Oral History: Sister M. Agnita McCall
Dublin Core
Title
Oral History: Sister M. Agnita McCall
Subject
Sister M. Agnita McCall
Description
An oral history of Sister M. Agnita McCall, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill from 1921 until 1998. The interview was conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller on September 22, 1986.
Sister M. Agnita McCall was born on June 23, 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Daughter of Michael McCall and Margaret Fullerton, Helen R. McCall entered the community on March 25, 1921 as Sister M. Agnita McCall.
Sister M. Agnita received teaching certifications for elementary education in 1922, 1944, and 1968. She worked as an elementary school teacher for grades 4, 5, and 6, and taught for 56 years until her retirement in 1979. She taught at various schools in the Pittsburgh area, including St. Kieran, St. Philip, St. Stephen, St. Anselm, St. John the Evangelist, Resurrection, and Holy Innocents, as well as a brief career at SS. Peter and Paul in Tucson, AZ. Upon her retirement, she led the Assumption Hall Guild from 1980 to 1988, and provided a variety of volunteer services for her fellow sisters. Both of her parents were born in Ireland, and she was the youngest of 14 children.
Sister M. Agnita McCall passed away on December 19, 1998 at the age of 94.
Sister M. Agnita McCall was born on June 23, 1904 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Daughter of Michael McCall and Margaret Fullerton, Helen R. McCall entered the community on March 25, 1921 as Sister M. Agnita McCall.
Sister M. Agnita received teaching certifications for elementary education in 1922, 1944, and 1968. She worked as an elementary school teacher for grades 4, 5, and 6, and taught for 56 years until her retirement in 1979. She taught at various schools in the Pittsburgh area, including St. Kieran, St. Philip, St. Stephen, St. Anselm, St. John the Evangelist, Resurrection, and Holy Innocents, as well as a brief career at SS. Peter and Paul in Tucson, AZ. Upon her retirement, she led the Assumption Hall Guild from 1980 to 1988, and provided a variety of volunteer services for her fellow sisters. Both of her parents were born in Ireland, and she was the youngest of 14 children.
Sister M. Agnita McCall passed away on December 19, 1998 at the age of 94.
Creator
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Publisher
Archives of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill
Date
1986/09/22
Rights
All rights belong to the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Format
Audio cassette tape
Type
Oral history
Identifier
OH-21
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Sister Marie Corona Miller
Interviewee
Sister M. Agnita McCall
Transcription
Sisters of Charity Oral Histories Interviewee: Sr. M. Agnita McCall Interviewer: Sr. Marie Corona Miller September 22, 1986
This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History program of the Sister of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister Agnita McCall. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at Marian Hall the date is September 22, 1986.
Sr.M: Good morning Sister Agnita Sr.A: Good morning Sister
Sr.M: I’m very happy to be here with you today Sr.A: And I am delighted to be with you.
Sr.M: Would you like to tell me something about your life as a Sister of Charity?
Sr.A: I’ll try. I was born on the 23rd of June 1900 4. One I am the youngest of 14 children. They’re all deceased except my dear self. I was born on a school picnic day. I was told that my mother had loaves of bread ready to be put into the pans when she knew it was time for me to come into this world. My oldest sister Mary a most happy memory then took over charge of the bread etc. My parents came from Ireland in 1860 and to start a business, which was the coke ovens. They borrowed
$200 from Mr. Quigley father of our deceased Carmelita Quigley. The ovens were on Main Street close to Saint James church in West End but the convent and school were located on Steuben Street. At that time very few people had telephones so that the Sisters would come down to my father’s office to make their calls. He loved the Sisters. On Monday morning when he would see a Sister stretching out the clothesline, he would hurry to help her. He like my mother were great church workers. What influenced me to become a Sister of Charity from the time I was very young, I would pretend I was a Sister, you know how we use to get dressed in long clothes and have a rosary hung on our belt. I suppose to hearing my parents talking about respect and love they had for the Sisters was another thing that influenced me. When I started to school, it was even easier for me to see the love and concern the Sisters had for their class their classes, 125 children in the first grade. I entered the community on March 24, 1921 just in time for supper.
