AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS

I think friendship is undefinable but it is  definitely a thing of beauty and a gift to be treasured. It is evident that St Patrick's girls certainly know the value of friendship because they just keep reconnecting with their school friends and the years always seem to melt away.

Some wise words from Charlie Brown

I have had news of another recent get together.  On 5th June 2019, a sizable number turned up at Bally Haly on Logy Bay Road.  This group of friends had graduated from St Patrick's in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  From all reports, it is apparent that a wonderful time was had by all.  We are delighted that Betty Simms and Pat Hurley McDonald have very kindly sent along some pictures of the happy gathering.

Thank you, Pat and Betty, for the pictures and the information.  I don't know if it is true, but I heard a little whisper that there is a BIG 60th reunion in the pipeline for next year.  If you graduated from St Patrick's in 1960, keep your eyes and ears open for news of a reunion.  Be sure to make a big effort to attend - even if you have to trek from far off places like Alberta, Florida, Wales, or anywhere else on planet earth!  If that reunion materializes, it will be well worth attending.

Still close friends

Catching up on the news

Still smiling and looking great!

So great to see you!

Some serious chatting going down here!

Pat and Jackie share some news

I'd rather chat than eat!

Well, Hello!

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.  

ST PATRICK'S SPRING GET TOGETHER

Thanks to the organisational skills of Doreen Walsh Noseworthy, a group of St Patrick's Girls held their Spring Get-together in May. On Friday, 27th May, nineteen ladies met at noon for lunch at the St John's Fish Exchange on Water St.

Nancy Stanley, Alice Prim, Mary Hamlyn, Lila Mercer, Madonna Mercer, Carol Cromwell, Margie Power, Elaine Collins, Marina Grace, Jenny Finley, Alice Hennessey, Bernadette Grouchy, Betty Simms, Sheila Bulger, Cynthia Murphy, Doreen McAllister, Beth Anne McAllister and Doreen Walsh were able to attend.  It was a lovely afternoon with lots of hugs, stories, and laughter.  

We have two photographs which were taken there by an obliging member of staff.

AFTER LUNCH AT THE ST JOHN'S FISH EXCHANGE RESTAURANT, WATER STREET

Unfortunately, the girls at the top of the stairs are lost a bit in the back.  I have cropped the picture in an attempt to show them better. Here's hoping it works!

THE LADIES AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS!

Elizabeth Meaney was due to join her friends at the Fish Exchange. Sadly, at the last minute, circumstances prevented it. However, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Betty Simms, she was able to enjoy a sort of mini get-together  a few days later. Elizabeth, Doreen McAllister, Betty Simms and Beth Anne McAllister spent a very pleasurable couple of hours chatting and reminiscing over a leisurely lunch at Swiss Chalet, Mount Pearl. 

ELIZABETH, DOREEN AND BETTY

THE "MINI" GET-TOGETHER!

Friendship surely is a precious gift and it is truly wonderful to be able to spend time with the friends we made so many years ago. Long may it be so!  

A VISIT TO PRESENTATION ARCHIVES

Today, 21st November, is Presentation Day.  It is a very meaningful day for all Presentation Sisters and for those who have been educated by them.  To mark this special day, I am posting some photographs taken during a most interesting visit to Presentation Archives, St John's.

 

In September, at the invitation of Assistant Archivist Wanita Bates, Betty Simms and I spent a most pleasant afternoon at the Archives.  We were warmly welcomed by Wanita and Archivist Sr Patricia Whittle PBVM.  To be quite honest, an afternoon was not nearly enough to peruse the wonderful material housed there.  (We are keeping our fingers crossed that another invitation will be forthcoming!)

 

Time and space does not permit an in depth account of our visit but suffice it to say that Sr Patricia and Wanita are worthy guardians of a long and impressive history.  A history that we, as Newfoundlanders and as beneficiaries of the Presentation ethos, should be extremely proud to own.

Our visit to Presentation Archives

The dolls in the display case are all in pre Vatican II attire.  From left to right they are Postulant, Novice and Professed Sister.  Some of us will remember the Sisters in just such Habits.  The cloak that the Professed Sister is wearing was not part of the everyday dress of the Sisters.  It was worn only on special occasions.

