Fig.4 - Sister Ronayne (R) - St. Ben's. The years at St. Benedict's were wonderfully happy years. I loved everything: the magnificent chapel, the beautiful campus, the kind Sisters and above all my special friends. We formed a club known is the F.F.F. (Fast Freindship Five) and did everything together, mischief as well as good deeds. Of our Five, one went to Heaven in her senior year, and the other four of us all became Sisters, scattered to the four winds: Sister Mariella Gable at St. Benedict's, Sister Felicia Malloy of St. Paul's Priory (she passed away several years ago), Sister Brendan Ronayne, an Ursuline in Cincinnati, Ohio and myself, almost 52 years in the orient.

On April 23, 1916, in my senior year of high school, I joined St. Benedict's as an aspirant, was soon admitted as a postulant, and received the coveted habit as a Benedictine novice on July 10. My year as a novice was most happy one, my 38 fellow novices became my good friends and I loved them all. My novice mistress, Sister Emilaina, was strict, but just, and guided us well. I made my temporary vows on July 11 and spent my first happy year as a junior Sister at the Motherhouse studying, teaching, and prefecting.

Fig.5 - Cathedral High School. St. Cloud Mn The next year I was sent to St. Mary's Academy, Altoona Wisconsin, a small boarding school. I loved it there, too; it was like playing convent after the big community at St. Benedicts. The friends I made ther remained close to me all the following years, and after, when many of them slipped away to Eternity. After two years at Altoona, I was told that I wouldn't be goin back. I felt sorry, but said airily, "oh well, I don't mind, just so I don't have to go to Cathedral High School in St. Cloud." And that's just where I did go!. God always provides. The 40 - some Sisters at Holy Angels were a closely knit family and we had happy times together. And the school which I dreaded proved to be a grand new experience.

For ten years, I taught at C.H.S. Many wonderful things happened during these ten years - and some difficult things too. It was all just a part of life, and I never had a desire for anything else. Then, in 1929 came the unexpected call for volunteers to go to China to establish the Womens College at Fu Jen Catholic University in Peking (Peiping). I had never thought much about going to a foreign mission, but somehow God seemed to be calling me to offer myself - without much hope of being chosen from among about 200 volunteers. However, early in 1930, Mother Louise called me and told me that I was one of the lucky ones chosen to go the Peking. How happy and privileged I felt - and bit apprehensive too. We were told that we would never be able to come home again, but that seemed just a part of the unreality of the whole project. Father Francis Clougherty of the Catholic University, who had come with the request for missionairies assured us that all would be well. And so it proved to be.