Sr.M: Sister?
Sr.A: Fried eggs and lettuce served by the whitecaps
Sr.M: Sister before you go on there can you remembers any of your teachers at Saint James?
Sr.A: Oh sure
Sr.M: Can you just give us some of their names?
Sr.A: Ok, my first grade teacher was a Sister who left the community, I can’t remember her name. Also I had Sister Leanor, Sister Recarda, Sister Marsclene, Sister…. oh I can’t remember the others just now.
Sr.M: Thank you
Sr.A: I enter on March oh I did say that. That was Holy Thursday; we had adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all night. Our dorm went to the chapel at 1:00 how delighted I was, I suppose it was for sperber. My earliest recollection of my community life were buried, we had our ups and downs, but for, they were alleviated by the kindness and understanding of our senior novices and our senior profess Sisters. I can look back to those days and recollect the help that was given to us as we tried to do our best. I could never enumerate all the happenings of our early days, but I know there were many interesting incidents. I recall this one, the day I received the white cap a senior Sister asked me “What is your name?” I said it is Sister Agnita said she “You shouldn’t have that name, that means little Agnes and you are too big for that” So I still hear, I still have my name and I still am big. Then when I worked in the butter house, I let fall a large tray of butter chips plus the butter, I did the same thing when I worked in the Priest dinning room. I broke a tray of beautiful glass finger bowls you can imagine what Sister Mary Lenard said, but bless her, she was always most forgiving. On December 12th 1923 my first assignment was to Saint Mary Magdalen School in Homestead. I arrived at suppertime to face 25 sisters who were in the dining room. I didn’t feel at ease at first but soon that wore off. The following day, Mother Mary Joseph a magnificent principal took me to my class 50 in the second grade, didn’t’ say a word to me, but handed me a register and that went on for about a week. After that mother came in each day and what help she gave was the foundation of my teaching career. To which to this very day I am most grateful. May mother rest in peace. I always enjoyed teaching I miss children very much and I think I played a part in the field of education by one method I always employed. Always find something good in each child that would encourage him to do better work. The saying a spoon full of sugar will carry more flies than a barrel of vinegar. I forget what saint said that. I taught in the schools in Pittsburgh, Altoona, and Tuscan many happy a days. I think I always related well to both religious and lay faculty. My last assignment was at Holy Innocence for 16 years for 6 years. On June 11, 1979 after 56 years of teaching I came to assumption hall, a little strange at first but it didn’t take long for me to adjust to the work I was about to begin. What am I doing now, what are my assignments they’re varied too. I work in the guild office writing names on menu slips, cutting and soaking stamps, visiting the sick, writing Christmas cards, and of course praying and reading. As to major changes in the community I have tried to
corporate as far as I can. May the lord bless all who hear this tape and trust that your life will be as happy and blessed as mine. Please remember me in your prayers.
Sr. M: Well thank you sister that was an interesting life. Sr. A: Ya but nothing spectacular.
Sr.M It doesn’t have to be spectacular, honest. Sister can you just tell me who was the Mother Superior when you entered.
Sr.A: Mary Joseph
Sr.M: Mother Mary Joseph
Sr.A: A huh, and then she that was her last year in office Sr.M: Oh I see
Sr.A: See then when I went to Homestead she was my first principal Sr.M: Oh I see, I see. Who was your mistress of novices?
Sr.A: Sister Hildegard Eichenlaub and Mother Mary Joseph Mother Mary Francis for a short time.
Sr.M: And Sister did Sister Mary Lenard that you mentioned was she Sr.A: She was in charge of the priest dining room.
Sr.M: Oh I see
Sr.A: Very everything had to be just so. But as I said she was most forgiving. Sr.M: Well Sister thank you very much is there anything else you want to tell us? Sr.A: No
Sr. M: No nothing else, okay Sister thank you very much God bless you Sr. M: Sister Agnita
Sr.A: I’m here!
