Reverend Mother Aloysius Hoey, RSHM (1877–1966)
Born Josephine Hoey in Belfast, Ireland, on July 23, 1877, Mother Aloysius was orphaned young and educated at the RSHM boarding school in Lisburn. In 1895, at eighteen, she entered the novitiate in Béziers, France, and later took the name Mary Aloysius in memory of her sister, who had died there as a postulant. She professed her final vows in 1903.
Known for her simple yet profound motto, “I smiled,” Mother Aloysius radiated warmth and kindness, bringing comfort to all who met her. A gifted musician, she taught English and music and inspired prayerful devotion through her accompaniment at Mass.
She served as General Bursar in 1912 and later as Assistant General, while also guiding the Motherhouse during the world wars. Her leadership was marked by compassion, wisdom, and tireless service, including transforming the orphanage into a hospital and overseeing the chapel’s transformation into a “temple of prayer.”
Even in illness and suffering, she remained grateful and serene. Mother Aloysius passed away on January 22, 1966, remembered for her unwavering faith, her joy-filled smile, and her lasting witness to the RSHM mission: “That all may have life, and have it to the full.”