TOGETHER AGAIN!

Those St Patrick's girls are at it again!  Coming home, getting together with old friends and generally having a great time.  And how absolutely wonderful it all is!

 

Pat  HURLEY McDonald has sent me  photographs of a recent happy reunion.  Pat tells me that Cathy HEARN Green was home from Ottawa and a group of her school friends got together on 15th September for  lunch at Papa's Pier 17.  Pat said that a great time was had by all & I have no trouble believing that.  I bet excited chatter and laughter topped the menu that day!

It seems someone has brought old snaps.

 

We'll get around to looking at the menu eventually!

So much to say and so little time to say it!

Eating finished (maybe) but still lots of
chatting and laughing left!

You all look great!  When is the next get together?

The ladies in the group photo are:

Left to right: Pat Hurley McDonald, Lila Mercer Young, Cathy Tobin Healy, Judy Comerford Newton, Cynthia Murphy Downey, Nancy Stanley Cook, Maureen Walsh Carter, Betty Hamlyn, Mary Hamlyn Holloway and Cathy Hearn Greene.

 

Thanks for sharing this, Pat.  Judging by all the smiling faces, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the next reunion isn't already in the planning stages.   

ST PATRICK'S GIRLS AND BOYS!

HELEN GOULDING has sent us two lovely photographs from 1967 and 1968.  Helen, who finished at St Patrick's in 1976, said that the children in these photographs were just six or seven years old. 

 

This first photo is of Helen's Grade 1 Class, 1967.   At one time, boys attended St Patrick's before moving on to Holy Cross.  I am very pleased with this picture because it  is the very first one that I have received which has boys on it.  Can anyone give us a name or two?  Also, who is the Sister?  Love the modified habit!  Believe it or not, some people thought it pretty daring.  I suppose it was quite a big change from the previous one that covered everything but face and hands.  Anyway, I love this picture and I really hope that some of you will be able to identify the Nun and the children.

Grade 1 Girls and BOYS, 1967

 

Here we have another picture of the Rhythm Band at the 1968 Graduation.  Aren't they just the cutest musicians you have ever seen?  I am hoping for some names here too, please.

 

You all look very smart in your red capes and hats!

 

I am always very grateful to receive photographs and/or stories from St Patrick's pupils, girls or boys.  I hope some boys will now be encouraged to allow us to have a peek at their old school pictures.  We really would LOVE to hear from the men out there who are former St Patrick's pupils!

 

Helen, if you come across anything else you would like to share here, we would be delighted to post it. Thank you for sharing your beautiful pictures with us.

GRADUATION 1968

For these two beautiful pictures I am indebted to Pam Rumboldt.  When I say "indebted" I really mean "indebted"!  Pam had to make several attempts at sending them because, for some unexplained reason, I could not open the pictures.  However,  Pam was very patient and her persistence paid off.  We were rewarded with these two wonderful pictures of St Patrick's Graduation Class of 1968.  Aren't they just the cutest little graduates you have ever seen?  (LEFT CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE THEM.)

PAM IS IN THE SECOND ROW, 7th LEFT. 
LOVE THE UNIFORMS!

In the Graduation Class Photo, Pam is in the second row, 7th from the left.  You will also find Pam in the Rhythm Band photo, back row 5th right.  If anyone can name others in these pictures, we would be happy to hear from you.

PAM IS IN THE BACK ROW, 5th RIGHT.
WHO ELSE DO YOU KNOW HERE?

Pam, any other pictures, stories or memories of your time at St Patrick's would also be very welcome.  Thank you for all your efforts. We are so glad that you didn't give up! 



THE GRADUATES

Enid Stanford O'Brien  shared this beautiful picture with us.  Any of you who went to Holy Heart will recognize the "Cor Unum" visible on the corkboard as part of the motto of Holy Heart of Mary High School.  Who remembers the whole Latin motto and its English translation?

Elizabeth, Patricia, Barbara, Betty, Enid

This was indeed a very special occasion.   I will let Enid tell the story of the picture and the lovely young ladies.

"It was taken on graduation night at HHM Regional High School just before we went to the auditorium to get our diplomas. We all went to St. Patrick's (except Betty O'Leary) from Kindergarten until we graduated. 

