Hallahan, Margaret Mary

Hallahan, Margaret Mary foundress of the congregation of St. Catherine of Sienna, was born in London, January 23, 1803. From her ninth to her thirtieth year she lived at service, part of the time in Belgium. In 1834 she received her habit as a member of the Dominican order. In April 1842, she returned to England, and began teaching at Coventry. On December 8, 1845, she laid the foundation at Coventry of the first English convent of Dominican nuns, which had a hard struggle there; although at Langton (1851), Stone (1853), Stoke-upon-Tirent (1857), Rhyl (1864-66), and Torquay (1864) the establishments were successful. In October 1858, mother Margaret, accompanied by Reverend Dr. Northcote, went to Rome, in order to obtain a definite settlement as to the future government of the increasing communities. It was deemed best that they should be united in a congregation under one superioress, with one novitiate, the whole to be under the government of the order of St; Dominic. She was appointed prioress-provincial of the newly formed congregation, which afterwards received the name of St. Catherine of Sienna. Her last work was the establishment of a house at Bow, London. She died at Stone, May 11, 1868. See Cath. Almanac (N.Y.), 1880, page 85.