Published On Aug 21, 2023
Filmed in 1952, a film by Bert Mocogni. A look at the Poor Sisters of Nazareth and their charitable work at Nazareth House in Kilmarnock that operated for around a 100 years up to the 1980s.
Despite its good work, the House and the Sisters later became associated with child abuse and "unorthodox" methods of discipline following a number of inquiries.
Contents (timings may need to be adjusted)
00:44 Convent of the Poor Sisters of Nazareth, Kilmarnock. gvs convent building and grounds; photograph of foundress, Mother St. Basil, who established eight houses before her death in 1878
01:31 Sister Theresa at door
01:38 gvs chapel during service; girls file in; hymns, views of statuetry
05:28 priest bringing communion to the sick
05:08 girls making beds, dressing the windows with flowers and playing 06:08 elderly women at leisure, knitting and chatting; one in the infirmary, speaking to a nun by her beside
07:11 elderly men reading; nun preparing food; c/u faces of old men
08:40 toddlers in the nursery paint and play
09:19 older girls dance on their holiday; three girls mime putting babies to sleep with dolls
11.43 kitchen of Nazareth House; mixing machine; steamer; bread slicer in pantry
13.05 youngest children, toddlers and babies, eating a meal
14.36 elderly men at lunch, including those bed bound
16.12 young women and nuns working in the laundry; washing and drying machines, and ironing
17.39 girls playing table tennis in the recreational room; playing outside in the playground
18.42 Easter party, girls have their best clothes on
19.44 nursery music lesson; action songs and dance; playing on rocking horses; kneeling in prayer; bedtime
21.38 tuck shop
22.28 a birthday party
24.00 group of pupils in the grounds - at the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the grounds
25.27 Corpus Christi (?) procession from Nazareth House to St. Joseph's Church
29.00 ext. Nazareth House.
The End 29.40