Sister M. Matthew Loftus, IHM

Sister M. Matthew Loftus, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, November 21, 1926, at St. Alphonsus Convent in New York City, NY.

She was born on January 14, 1878 in Scranton, PA, and was given the name Agnes. She was the daughter of the late Matthew W. and Margaret Gibbons Loftus. She entered the IHM Congregation on July 15, 1895, received the religious habit on April 9, 1896, and made profession of her vows on July 23, 1898.

Sister Matthew was as a gifted violinist and served as a music teacher the following schools: St. Ceclila Academy in Scranton, PA; Marywood College in Scranton, PA; and St. Alphonsus School, New York City, NY. She also served as the directress of Marywood Seminary in Scranton, PA.

From 1914 until the time of her death, Sister Matthew served as superior at St. Alphonsus Convent in New York City, NY.

She was preceded in death by four brothers, Matthew W., Jr., William H., Martin and John J., and three sisters, Rose Loftus, Mary Loftus and Winnie Loftus.

She is survived by two sisters, Bridget Devine of Scranton, PA, and Margaret McCormick of Chicago, IL, nieces and nephews.

A solemn high Mass of Requiem was held at St. Alphonsus Church in New York. The funeral will be Wednesday, November 24, at 9:00 a.m. with a solemn high Mass of Requiem in the Marywood College Chapel, followed by interment at the Marywood College Cemetery, Scranton, PA.

Note: Her father, the Honorable Matthew Loftus, was a former mayor of the City of Scranton.

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“In August, 1906, shortly after the issuance of the Motu Proprio by Pope Pius X, Mother Cyril inaugurated an Institute for the study of Church Music. It was opened under the auspices of the Right Reverend Bishop and under the direction of Reverend J. M. Petter, Director of Music at Saint Bernard’s Seminary, Rochester, NY. Father Petter had made a special study of plain chant in different schools in Europe, notably at Ratisbonne, Rome, and Solesmes. He also visited many celebrated Benedictine abbeys on the continent and in England. Sister M. Alphonsus continued the splendid work initiated by Father Petter and in a few years had organized exceptional choirs among the Alphonsus and Sister M. Matthew studied privately with the Benedictines in the West, and left the work of congregational singing so well established that all the chapel services are now sung in Gregorian chant.”

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 310

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“Sister M. Germaine, sister-assistant, was on August 7, 1913, elected to succeed Mother M. Cyril as Mother Superior of the Congregation. Mother Germaine organized her council as follows: Sister M. Ildephonsus, sister-assistant; Sister M. Borgia, sister-bursar; and Sister M, Camillus, mistress of novices. In addition to her duties as sister-assistant. Sister M. Ildephonsus was appointed directress of the seminary to succeed Sister M. Matthew, who had been transferred to the convent of St. Alphonsus in New York City.”

“Various other works lay at hand for completion. As has been said before, all arrangements for the opening of Saint Alphonsus’ School in New York City had been made during the last year of Mother Cyril’s administration. Mother M. Germaine, who was sister- assistant at the time, had heartily concurred in these plans and at once proceeded to carry them out. Mother M. Crescentia was made superior and the following Sisters were appointed to form with her the first community at Saint Alphonsus’: Sister M. Bernard, Sister M. Paul, Sister M. Alacoque, Sister M. Matthew, Sister M. Emmanuel, Sister M. Hope, Sister M. Alonzo, and Sister Marie Annette. The two examiners, Sister M. Mercedes and Sister M. James, went with the new community and remained in New York until Christmas.”

Excerpted from The Sisters of the I.H.M.: The Story of The Founding of The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Their Work In The Scranton Diocese by Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie, IHM, P.J. Kenedy & Sons, NY, 1921, p. 382, 384