 

They are as follows L-R: Elizabeth Roche, Patricia Squires, Barbara Singleton, Betty O'Leary and myself.  This picture would have been taken in 1962."

 

In those early days of Regional High Schools,  you graduated from Grade 8 at St Patrick's then went on to High School at Holy Heart of Mary to complete your education.  

 

Many thanks, Enid, for this post and for all the help you give us with this blog.  If anyone else out there has anything they would like to share, please send to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and we will be delighted to post it here.

 

Oh, by the way, the motto was "Cor Unum Inter Nos" and its English translation is "One Heart Among Us".  I am sure we all remember that!   

ST PATRICK'S GIRLS ALL!

This is a very special post which I would like to dedicate to a friend and classmate, Geraldine Hearn Fitzgerald.  Gerri recently passed away and her sister, Carmelita, has given us this photo to post. 

Mary Butler Hearn with two of her three devoted daughters

The picture was taken at the 1987 St Patrick's School Reunion.  It is a beautiful picture of a mother and two of her daughters.  St Patrick's Girls all! 

 

The eldest daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Butler, Mary Frances Butler was born in 1914.  She was educated at St Patrick's Convent School and, after High School, Mary completed a commercial course.  In 1943 she married Raymond Hearn and they raised six children in a loving, caring home. 

 

Mary's daughters also attended St Patrick's Convent and Mary and her daughters joined old friends and classmates at the 1987 St Patrick's School Reunion.  The photo shows Mary between two of her devoted daughters, Gerri and Carmelita.  

 

 

Mary passed away in 2005 and, sadly, Gerri passed away on 16 August 2014.   May they both rest in the peace of their Lord whom they loved.

 

Many thanks, Carmelita, for sharing this lovely photo with us.  I am certain that it will bring back very happy memories for so many St Patrick's girls who knew your dear mother and sister.    



TOGETHER AGAIN

Another group of long-time friends recently met up to enjoy one another's company and reminisce about their school days at St Patrick's.  Again, I am grateful to Pat Hurley McDonald for the information & the photographs.   Keep the news and the pictures coming, ladies.  We all enjoy hearing where you are and what you are up to these days. 

 

This is what Pat told us:

"Janet (McGrath) Crane was home for a visit & a few of us who started school together got together at Poppa's Pier 17 in Churchill Square. A great way to see former schoolmates & catch up on their lives.

Those who attended were:

Mary Johnson, Janet McGrath, Maureen O'Brien, Pat Hurley, Kay Johnson, Bernadette Grouchy, Judy Comerford, Carmel Hayes and Cynthia Murphy."

 

Mary, Janet, Maureen, Kay, Bernadette, Judy,
Carmel, Pat, Cynthia



Mary Johnson, Janet McGrath, Maureen O'Brien, Kay Johnson, Bernadette Grouchy, Judy Comerford, Carmel Hayes, Pat Hurley, Cynthia Murphy

Judy, Maureen, Carmel, Bernadette, Janet, Cynthia,
Mary, Kay  (Pat must be the photographer this time)

It is really nice to see all of you again, even if it is just in pictures, and I hope we will hear lots more from all of you.  Current news and past memories are greatly appreciated.  Thanks again Pat for sharing this happpy meeting of friends.

MISS MURPHY'S LAST CLASS, JUNE 1964

Mary Elaine (Walsh) Barrett attended St Patrick’s from September 1963 to June 1972, Grades 1-9.  School life began for Mary Elaine in September 1963 at St Patrick’s on Deanery Avenue where she did Grade 1 and Grade 2.  Grade 3 brought a move to the newer building on Patrick Street and, having completed Grade 9, Mary Elaine graduated from St Patrick’s in June 1972.  

This treasure of a photo comes courtesy of Mary Elaine and I think it will awaken some memories for a lot of people.  The picture is of the legendary Miss Margaret Murphy and her last Grade 1 Class at St Patrick’s.  It was taken at the June Concert in 1964.

The Legendary Miss Margaret Murphy with her  Last Class,
June 1964

Mary Elaine has identified most of the girls in the photo. 

LEFT SIDE:

FRONT ROW: ?, Sharon Downey,  ?,  ?,  ?.

