On 29 April 1855 Miss Fanny Murphy entered the Convent of Mercy, St. Marie’s of the Isle, Cork. She was the second daughter of Nicholas Murphy, of Murphy Brewery, who lived in Clifton, Montenotte, Cork. At her reception on the 6 September she received the name Sr. Joseph Xavier Murphy. She made her profession on the 15th September 1857.
During her novitiate her brother, Daniel, died leaving her £1,000 in his will to be used for the foundation in Bantry. Then came an invitation from the parish priest of Bantry, Rev. George Canon Sheehan, to start a foundation in the town. The foundation in Bantry was on of the 5th August 1860.
Those who were selected for the foundation in Bantry were: Mother M. Frances de Chantal Coleman, who was at that time Mistress of Novices, Srs. M. Francis de Sales Lynch, M. Gertrude Crean, and M. Joseph Xavier Murphy. They took up temporary residence in Marino House, where they lived for two years, they set up a private school in the house, gave religious instructions to adults on Sundays and visited the poor and sick. The Sisters were accompanied by Rev. Mother Magdalen de Pazzi Barry who remained with them about a month. Sr. M. Francis de Sales returned to Cork in a few years, the other three Sisters who went on the foundation remained. Read more
Southern Province 