AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE PAST

These pictures were posted quite awhile ago by Maureen Sullivan and Mike Power on our facebook page. Because they are such interesting photos, I think they deserve a wider audience.  Maybe, and it is a very big maybe, someone out there can give us a name or two.

Maureen tells us that this picture is of the Holy Cross First Communion Class of 1928.  How awesome is that!

Holy Cross First Communion Class, 1928

Mike's picture is of a group of unnamed St Patrick's Girls.  Mike speculates that it was taken sometime in the 1940s and I think he might be right.  I think the month is either May or June because one of the girls has a ribbon and medal pinned to her uniform.

A group of St Patrick's Girls.  Who are they?
Where was the photo taken?

I would like to thank both Maureen and Mike for sharing these two amazing photos with us.  They are really special. If you come across any other photos that you would like to share, either St Patrick's or Holy Cross, we would be more than happy to post them.  You can send them to us at mcallistesmith@gmail.com.   

KIWANIS MUSIC FESTIVAL, 1956

I think we have a real treasure of a photo here today and it is all thanks to Cathy Simms Healy and Betty Simms.  Cathy is the owner of the prized photo and she passed it on to Betty who then passed it on to us.  Cathy has also given us names, year and event!

The year was 1956 and the event was the prestigious Kiwanis Music Festival.  The girls are all decked out in their special attire, which was probably commissioned for the occasion. This St Patrick’s Convent School choir was under the direction of Sr M Carmelita Meaney PBVM.

The girls are,

Back, L-R:  Norah Brazil, Joan Galway, Patricia Power, Frances Jackman, Patricia Farrel, Marge McGrath, Eleanor O’Reilly, Catherine Whalen, Marina Sorenson, Betty Wilson, Eileen O’Brien, Joanne Ashley

Row 3:  Alice Tobin, Barb Morrissey, ?, Patricia Walsh, Barbara Stone, ?, Patricia Browne, Irene Grant, Joan Alyward, Sheila Squires, Margie Sorenson, Bernice Corbett

Row 2:  Brenda Whalen, Jessie Murphy, Shirley Mahoney, Carol Bennett, Bernice Everard, Patricia Reardon, Frances Hennessey, Madonna O’Neill, Judy Whiffen, Roseann Bulger, Lucy O’Keefe, Rosalie Follett, Ada Mercer

Row 1:  Josephine Mahoney, Catherine Simms, Patricia Moore, Judy Murphy, Catherine Martin, Peggy O’Toole, Barbara Walsh, Noreen Carter, Patricia O’Leary

A very big Thank You to Cathy for sharing this wonderful memory with us.  Thanks also to my dear friend Betty for passing it on to us.  Thank you both for your continued support for this blog.  

'THREE POINTS CENTER'

This post takes us all the way to St George, Utah, where we find some wonderful work being done.  There is a very strong link to Newfoundland and to St Patrick’s and I am grateful to Teri Healey Evans for sharing this with us. Teri and her sisters are all graduates of St Patrick’s Convent Schools and Teri brings us news of one of the sisters, Betty.  

Many of us shared our school days with Betty and remember her with affection.  Betty Healey Brown now lives in North Carolina.  This is a story of Betty and her two amazing, community spirited sons, Norm and Glenn Thibault.  The boys were born in Newfoundland, Baptised at St Patrick’s and, after moving to the States, spent most of their summers with their Healey family in Newfoundland.  Teri says that if you ask Norm and Glenn where they are from they will proudly tell you “Newfoundland”. 

Both boys put themselves through college and Glenn became a very successful businessman and Norm a dedicated Family and Adolescent Therapist.  Norm had a great desire to help adolescents who have been adopted and who have been coping with issues of rejection, drugs, alcohol abuse and myriad other problems.   With the help of his brother Glenn’s financial backing, Norm’s dream became a reality.

September 2017 saw the grand opening of their treatment centre for such young people.  The facility is named ‘Three Points Center,’  and is located at St George, Utah.  Glenn, who lives in Colorado, was there for the opening. The boys’ very proud mother, Betty, joined them and helped cut the ribbon. At present the facility is operating at full capacity with children from across the USA and elsewhere.  Reports of the Center’s good work and excellent results are spreading far and wide. Recently, ‘Three Points Center’ was featured in a documentary on a French T V Station which had flown a crew over to film at the Ranch. 

