Times Past: Athlone hotel acquired as novitiate

From the Westmeath Independent, Saturday, September 18, 1965

The acquisition of the Hotel Monte Vista by the La Sainte Union Nuns, as an Irish Novitiate, adds a historic chapter to the 80-year-old association which the Order has with Athlone.

It was opened and blessed recently by Very Rev. Canon P. McGivney, P.P., Moate, deputising for Most Rev. Dr. McNamee, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois. The first Mass was celebrated by Very Rev. T. Sheeran, Adm., St. Mary's.

The new Novitiate has been moved from the Provincial House at Highgate Road, London, where for over 100 years Irish postulants have been received. Already Novices have arrived in Athlone and English girls have expressed themselves as happy to have the peace of Monte Vista in which to spend the first years of their formation to religious life, and in fact the first Postulant to arrive was an English girl. The new Novitiate also provides an opportunity for Irish girls to make their Novitiate at home. A scholasticate will be opened in the vacated novitiate in London.

The La Sainte Union Nuns are better known in Athlone as the "Bower Nuns" from their Convent on the Hill overlooking the town, from where they have worked for the education and formation of the girls of the town for the past 80 years.

The new Novitiate was formerly the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Duffy and their family. In 1959 Mr. Duffy, head of the old Athlone building firm, added a very fine wing and opened it as a hotel. It is an ideal situation near the town and within five minutes’ walk of the Bower. Its artistic gardens and glowing rockeries are a tribute to Mrs. Duffy who planned all and delighted in tending it. Nothing has changed except that the new ballroom extension has been converted into a Chapel and one more Tabernacle has been erected in Athlone. Chaplain to the Novitiate is Rev. Seán Tynan.

The acquisition of the hotel, and the establishment of the Novitiate there, was one of the last acts of the Generalate of Mother Philomena Prendergast, herself a native of Athlone, who has now been replaced by the first American Superior General, Rev. Mother Marie Regis. The latter visited Athlone in August and was given an official welcome by the members of the Urban Council.

The first postulants are due to enter on October 7, the Feast of the Holy Rosary.