 

Captain William Staunton
(Photo Courtesy Presentation Archives, Newfoundland)

Captain William Staunton was  master of the brig Ariel. On 21st September 1833 the Ariel, under command of Captain Staunton, arrived in St John's Harbour.  With him were Bishop M A Fleming and four Presentations Sisters.  The four, Sisters Bernard Kirwan, Xaverius Lynch, Magdalen O'Shaughnessy and Xavier Molony founded the first Presentation Convent outside Ireland and therefore the first in North America.  Captain Staunton retired in St John's and died there in 1884, aged 84.

Three St Patrick's 'Girls'

Here we are with Presentation Archivist, Sr Patricia Whittle PBVM.  Sr Patricia, the pretty lady in the centre, is an alumna of St Patrick's Convent School.  In case you are too young to remember our Sisters in Habits, the mannequin behind us will give you a pretty good idea of how they looked.

 

Mother John's beautiful work

This beautiful piece of work was of special interest to us.  Mother John, as we knew her, was our Grade 4 teacher.  We have vivid memories of Mother John but Betty and I were not aware of the extent of her artistic talent.   

The description

This notice was attached to Mother John's work of art.  As well as a description of the work, it also gives a little information about the artist.

With Wanita, Lucky, and Sr Patricia

 Assistant Archivist, Wanita Bates, was kept busy taking our pictures but we were really delighted when she and Sr Patricia  agreed to another photo.  This time Betty was the photographer!  Sr Patricia is the Archivist, Wanita is the Assistant Archivist and I think Lucky must be the Assistant Assistant Archivist. 

The Presentation of Our Lady

This painting depicts the Presentation of Mary in the temple.  It was painted by a Sister at the Motherhouse.  It is not in the Archives but it is on display in one of the parlours for all to see and admire.

 

We are deeply grateful to Sr Patricia Whittle and Wanita Bates for an unforgettable experience. Our afternoon with you was informative, interesting and enjoyable and we thank you most sincerely.  We wish you both a very Happy Presentation Day.  We know you will keep the lamp burning brightly.

 

A HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY TO ALL ST PATRICK'S STUDENTS, WHERE

EVER YOU MAY BE TODAY

REPORT CARD TIME!

I am very pleased that once again I am able to post pictures on the blog.  I don't know what the problem was but, thankfully, it seems to have been sorted out at last.  So here we are with some old report cards.   I hope you enjoy this post. 

 

 

Thanks to Betty Simms for the first three Report Cards.  They are a record of Betty's work in Kindergarten.  The school year was 1951-52 and the teacher was the wonderful Miss Margaret Murphy.  

Betty's Report Card for December 1951



Who's a clever girl then?

Good Bye Kindergarten!

For the next report card and certificate of promotion, I am indebted to Linda O'Brien Clarke.  I think these are lovely keepsakes to have, Linda, and I am very grateful to you for sharing them with us. 

Linda's Report Card

 

Congratulations, Linda


Thank you very much Betty and Linda.  These are priceless reminders of happy days at St Patrick's.  (Well, happy once the exams were over!)  If anyone else has any reports or certificates, please send them to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and share the memories.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE, AND BEYOND!

I have heard it said that in order to have a friend, one must be a friend.  If that is true, then Eileen Maher Hickey must have been a most excellent friend indeed!   I am happy to post the following article which I have received from Betty Simms.  I think it perfectly illustrates that ties of friendship can last a lifetime and longer.

 

"Some St Patrick's girls and friends of Eileen Hickey (nee Maher) gathered at Lucky's Restaurant on May 27th to honour Eileen on her Birthday.  Eileen, who passed away in April, always enjoyed going out to lunch with the girls."

 

Friends who gathered to honour the late Eileen Maher Hickey
on her Birthday

 

 

"The St Patrick's girls in the picture are Doreen Noseworthy (Walsh), Mary Kennedy, Maureen Sullivan, Betty Simms, Marina Grace, Bernadette Moyse (Grouchy), Alice Flynn (Hennessey), Jenny Finlay, Bernice Devereaux (Rose) and Bride Ryan (Colbert).  Dot and Nettie are long time friends of Eileen's."