I am certain that, not only Betty, but the entire Healey family is bursting with pride at the work these two dedicated young men are doing and the good they are bringing about.  I don’t think it would be too presumptuous if we, as fellow Newfoundlanders, schoolmates, and friends of the Healey family feel a little of that pride too.

 

Betty Healey Brown with her two sons, Glenn and Norm, at the opening of 'Three Point Center'
in St George, Utah

Teri has sent us a picture of the ribbon cutting which we are delighted to post on our School Blog.  Thanks Teri for this very interesting and inspiring story.  We send greetings to Betty and wish Norm and ‘Three Points Centre’ every success.  

**** If you click on either of the 'Three Points' names above, you will be taken to its website where you can learn all about the facility and its work.

***UPDATED - MISS MORGAN'S OTHER KINDERGARTEN CLASS - 1967

Back in March I received this picture from Patricia Moores Walsh.   Isn’t it a beauty?  Patricia informed us it is Miss Morgan’s other Kindergarten Class, 1967.  She has also given us some names but we are counting on you to help us with the ones that Patricia missed.   

****I have a great reason for updating this post.  I am absolutely delighted to tell you that I have just received an email from Miss Rosemarie Morgan, the teacher in this photo.   Miss Morgan, now Mrs Weightman, tells us that it is her morning class and she has given us the names of all the little cuties in the photo. 

Miss Morgan's other Kindergarten cuties, 1967

They are, Front Row L-R:

Brenda Mallard, Violet Dalton, Theresa Kiley, Peggy Raymond, Carol Ann Lake, Tina Smith, Rosalind Murphy, Jackie Pink

Row 2:  Betty Bishop, Linda Hickey, Linda McCarthy, Darlene White, Madonna Taylor, Marie Fifield, Denise Purcell, Sheila Martin

Row 3:  Linda Hall, Maureen Holden, Donna Greening, Michelle O’Keefe, Linda Lee, Patricia Moores, Diane Carew, Susan Hayes

Patricia, I am really grateful to you for sharing this beautiful photo.  I hope some of the little ladies pictured here will be in touch to add a few more names.  Due to circumstances, it sometimes takes a little while to post things but be assured, everything eventually gets posted and we are ALWAYS thankful to the people who share their memories with us.  So please, if you have anything at all that you would like to share here with friends and former classmates, just send it along to mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

To Miss Morgan/Mrs Weightman, thank you so very much for taking the time to get in touch.  It is really great to have all the names and I am pretty certain that the ladies in the photo will be more than pleased to know that their Kindergarten teacher is still looking out for them.

OUR MUSICAL HERITAGE

Maybe you know this already but I'll tell you anyway - the Presentation Sisters were the first in Newfoundland to introduce music into their schools on a daily basis.  Since those talented Irish ladies brought music to our schools, many excellent music teachers have followed in their footsteps.  St Patrick's Convent Schools had their fair share of such teachers over the generations. Mother Francis O'Toole, Mother Gerard Walker, Sr Presentation McCarthy, Sr Edwardine Smith and Miss Eleanor Lawton are just a few of that long line of dedicated women. All have left their mark but today's post concerns just one of the many.

Sr Mary Brendan Lynch arrived at St Patrick's Convent in 1967 and her years there were memorable for her and for the choirs she directed.  In 1973, Sr Brendan was invited to take her choir to Ottawa to perform at the Canadian Music Educators' Association Convention.  Due to Sr Brendan's talent and dedication, many successes and awards came to St Patrick's.    

Miss Eleanor Lawton, Sr M Brendan, Sr M Luke and some award winning choir members.  Madonna is second girl from Sr Luke. 

As well as talented, Sr Brendan is also well loved and respected by her former 'stars'! Recently two 'stars' contacted us with news of Sr Brendan.

Sr M Brendan and Madonna Taylor-Hurley

Madonna Taylor-Hurley sent us two photos of Sr Brendan.  Madonna said: "It's so wonderful to have reconnected with this lovely lady. After so many years ago being her little pupil, I am so proud to call Sister Brendan my friend."

Cathy Taylor Coffee also sent us a picture which was taken when she and Brenda Howard Coombes enjoyed a visit with Sr Brendan.  Cathy and Brenda spent  many years as members of St Patrick's Glee Club, which was so successfully directed by Sr Brendan.