Sr.M: I think we forgot to hear a couple stories that you had to tell us, would you like to share that, those stories with us?
Sr.A: Yes, One time when I was in Homestead Sister Rose Xavier and myself shared the same bedroom. One Saturday afternoon we did not hear the bell for reading which was at two o’clock so naturally we had to report to Mother Mary Joseph that we missed the reading said said she will go and go and get your reading. We went to our room and Sister Rose Xavier opened the book, which said, it is good for us to be here.
Sr.M: (laughing) very appropriate huh
Sr.A: A huh, and I remember two more of my teachers, Sister Patricia for whom I took that name for my confirmation name therefore my name is Rose Helen Patricia. Another Sister was Sister Agnes and Charles Regina. Sister Charles Regina, I that’s all I can remember.
Sr.M: Sister when you entered you were by yourself.
Sr.A: A yes and Sister Mary Lucy entered a week before I did. Sister Michaela and Clarisa entered on the first of May Sister Rose Xavier and Mary Josephine on the third on June and that was our group plus some ahead of us that are dead and some below us that are dead. But I was one of those young ones that entered.
Sr.M: You entered right after High school
Sr.A: No before that even, I was only I was only 16 I celebrated by 17th birthday in the community.
Sr.M: Oh I see. Now Sister Agnita there is another story that we would like to hear about your sister who also entered our community what was her name?
Sr.A: Her name was Bernadette, then 28 years of age, entered the Sister of Charity in 1928. During her novitiate time, she was asked if she would go to Scottdale and be a nurse for Father Lambing.
Sr.M: What was her religious name Sister?
Sr.A: Her religious name was Mary Jude. Father Lambing had two Sisters in our community Sister Grace and Sister Ildephonse. How long Sister was over in Scottdale I don’t remember. Maybe you do not know this, but Sister died on Christmas day in 1943. One thing I can remember most visably about her is her great love for senior Sisters and perhaps the younger ones too but I know the Senior Sisters told me many kind things about her. In the community one time, she had a mastoid and when the doctor operated, the nerve was severed and her face was drawn to one side for a few years, then it was decided that she would go to Eye and Ear hospital for another operation. They took a nerve from her ankle and transplanted it in her ear her face became straight. But it didn’t last too long in the next year she went to God.
Sr.M: Sister what about your mother you told me
Sr.A: At the time of this mastoid operation, my mother was losing her sight and the last one of the last things that she saw was Mary Jude’s face crooked then when it was straighten then that was then my mother became totally blind and the memory of that crooked face was in her mind, but of course we told her about the operation and she seemed contended.
Sr.M: Well that’s good, and after Sister died then what did you tell me about our present Sister Mary Jude?
Sr.A: oh Sister Mary Jude died in 43 December 43. Sister Mary Jude McColligan was to receive the habit in April of 44. Mother Claudia called me and asked me if I would mind if my Sisters name would be given to somebody else and I was very happy to say I will be glad for that.
Sr.M: Well thank you Sister for sharing this with us. Sr.A: You’re welcome
This is a correction of the interview with Sister Agnita McCall. Father Lambing had one sister. Sister Ildephonse Lambing.
This interview is being conducted as part of the Oral History program of the Sister of Charity of Seton Hill. The interviewee is Sister Agnita McCall. The interview is being conducted by Sister Marie Corona Miller at Marian Hall the date is September 22, 1986.
Sr.M: Good morning Sister Agnita Sr.A: Good morning Sister
Sr.M: I’m very happy to be here with you today Sr.A: And I am delighted to be with you.
Sr.M: Would you like to tell me something about your life as a Sister of Charity?
