British Colmbia in Canada was the second venture into mission lands made by the Sisters of Mercy, Callan,

On March 15th 1957, Bishop Fergus O'Grady OMI visited the Convent in Callan hoping to recruit sisters to work in his diocese - what was then the Vicariate of Prince Rupert in British Colombia, Canada.

He had been consecrated bishop the previous year and his dream was to build Catholic schools right across the Vicariate, where the many children of his flock could get a Catholic Education. He had very little money so he depended on the generosity of Religious and dedicated lay people - the Frontier apostles to staff these schools, practically for free!. All he could offer in return was free board and $50.00 a month pocket money.

The Bishop made a great impression on many of the Sisters. What impressed most was his great faith and trust in God. Here he was, practically penniless, proposing to build several schools - the man was a dreamer or a chancer! He was taking a chance on God, so after some prayer and deliberation the Community in Callan decided to chance it too. Twenty six sisters volunteered for the Mission, five were chosen on May 25th 1957 - they were Sr. Alphonsus Sheehy, Sr. Claire Sexton, Sr. Paul Howlett, Sr. Anthony Barlow and Sr. Gonzaga Whearty. The date of their departure was set for August 26th 1957.

After a plane journey which began at Shannon Airport, stopped for refuelling in Gander, and what "seemed an endless journey across the States" the Sisters finally arrived in Vancouver in the early hours of August 27th where they were met by the Sisters of the Child Jesus from North Vancouver and with whom they rested for one day. Another plane journey brought the sisters north to Prince George and finally a car journey of over one hundred miles of rutted dirt road, endless acres of trees, on a wet and miserable evening brought them to their final destination - Fort St. James - on Saturday, August 29th. This final stage of the journey put an end to the euphoria and caused some of the Sisters to have grave misgivings regarding their new venture into the unknown. They were welcomed to their new mission by the Pastor, many of the Indian community, and the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught in the indian Department school on the Necoslie Reserve.