 

Betty has sent us the Order of Service Sheet from Eileen's funeral.  It includes a beautiful and very touching poem written by Eileen's son, Martin.

 

 

Page 1, Order of Service. 
Note Martin's  touching poem.

 

 



Page 2. 

 

Page 3.  
Family and friends have all 
played a part in Eileen's Funeral

 

 

Page 4

 

 

Thank you, Betty, for sharing this with us.  We have lost a great friend in Eileen and we will miss her very much.  But, oh, the happy memories she has left us!  Rest in peace, dear Eileen, our friend for life, and beyond.

CHRISTMAS LONG AGO

FIGURE OF INFANT JESUS FROM ST PATRICK'S
CHURCH CRIB, CHRISTMAS 1948

 

Once again it is almost Christmas and I have a very special Christmas picture to post.  Some of you will have no recollection of the wonderful living Nativity scenes that were re-enacted at Midnight Mass in St Patrick's Church long ago. 

 

However, I have no doubt that many of us not only remember but have very fond memories of those Christmases of our childhood.   If my memory serves me correctly, the children from Kindergarten and grade 1  were chosen to play the parts of Mary, Joseph and the Angels.  At the beginning of Midnight Mass (and it actually was MIDNIGHT Mass in those days!) priests, altar boys, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and all the Heavenly Host processed into the church.  The crib was blessed and the Holy Babe lovingly placed in the waiting manger.  It was a simple yet beautiful and moving ceremony.  Despite the years and the miles between now and that very happy childhood experience, the memory of it still adds  a warm and happy feeling to my Christmas Mass.

 

Are you ready for this?  As promised, here is that very special picture.  It was taken at Christmas 1948 and in it we see Mary and the Heavenly Host.

 

 MARY, ANGELS AND INFANT JESUS - ST PATRICK'S CHURCH, CHRISTMAS 1948

 

 

FRONT ROW:   Carol Ann Maddigan, Constance Jackman, Judy Murphy, Bernice Everard, Judy Whiffen

 

BACK ROW:  Roseann Bulger, K Jardine, Catherine Simms, Peggy Bradbury

 

A very big "THANK YOU" to two wonderful St Patrick's girls, Cathy and Betty Simms, for this beautiful picture.   Cathy is the proud owner of the picture and Betty obtained the picture and Cathy's permission to post it here.  Thank you both for sharing it.  I think it will provide a very pleasant walk down Memory Lane for a lot of people this Christmas.

 

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO

ST PATRICK'S GIRLS AND BOYS

EVERYWHERE. 

MAY 2014 BE FILLED WITH MANY BLESSINGS FOR EACH AND

EVERY ONE OF YOU.

DRAWN FROM MEMORY

This post will bring back some memories for a lot of people.  I am posting a  sketch of St Patrick's Convent School, Deanery Avenue.  Many of us were pupils at this school, which was built as a memorial to the boys and men of St Patrick's Parish who gave their lives in WWI.     This beautiful drawing was done, from memory,  by a former pupil of St Patrick's, Kay Simms McCormack .

One of eleven children, Kay Simms was born in 1932 to Bill and Louise Simms, prominent and well respected members of St Patrick's Parish.  Many will recall the concerts at which the dancers and singers were accompanied on the piano by Mrs  Simms.  In the 1930s and 1940s Kay and her three sisters, Dot, Betty and Jennie, all attended St Patrick's Convent School.  One of Kay's brothers, Ray, also attended St Patrick's where he took Commercial.  It seems the norm that friendships forged as children at St Patrick's last a lifetime. Kay is no exception as she still cherishes the friendships and keeps in contact with some of her school friends. 

A SKETCH OF THE DEANERY AVENUE SCHOOL,
DONE FROM MEMORY BY KAY McCORMACK

Kay loves to sketch but her niece, Betty Simms,  tells me that she is also a very talented painter.  For this lovely additiion to our School Blog I am very grateful to my good friend Betty Simms and to her amazing Aunt, Kay Simms McCormack.  Long may you continue to paint and sketch, Kay, and we would be delighted to see more of your work.  Thanks very much and may God bless you.