Teresa Cowley facts for kids

Mother Mary Teresa (also known as Jane Cowley) was an amazing Irish nun. She was born in 1852 or 1857 and passed away on November 28, 1914. She was a member of the Sisters of Mercy, a group of religious women. Mother Teresa was also a brave nurse during the Second Boer War and a dedicated teacher. She even received a special award called the Royal Red Cross for her service.

Early Life and Becoming a Nun

Mother Teresa was born Jane Cowley in a place called Dunshaughlin, in County Meath, Ireland. Her parents were John and Margaret Cowley.

When she was older, on February 2, 1877, she joined the Sisters of Mercy. This happened at their convent in Strabane, County Tyrone. On January 8, 1880, she officially became a nun and chose the name Sister Mary Teresa. Later, in 1894, she became the leader of the Strabane convent.

Journey to South Africa

In October 1897, Mother Teresa led a group of five other nuns from Strabane. They traveled all the way to South Africa. They went because a bishop named Dr. Anthony Gaughran asked for their help.

They arrived in South Africa in February 1898. Soon after, they opened their very first school there.

Nursing During the War

In October 1899, a big conflict called the Second Boer War started. The town where the nuns were, Mahikeng, was surrounded by soldiers.

The convent where the sisters lived was turned into a military hospital. The nuns, including Mother Teresa, became nurses. They cared for many wounded soldiers. For seven months, the sisters had to live in a special shelter that protected them from bombs.

For her brave work during the war, Mother Teresa received a special award. It was called the Royal Red Cross. King Edward VII himself gave her this award on October 1, 1901. She also received the Queen's South Africa Medal, another award for her service.

Building Schools and Helping Communities

After the war ended in 1900, the sisters worked hard to rebuild their school. They opened it again and started even more schools in the area.

On Sundays, they would travel to small villages far away. There, they held classes to teach children about religion. The Sisters of Mercy also worked to make sure that students of all races could attend their schools. This led to the creation of schools where children from different backgrounds learned together.

They opened many new schools and convents in places like Braamfontein, Mayfair, Minakau, Orange Farm, Pretoria, Soweto, Vryburg, and Winterveladt. They also opened a special retreat house in Natal.

Mother Teresa passed away on November 28, 1914. She was given a funeral with full military honors. Soldiers from the Bechuanaland Rifles fired their guns to honor her. She is buried in the Mahikeng town cemetery.