Cathy Taylor Coffee, Brenda Howard Coombes
and Sr M Brendan Lynch

Sr Mary Brendan Lynch has been the recipient of many accolades, including being inducted into the Kiwanis Music Festival Hall of Fame in 2003.  From the photos, it is obvious that Sr Brendan still holds the hearts of many of her former pupils. Perhaps  that is the best accolade of all.

BEAUTIFUL BLAST FROM THE PAST!

Rosalita Bambrick has very kindly shared this absolutely stunning picture with us.  It is St Patrick’s Convent School Graduating Class of 1957.  To make it even more wonderful, Rosalita, with a little help from Catherine Parsons Altini, has provided most of the names of the girls.  As always, if anyone out there can help fill in the couple of blanks, we would be most grateful if you would send the names to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

Graduating Class of 1957

FRONT ROW: L-R

Rosalita Bambrick, ?, ?, Mary Colbert, Patricia Anne Roche, Mary Power, Sharon Horan, Mary Fagan, Carmelita Burke, Betty King, Claire Ann Connolly

ROW 2: L-R

Betty Baird, Catherine Healey, Yvonne Snow, Polly Kelly, Kathleen Ryan, Frances Cook, ?, Phyllis Silver, Catherine Parsons, Marie Northcott

BACK ROW: L -R

Rosemary Luby, Margaret Birmingham, Anna Hamlyn, Regina Galway, Anita Stamp, Kathleen Power, ?

To top it off, Rosalita also shared a photo of a reunion of the Graduating Classes of 1957/58.  The reunion was held on 15 September 2017 and, it goes without saying, “a good time was had by all”!

 

Reunion of Graduating Classes of 1957/58

Aren't reunions just great? We certainly should have more of them. A grand reunion of the whole school would be wonderful.  Of course, it would take a lot of planning and a lot of work by some very competent people. Is anyone up for it?   I hesitate to even suggest that time might be running out for some of us. That is a very sobering thought!

Thank you so much Rosalita. These are really great pictures, bringing with them some very special memories. Your contribution and support is greatly appreciated.

THE 24th MAY WEEKEND!

Here we are again, another 24th May weekend.  I would venture to bet that you all have at least one 24th story from your youth that is worth the telling. Why not send it to us at mcallistrsmith@gmail.com and share it here with your friends and former school mates?  

If you follow this link 

http://stpatricksconventschool.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/twenty-fourth-of-may-is-queens-birthday.html
you can read about a couple of 24th escapades from the past!

The 24th May weekend has long been the weekend of the great escape to the side of some fabulous pond for a spot of fishing.  However, a word to the wise - don't take Moses with you!

I wonder where this pond is

I hope the sun shines and that you have an enjoyable and safe 24th May weekend.  

LET'S SUPPORT TEAM CINDY

I have received an email from our St Patrick's School friend, Teri Healey Evans, with a request for our support. Teri and her family, having lost a beloved sister to the awful disease, ALS, work very hard to help eradicate it.  They certainly deserve our support so, if you feel you can help in any way, please contact Teri at burgawgirl@gmail.com  or

https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=4099713&langPref=en-CA

THE GREAT LOU GEHRIG

Here is what Teri wrote.

"In honor of our sister Cindy (Healey) who sadly lost her battle with ALS on January 23, 2016 at the age of 58, my family has joined the WALK for ALS in St. John's slated for June 9th, 2018, because we would like to do our part to find a cure for ALS. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, after the famous American baseball player who died of ALS in 1941. ALS is a progressive and ultimately fatal neuromuscular disease, which has no known cause, cure or drug therapy of consequence. This devastating disease slowly robs the individual of the ability to walk, talk, and ultimately, breathe. Researchers are getting close to finding a drug that could possibly slow down this disease but are still nowhere near to finding the cause or a cure.

We wouldn't wish this awful disease on anyone and if you had seen firsthand, like we did, what ALS can do to a person & their entire family, you certainly would not want to see it show its ugly face to you or any of your loved ones.

Please support our fundraising efforts by sponsoring either myself, June, Sharon or Charlie, by messaging one of us with your donation amount. We would gladly pick up your donation (within St. John's/Mt. Pearl) or you can forward it through e-transfer to burgawgirl@gmail.com or you can go directly to the ALS website for Team Cindy's link at

https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=4099713&langPref=en-CA

Also, if you would like to join TEAM CINDY & participate in the Walk yourself, you would very much be welcomed! I can provide you with a Sponsor Sheet....all you have to do is let me know!!

