In 1969 the Holy Ghost Sisters announced their intention to leave Carmarthen. The Passionist Provincial and Fr Rector visited the Mother General of the Passionist Sisters at Bolton to seek her help.
After discussion at their General Chapter the sisters recognised that Wales was still a missionary country and agreed to establish a convent in Carmarthen and provide teachers for the school. It was to be the start of a Welsh mission with the Congregation also opening houses and serving in Ystradgynlais, Pontardulais, Llandeilo, Swansea and Cardiff.
The Passionist Sisters made great sacrifices to come to the Welsh Mission, a number of them relinquishing more lucrative and responsible positions in schools elsewhere.
On August 15th 1970 Sister Cormac and Sister Marie Celine CP arrived to take up residence at St. Winefride’s Convent, which the Sisters of the Cross and Passion had purchased from the Holy Ghost Sisters. They were joined by Sister Maire who was to be headteacher and Sister Marian.
They were to take up posts in the school at the beginning of the September term. In a short time the sisters had taken charge of the church Sacristy and Sanctuary. They soon began to visit in the parish and hospitals. It was noted that they visited Catholics and non-Catholics alike. The two teacher sisters went each Sunday to Pendine, played the harmonium and after Mass taught religious instruction to the children there who attended non-Catholic schools. They also gave Religious Instruction to children who attended the non-Catholic grammar schools during the week. They were described as four very busy and zealous women.
The Platea noted that ‘Carmarthen will be fortunate indeed if all future communities in the convent are only half as zealous as these’. In 1972 Sisters Joan and Marian left Carmarthen, the former for Peru and the latter to Scotland. Sister Marion was replaced by Sister Adrian.
One former teacher recalled that when the Holy Ghost Sisters left, the Passionist Sisters came ‘like a breathe of fresh air, especially Sister Maire … she was quick in movement, thoughts and plans; there were not
enough hours in the day to do everything – she worked so hard’. She was Head from 1970 to 1975. It was recalled that during times of economic cutbacks the Sisters bought equipment and materials out of their own salaries.
Many sisters were to serve at Carmarthen. Sister Catherine retired at the end of term 1985 and the following year saw the departure of Sister Adrian. She had suffered ill health over a long period. Fr James tried to replace Sister Adrian with another sister and applied to Sister Provincial to explore the possibilities of a sister applying for the post. This proved impossible, so Sister Adrian’s departure ended their 16 years association with the school.
Sister Kathleen’s association with Carmarthen began in 1987. She joined Sisters Leoncia, Peter Paul, Jane, Anna, Agnes Mary and Alberta. As parish sisters they looked after the Church and sacristy linens, undertook visitation of the parish, took communion to the sick and housebound, instructed children and First Communicants, and converts. Sister Kathleen was also secretary of the Council of Churches for six years and also helped with Meals on Wheels.
In 1996 the Congregation decided to close the convent in Picton Place and leave Carmarthen, but at the behest of the Bishop the Sisters remained and moved to 3 Lon y Plas, Johnstown. Sister Teresa came to the new convent in 1998. She was a sister to Sister Adrian. Sisters Kathleen and Teresa moved to Pontardulais in 2001 where they provide valuable parish support.
