Jewels from Jane - April 4
Matanzas, Cuba
April 4, 1899
Dear Rev. Mother [Agatha Guthrie],
A few lines to say we are all well, thank God. I got out of my isolation Sunday morning, went to Mass at 6 o'clock. It did not seem very much like Easter--no singing, no Benediction. I do not think they have Benediction. We have been going regularly for two weeks. They did not have Benediction once in that time. A Father McCoy called here accidentally Monday. I asked him to hear our confession. He said he would come Wednesday afternoon and hear the Sisters. He is to remain in the Island six months. I think St. Joseph sent him. I was meditating what I would do. It would never do to let the good sisters go over two weeks as they supposed. They would have to go to St. Paul to get a priest to hear them, when in this good Father walked. He is from Texas. He came to spend his vacation here. The Bishop of Havana asked him to come to Matanzas as there was no English-speaking priest here, so he came. Don't you see how good God is to his army children? This priest did not know there was any Sister here. He saw the flag on top of the building as he was visiting the camp. He thought he would come and see what was going on inside, and to his great surprise he saw Sisters from America. The hospital ship left the port this morning with thirty of our sick patients. We have forty left in the hospital--all up and around, thank God, except two. This Father McCoy prepared one of the soldiers for death before he went on the steamer, which was another blessing. He was very sick with lung trouble. Hope you and all the Sisters are enjoying good health. The weather is very warm now, the nights are cool. Hoping to hear from you soon. May our dear Lord bless you.
Devotedly yours,
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Spanish-American War correspondence
