... The True Story of Cora Pereira ... ""On the 16th June 1895** the date fixed for the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament at the Cathedral, a tragedy occurred which we think proper to mention as a pupil of ours Miss Corinne Pereira was one of it's principal victims. Against the wishes of her mother who had ordered her to stay at home, this dear girl left her house by the back door and hastened away to help in decorating one of the temporary altars on a high platform approached by a flight of twenty or more steps. The day passed pleasantly along; clouds which threatened to burst in the morning were dispersed by the heat of midday; the Parta Rev.Father Tabard came occasionally to encourage and to suggest further improvements; the altar commenced to look worthy of the Master who was soon to be enthroned thereon. The convent pupils were donning their robes of spotless white, their ribbons and wreaths of roses, many rejoicing they were chosen to stand on the steps of the platform representing a bodyguard of angels doing honour to the God who loves children.

The procession was to commence at half past five but at about four o'clock news reached us which filled every heart with dismay. There was to be no Procession! Why? The pretty altar when lifted up the steps proved too heavy for the platform and reached the ground in a shorter space of time than it took to carry it up. With it and alas! under it, lay many persons who helped to adorn it some slightly hurt, some grievously hurt. Two - one of whom was Miss Corinne Pereira fatally injured! The news spread like wild fire. Corinne's mother was apprised of it long before the arrival at her house of the stretcher on which her daughter lay. The gloomy presentiment of the morning was sadly verified. Oh! why had Corinne disobeyed? Happy fault ? Blind mother! Her eyes of flesh could not discern the angelic crowd which surrounded the patient sufferer, the Martyred Bride of the Blessed Eucharist; Of all the girls who meant to do honour to Jesus that day, she alone was called to sacrifice her life to please her Incarnate God. People called the days event a disaster but did the White Angel record it as such in his Judgment Book? No Procession, but two victims, one a sweet girl and the other a British Soldier! Was not God more honoured that day than ever before? The heart of Reverend Father Tabard was crushed when he stood before the wreck, but only in the other world will he know why God sent such an unusual turn to the events of that day.

Corinne lingered for two days, the Doctor said the spinal chord was broken; her mother gave full play to her grief and maternal rage venting it on the Parish Priest, who, nothing daunted, stood by the bedside of the dying girl, uttering words of consolation to the departing soul. Corinne had always been a devoted girl. She was educated in our Convent leaving school after obtaining two Government Certificates; she had been loved by Mistresses and Pupils and the nature of her death led us to style her the Bride of the Blessed Sacrament.

This Poem was written by the Nun who wrote the Archives in 1896, and is part of the Annals of the Convent.

""Dear Happy Corinne Art thou conscious of the words I have written in thy praise? Do these my verses reach thee, as thou sing'et eternal days? Pray for one who always loved thee who venerates thy name, Oh Eucharist Bride, this title is thy claim , Dear Happy Corinne A thousand other lasses played within our Cloister walls. Their merry peals of laughter re-echoed in our halls; They loved to gather flowers to dress our sacred shrine But Jesus was enraptured with no other heart than thine, Dear Happy Corinne I kneel before thee, Corinne, I feel I can and must Though once I was thy teacher, I venerate thy dust, The dust from which thy soul arose and flew to God above, While angels rose to greet thee, a martyr to His Lord Dear Happy Corinne""

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Thought for the Day:" Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, Fon in the manner their fathers did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did they fathers to the false prophets." Holy Bible: Luke 6:20-26