Thank You, 

Teri (Healey) Evans"

TEAM CINDY AFTER THEIR WALK IN 2017

Please, let's help make this year's Team Cindy Walk an even greater success than last year's. 

Nano Nagle - Our Foundress

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE VIDEO ABOUT NANO NAGLE. HAVE A LISTEN BECAUSE THIS SISTER PRESENTS THE HISTORY IN A WAY THAT IS STRAIGHT FORWARD AND SO IT MAKES EASY LISTENING. I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY IT.

ANNIVERSARY OF NANO NAGLE'S DEATH

PBVM Symbol

Worn out by long days and nights of ministry, Nano Nagle collapsed in Cross Street, Cork, on her way to one of her schools. The Foundress of the Presentation Sisters died on Monday, 26^th April 1784.  She was 65 years old.   In 1994 Pope John Paul II declared Nano Nagle a ‘Servant of God’, the first of four steps to canonisation.  The next step came in 2013 when Pope Francis bestowed the title ‘Venerable’ on Nano Nagle.

  

Venerable Nano Nagle

HOW LENT USED TO BE

Some of you weren't even born when the following picture was taken.  To let you younger folks see how it used to be, I am posting a photo which I have posted on other occasions but it is one that makes me gasp - no matter how often I see it.  It was taken at the mens' Mission held at St Patrick's Church during Lent of 1953.  A full house or what?

Mens' Mission, St Patrick's Church, Lent 1953

Perhaps some of you weren't even born when this notice appeared in a Sunday Bulletin. However, there are still many of us who remember those austere days of bygone Lenten Seasons.  

From St Patrick's Church Bulletin, Passion Sunday, 1968

I found it on the St Patrick's Parish website.  It is an excerpt from the Sunday Bulletin for Passion Sunday, 31st March 1968.  It clearly illustrates how seriously Lent was taken and how the Church helped us prepare for the celebration of Easter.  

Just in case the children thought Easter was all about eggs and rabbits, their spiritual welfare was also well provided for, as this note from the same Sunday Bulletin confirms.

Boys and girls are not forgotten

Perhaps Lent isn't quite as austere as it used to be but it is still a time for reflection and renewal.  Fortunately for us, the Church still helps us along the path that takes us to the real and joyful meaning of Easter.

Just in case you are wondering what "Passion Sunday" is, follow this link and all will be revealed. 
http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/deaconsbench/2010/03/what-is-passion-sunday.html

GREAT PHOTOS FROM DEBBIE AND TERI

I have two great photos to post today and they span quite a few years.  Have a look and see how many names you can add.

The first photo comes from Teri Healey Evans and it was taken in the 1970s.  It is of some of the members of one of Sr Brendan’s amazing Choirs and the incomparable Sr Brendan herself is here with her girls.  The photo was taken at a Convent that they visited when the Glee Club travelled to Ottawa to perform.  Teri informed us that on one of their outings between performances, they visited this Convent and they all crammed into a room and sang for the Sisters there.   Teri is sitting directly in front of Sr Brendan; to her right are Helen Mallard and Karen Mugford.  To Teri’s left is Heather Ann McDonald (wearing glasses).  Teri can’t name the rest but perhaps you can?  If you can, would you please drop us a note at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

*21st March 2018
This nice little addition to Teri's photo comes to us, via email, from Yvonne Cullen McIsaac:  "I enjoyed seeing the photo so much on fb. I was there also (YVONNE CULLEN was my maiden name now YVONNE MCISAAC). The Keating girls were there. Peggy Keating is the girl in the blue with glasses.

I live in Ottawa now and occasionally drive past the convent we visited on Montreal Road. Beautiful memories for sure." 

Thanks for getting in touch, Yvonne. We appreciate and enjoy every scrap of information that we can gather.  Have you ever dropped into that Convent and told them your story?  It might be a pleasant memory for somebody there also.  Just a thought!

Sr M Brendan and her girls

The second picture was sent to us by Debbie Thomas Meyer.  This beautiful photo was taken in 1950.  Debbie’s mother, PAULINE MCDONALD, (now PAULINE THOMAS) is seated, second right.  Debbie’s aunt, SHIRLEY MCDONALD (now SHIRLEY McCOLLUM of Marion, Indiana) is in the back row, fourth right.  

