Mother Mary Xavier Dooley

Mother Mary Xavier Dooley was born Eliza Dooley on 19 June 1858 in Forth, Tasmania.[1] Mother Xavier was professed as a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tasmania, Australia in 1883.[2] In 1911, Mother Xavier Dooley became the first Superior of the amalgamated Hobart and Launceston Presentation Congregations.[2] She died on 4 July 1929 in Launceston, Tasmania.[3]

Mother Mary Xavier Dooley
Mother Xavier Dooley, professed as Presentation Sister on Presentation Day 21 November 1883.
Born
Eliza Dooley

19 June 1858
Died4 July 1929

Early life

Eliza Dooley was the second daughter of the late Alice and James Monaghan Dooley, of Latrobe.[1] Eliza spent several years as a boarder at the Presentation Convent, Hobart.[2]

Religious life

In 1880 she entered the noviciate, of the Presentation Convent in Hobart; and in 1881 her Superior, Mother Xavier Murphy, sent her to Launceston. In the following year she was received as a novice, and in 1883 she made her religious profession in the Church of the Apostles.

The popularity of the Convent Schools incited jealously in those who were afraid of their success.[2] In the Launceston Examiner, 17 June 1887, Reverend Charles Price of the Tamar Street Congregational Church penned a slanderous letter about the Convent. This lead the Convent to file criminal application against Price for publication of a defamatory libel upon the Lady Superior and nuns of the Presentation Convent.[4] Price withdraw his imputation and the case was dismissed.[5]

In 1896 Mother Xavier was chosen, along with Mother Bernard Moore, to open St. Columba's School in Launceston. She taught here until 1906[3] when she was elected Superior of the Launceston Presentation community.[6] She was again re-elected in 1909 for another three years.[7] During this time it was proposed that the Hobart community would join with the Launceston community, with one Superior for a Tasmanian Congregation. Launceston was recognized as the Mother House with the Novitiate, and Hobart was to be a filial formation.[2]

Mother Xavier Dooley as Superior in Launceston automatically became Superior of the first amalgamated Tasmanian Congregation. This change came into effect in 1911.[8]

After leaving the role of Superior, Mother Xavier Dooley went back to St. Columba School for a few years, and in 1923 she was transferred to St. Mary's School, where she worked until her death in 1929.[9]

References
  1. "Dooley, Eliza". librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au. RGD33/1/36 No. 1764. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  2. Fox, Noela M. (2006). An acorn grows among the gums: the Presentation Sisters, Tasmania, 1866-2006. Hobart: Presentation Sisters Property Association, Tasmania. ISBN 0-9756829-8-9. OCLC 225201240.
  3. "OBITUARY". Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954). 1929-07-05. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  4. "SUPREME COURT". Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899). 1887-07-06. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  5. "Law Courts". Tasmanian (Launceston, Tas. : 1881 - 1895). 1887-07-23. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  6. "PRESENTATION NUNS". Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954). 1906-07-17. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  7. "ABOUT PEOPLE". Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954). 1909-08-18. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  8. Burke, Mother Anthony. Memoirs - In the footsteps of Nano Nagle, 1897-1963.
  9. "MOTHER XAVIER DOOLEY". Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954). 1929-07-08. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
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