Sr.A: I’ll try. I was born on the 23rd of June 1900 4. One I am the youngest of 14 children. They’re all deceased except my dear self. I was born on a school picnic day. I was told that my mother had loaves of bread ready to be put into the pans when she knew it was time for me to come into this world. My oldest sister Mary a most happy memory then took over charge of the bread etc. My parents came from Ireland in 1860 and to start a business, which was the coke ovens. They borrowed
$200 from Mr. Quigley father of our deceased Carmelita Quigley. The ovens were on Main Street close to Saint James church in West End but the convent and school were located on Steuben Street. At that time very few people had telephones so that the Sisters would come down to my father’s office to make their calls. He loved the Sisters. On Monday morning when he would see a Sister stretching out the clothesline, he would hurry to help her. He like my mother were great church workers. What influenced me to become a Sister of Charity from the time I was very young, I would pretend I was a Sister, you know how we use to get dressed in long clothes and have a rosary hung on our belt. I suppose to hearing my parents talking about respect and love they had for the Sisters was another thing that influenced me. When I started to school, it was even easier for me to see the love and concern the Sisters had for their class their classes, 125 children in the first grade. I entered the community on March 24, 1921 just in time for supper.
Sr.M: Sister?
Sr.A: Fried eggs and lettuce served by the whitecaps
Sr.M: Sister before you go on there can you remembers any of your teachers at Saint James?
Sr.A: Oh sure
Sr.M: Can you just give us some of their names?
Sr.A: Ok, my first grade teacher was a Sister who left the community, I can’t remember her name. Also I had Sister Leanor, Sister Recarda, Sister Marsclene, Sister…. oh I can’t remember the others just now.
Sr.M: Thank you
Sr.A: I enter on March oh I did say that. That was Holy Thursday; we had adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all night. Our dorm went to the chapel at 1:00 how delighted I was, I suppose it was for sperber. My earliest recollection of my community life were buried, we had our ups and downs, but for, they were alleviated by the kindness and understanding of our senior novices and our senior profess Sisters. I can look back to those days and recollect the help that was given to us as we tried to do our best. I could never enumerate all the happenings of our early days, but I know there were many interesting incidents. I recall this one, the day I received the white cap a senior Sister asked me “What is your name?” I said it is Sister Agnita said she “You shouldn’t have that name, that means little Agnes and you are too big for that” So I still hear, I still have my name and I still am big. Then when I worked in the butter house, I let fall a large tray of butter chips plus the butter, I did the same thing when I worked in the Priest dinning room. I broke a tray of beautiful glass finger bowls you can imagine what Sister Mary Lenard said, but bless her, she was always most forgiving. On December 12th 1923 my first assignment was to Saint Mary Magdalen School in Homestead. I arrived at suppertime to face 25 sisters who were in the dining room. I didn’t feel at ease at first but soon that wore off. The following day, Mother Mary Joseph a magnificent principal took me to my class 50 in the second grade, didn’t’ say a word to me, but handed me a register and that went on for about a week. After that mother came in each day and what help she gave was the foundation of my teaching career. To which to this very day I am most grateful. May mother rest in peace. I always enjoyed teaching I miss children very much and I think I played a part in the field of education by one method I always employed. Always find something good in each child that would encourage him to do better work. The saying a spoon full of sugar will carry more flies than a barrel of vinegar. I forget what saint said that. I taught in the schools in Pittsburgh, Altoona, and Tuscan many happy a days. I think I always related well to both religious and lay faculty. My last assignment was at Holy Innocence for 16 years for 6 years. On June 11, 1979 after 56 years of teaching I came to assumption hall, a little strange at first but it didn’t take long for me to adjust to the work I was about to begin. What am I doing now, what are my assignments they’re varied too. I work in the guild office writing names on menu slips, cutting and soaking stamps, visiting the sick, writing Christmas cards, and of course praying and reading. As to major changes in the community I have tried to
corporate as far as I can. May the lord bless all who hear this tape and trust that your life will be as happy and blessed as mine. Please remember me in your prayers.
Sr. M: Well thank you sister that was an interesting life. Sr. A: Ya but nothing spectacular.
Sr.M It doesn’t have to be spectacular, honest. Sister can you just tell me who was the Mother Superior when you entered.
Sr.A: Mary Joseph
Sr.M: Mother Mary Joseph
Sr.A: A huh, and then she that was her last year in office Sr.M: Oh I see
Sr.A: See then when I went to Homestead she was my first principal Sr.M: Oh I see, I see. Who was your mistress of novices?