Debbie's lovely Mom and Aunt with their
Grade 8 classmates

Debbie, because my sister, Doreen McAllister, is in this photo, I can add a couple of other details.   This is Grade 8 and the teacher was Miss Carew.  Some of the other girls in the photo are;

Lorraine Nugent, kneeling right

Helen Power, seated 5 left

Doreen McAllister, seated 6 left

Mary Hawco, back row 5 left

Thank you very much Teri and Debbie for these two lovely photos.  They span a lot of years and I am sure they will bring back some rich memories for a lot of people.  If you have any other photos or stories that you would like to share with us, I would be more than delighted to post them.  As I stated above, you can send anything you have to mcallistersmith@gmail.com. Thanks again Debbie and Teri.

5th ANNUAL GATHERING AND 50th ANNIVERSARY- UPDATED

Christine Butler has written with details of the upcoming 5th Annual Gathering which also happens to be the 50th Anniversary of the Grade 3 Class of 1967-68.  Here is Christine's email, including details of events and contact address and phone number.  It sounds like a great time awaits you all.  We wish you all a grand reunion!

Hi there, hope things are good.

Just letting you know that we will be having our 5th annual gathering, which will also be the 50th Anniversary of our grade 3 class of 1967-68. This gathering also includes any graduates of the 1973-74 school year. Here is information I would like you to post on blog and Facebook page, please and thanks.

 

Grade 3 Class, 1967-68

ST. PATRICK'S GIRLS SCHOOL

GRADE 3 CLASS OF 1967-68 AND/OR

GRADE 9 CLASS OF 1973-74

FAMILY PICNIC

(Bring along whomever you like)

SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2018

12 NOON - 4PM

NORTH BANK LODGE, PIPPY PARK

Hotdogs, hamburgers provided

(We'll sort that out closer to event)

Bring your refreshments

(Non -alcohol)

We'll also have munchies

CLASSMATES ONLY EVENT

SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2018

DEBBIE ANDERSON'S HOME, PARADISE

THANK YOU DEBBIE

2 PM - 5 PMish

We will order in

BYOB

Have a couple of desserts also

IF INTERESTED IN ATTENDING AND BEING ADDED TO MY GROUP EMAIL:

Contact: Christine Butler

Phone: 709-689-8798

Email: butlerchristine@nl.rogers.com

Thank you very much.

Regards

Christine Butler 

We have just received another photo from Christine so I will add it here and update the post.  

Another photo from Christine

What a lovely picture this one is and it has all the names, including the teacher's. 

The names!

FIRST NEWFOUNDLAND BORN PRESENTATION SISTER

Sr Mary Rose Mulally was the first Newfoundland born Presentation Sister.  She was also one of the four founding Sisters of our own St Patrick’s Convent.   On 3^rd March 1903, Sr Rose Mulally died at Renews and was laid to rest in the Presentation Cemetery there.  Sr Rose was 79 years of age.

Grave of Sr Rose Mulally, the first Newfoundland born Presentation  Sister

BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S CHURCH

Rhonda Denine Peddle sent us a picture of St Patrick's Church.  I think it is a very beautiful picture so I asked Rhonda if she could find out a little about the picture and the artist.  Rhonda came through with flying colours!  She contacted the artist and some very interesting details emerged.

Rhonda's picture

Rhonda's picture is a print of an oil painting by talented local artist Deirdre Jackson.  Although Deirdre lives in the Goulds, she has a special connection to St Patrick’s Parish.

Deirdre’s mother was Joan Gosse from Hamilton Avenue.  Joan’s sisters were Loretta and Irene Gosse.  Joan attended St Patrick’s from the time she was three or four years old and, after she married, Joan Gosse Dinn continued to attend with her husband and children. Joan passed away last year at the age of 95.

  

There is a touching little story behind this beautiful painting.  Deidre’s niece was living in Ireland but in 2008 she came home to be married at St Patrick’s Church.  As a surprise wedding gift, Deidre created the painting and actually presented this thoughtful and loving gift to her in the church, at the wedding rehearsal! 

The original painting is now in Carlow, Ireland, with Deidre’s niece and family but 11 x 14 prints can be purchased from Deidre.  You can contact Deidre at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dees-Art-Worx-Gallery/887096771331837?fref=ts  As well as St Patrick's Church, you will find some really lovely work there.

Rhonda, I am so pleased that you shared your picture with us and very grateful for all you did to find out the details behind it.  Knowing about the artist and the background of the painting makes it all the more interesting.  So, thanks Rhonda and Deidre for sharing and for your help.