitoches, La., shortly after receiving the religious habit, and years later she returned to Nachitoches as Superior, and Principal of St. Marys School. Sister also taught at Providence Academy, Alexandria and at Plaucheville, Louisiana. She spent six years in both Ponce City and Enid, Oklahoma, and several years in Texarkana, Ark. at Providence Academy.
When Sister Valerian's hearing became defective, she was retired to St. Joseph Hall in 1955 and later to Ancilla Domini ... never the less, she spent every day doing office work at Providence High School in San Antonio, Texas.
In the spring of 1964, Sister Valerian became seriously ill and was tranfered to St. Joseph Hall near the end of June, Sister was taken to Santa Rosa Medical Center, where she died July 1, 1964. A Requiem High Mass was celebrated for Sister Mary Valerian in Annunciation Chapel at 7:30 a.m., July 3, 1964. The celebrant was Rev. Charles Borgers, O.M.I. .. Interment was in Providence Cemetery, SATX.
In Memorian, Sisters of Devine Providence, Our Lady of the Lake Convent, Vol. 3, (1955-56).
Additional Info.
1901-10 Natchitoches, La.
1910-13 Burlington, Tx.
1913-14 Cleburne, Tx.
1914-16 St. Mary's, SA.
1916 Mother House
1917-Feb Vinita, Ok.
1917-19 Alexandria, La.(Prov. Acad)
1919-22 Broussard, La.
1922-26 Texarkana, Ar. (Prov. Acad.)
1926-32 Enid, Ok.
1932-33 Norman, Ok (Newman Hall)
1933-34 El Reno, Ok.
1934-38 Natchitoches, La.
1938-44 Ponca City, Ok.
1944-46 Lawton, Ok.
1946-52 Plaucheville, La.
1952-55 Iota, La.
1955- St. Joseph Hall
1955-Nov. Olfen, Tx.
1956-60 Convent
1960 Ancilla Domini