Sr.A: Sister Hildegard Eichenlaub and Mother Mary Joseph Mother Mary Francis for a short time.
Sr.M: And Sister did Sister Mary Lenard that you mentioned was she Sr.A: She was in charge of the priest dining room.
Sr.M: Oh I see
Sr.A: Very everything had to be just so. But as I said she was most forgiving. Sr.M: Well Sister thank you very much is there anything else you want to tell us? Sr.A: No
Sr. M: No nothing else, okay Sister thank you very much God bless you Sr. M: Sister Agnita
Sr.A: I’m here!
Sr.M: I think we forgot to hear a couple stories that you had to tell us, would you like to share that, those stories with us?
Sr.A: Yes, One time when I was in Homestead Sister Rose Xavier and myself shared the same bedroom. One Saturday afternoon we did not hear the bell for reading which was at two o’clock so naturally we had to report to Mother Mary Joseph that we missed the reading said said she will go and go and get your reading. We went to our room and Sister Rose Xavier opened the book, which said, it is good for us to be here.
Sr.M: (laughing) very appropriate huh
Sr.A: A huh, and I remember two more of my teachers, Sister Patricia for whom I took that name for my confirmation name therefore my name is Rose Helen Patricia. Another Sister was Sister Agnes and Charles Regina. Sister Charles Regina, I that’s all I can remember.
Sr.M: Sister when you entered you were by yourself.
Sr.A: A yes and Sister Mary Lucy entered a week before I did. Sister Michaela and Clarisa entered on the first of May Sister Rose Xavier and Mary Josephine on the third on June and that was our group plus some ahead of us that are dead and some below us that are dead. But I was one of those young ones that entered.
Sr.M: You entered right after High school
Sr.A: No before that even, I was only I was only 16 I celebrated by 17th birthday in the community.
Sr.M: Oh I see. Now Sister Agnita there is another story that we would like to hear about your sister who also entered our community what was her name?
Sr.A: Her name was Bernadette, then 28 years of age, entered the Sister of Charity in 1928. During her novitiate time, she was asked if she would go to Scottdale and be a nurse for Father Lambing.
Sr.M: What was her religious name Sister?
Sr.A: Her religious name was Mary Jude. Father Lambing had two Sisters in our community Sister Grace and Sister Ildephonse. How long Sister was over in Scottdale I don’t remember. Maybe you do not know this, but Sister died on Christmas day in 1943. One thing I can remember most visably about her is her great love for senior Sisters and perhaps the younger ones too but I know the Senior Sisters told me many kind things about her. In the community one time, she had a mastoid and when the doctor operated, the nerve was severed and her face was drawn to one side for a few years, then it was decided that she would go to Eye and Ear hospital for another operation. They took a nerve from her ankle and transplanted it in her ear her face became straight. But it didn’t last too long in the next year she went to God.
Sr.M: Sister what about your mother you told me
Sr.A: At the time of this mastoid operation, my mother was losing her sight and the last one of the last things that she saw was Mary Jude’s face crooked then when it was straighten then that was then my mother became totally blind and the memory of that crooked face was in her mind, but of course we told her about the operation and she seemed contended.
Sr.M: Well that’s good, and after Sister died then what did you tell me about our present Sister Mary Jude?
Sr.A: oh Sister Mary Jude died in 43 December 43. Sister Mary Jude McColligan was to receive the habit in April of 44. Mother Claudia called me and asked me if I would mind if my Sisters name would be given to somebody else and I was very happy to say I will be glad for that.
Sr.M: Well thank you Sister for sharing this with us. Sr.A: You’re welcome
This is a correction of the interview with Sister Agnita McCall. Father Lambing had one sister. Sister Ildephonse Lambing.
Original Format
Audio cassette tape
Duration
20:31
Bit Rate/Frequency
96kHz
Collection
Citation
Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, “Oral History: Sister M. Agnita McCall,” Collections of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill Archives, accessed April 24, 2024, https://scsharchives.com/items/show/694.
Item Relations
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