Sister Mary Stanislaus Doyle

Stanislaus was born Sarah Doyle in Wexford, Ireland on January 17, 1862. Her father John Doyle was a miner and her mother was Margaret Prendergast. Little is known of the Doyle family except that they, like many others were “forced by poverty and the brutality of a tyrannical Government to seek better things in Australia” (The Standard, August 22 1946, 7).¹ As a young child she travelled with her parents to Australia, settling near Bathurst in New South Wales and at the age of twenty joined the Sisters of St Joseph at Perthville on June 5, 1882.  On March 19, 1883 she was received as a novice and given the name Mechtilde, and on March 19, 1884, she was professed. After her profession in 1887, she volunteered her services to join the Sisters coming to Westbury in Tasmania. She changed her name to Stanislaus on her arrival in Tasmania.

When a branch house was opened at Oatlands on April 10, 1893, where a training school and novitiate were set up, Stanislaus was appointed Superior and Mistress of Novices. Stanislaus was later appointed Superior of different convents throughout her life, Ulverstone twice, Zeehan, Forth, Devonport, Westbury, Cygnet, Richmond, and Colebrook. She was also the first Superior of the convent and Juniorate at Newstead in 1938.

Her great charm and personality impressed all who encountered her. She regarded her Sisters as friends and was attentive to their needs. “Consequently she was universally loved by the Sisters, the priests and the people” (The Standard, August 22 1946, 7).² Sr Stanislaus was appointed Sister Guardian from 1920-1923 and was elected for a second term from 1929-1932. She was noted as a splendid administrator with a great love of the Rule.