2ND ROW: Cathy Auchinleck, ?, Ann Marie Galway, Michelle Squires, ?, Ann Marie Fitzpatrick, Michelle Evans.

3RD ROW: Mary Ann Dawe, Janie Simms, Beverly Holden, Janet Jardine, Suzanne Power, Linda Curtis.

RIGHT SIDE: 

FRONT ROW : ?, Gina Kielly, ?, ?, Regina Power, Madonna Bruce.

2nd row: Mary Elaine Walsh, Yvonne Hamlyn, Sheila Handrigan, Susan Holloway, ?, ?, ?, Janet Lawlor.

3RD ROW: Lorraine Taylor, Brenda Shapter, Elaine OBrien, ?, Sharon Fitzpatrick.

 

Mary Elaine said; “I think the first girl in the front row on the left is Debbie Crotty, also the 4th girl in the back row on the left may be Corrine Murphy”.

****I would like to add another name to the list. A comment from 'Anonymous' identifies the 4th girl in the front row on the right as Carol Ann Thomas. Thanks for your help 'Anonymous'.

The sash which Miss Murphy is wearing around her neck has the names of all the girls in the class.  The sash and flowers were presented to Miss Murphy by Michelle Evans and Mary Elaine Walsh on behalf of the class.  Does anyone know where that wonderful sash is now?

Mary Elaine has sent a copy of the concert program too.  I am sorry I can't reproduce it any better.  I hope you can read it because it is another gem from the past.

 

The Concert Program

 

Mary Elaine, I have certainly enjoyed this jaunt down Memory Lane and I am very grateful to you for sharing your photographs and memories with us.  I think a lot of others out there will feel the same.  Thank you so very much!

"THE WAR TO END ALL WARS"

The Plaque which was on the Deanery Avenue School

Since this is Memorial Day in Newfoundland, I thought this was a good photo to post here.  As children when we were filing in & out of the doors of St Patrick's on Deanery Ave we probably took no notice of the plaque on the side of the door.

 

The plaque indicated that the school, our school, was built as a memorial to the men & boys of St Patrick's Parish who gave their all in the mud and the blood and the gas and the unspeakable horror of "the war to end all wars"! 

 

Now we can appreciate just what those young men of our Parish sacrificed.  Today, on the Anniversary of Beaumont Hamel, where so many young men were killed or maimed, let us remember those who came before us, those who died & those who grieved for them.  Let's also remember just what this plaque & the school to which it was attached meant to that generation.

 

May they all rest in peace and, please God, may we all live in peace. 

 

"BETTER THAN THE BEST"

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.

IN THE LIBRARY WITH SR REDEMPTA

We have two interesting pictures today.   Both pictures were taken in the Library at St Patrick's Convent School.  Sr Redempta O'Brien was the Librarian and she is in both pictures.  WHO ARE THE GIRLS IN THE FIRST PICTURE?

 

Sr Redempta O'Brien and some
happy looking girls in the Library

 

 

 

This first photo comes from Presentation Archives.  The details are scant but we know it is Sr Redempta O'Brien, who was Librarian at St Patrick's for much of the 1970s & early 1980s.  We also know the picture was taken in the Library.  Did Sr Redempta conduct classes in the Library or was this some sort of special project?  Do you have any information about this photo?  Do you know anyone here?  Please get in touch with us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com if you can tell us anything about this photo.  (The uniforms have certainly improved since the 1950s!)

 

This second photo is from the 1979 Yearbook and we are fortunate  to have the names of the girls who, according to the Yearbook, are Library Aides.

 

Sr Redempta and Library Aides

 

 

 

SEATED L-R: 

L Maher, B Ducey, E Thomas, B Carew, R A Gillingham, H Gushue, E Efford

 

STANDING L-R:

C Flynn, M Moores, L Hickey, K Noftall, N Mulrooney, P Carew, C A Carroll, C Ryan, S Francis, Sr Mary Redempta

 

I hope the two pictures bring back some good memories for you.  Don't forget, we LOVE to have your comments and recollections so if you are in the pictures, if you know anyone in the pictures or if you have any memories, experiences or anecdotes to relate about Sr Redempta and the Library, please send them along to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and let us all enjoy the nostalgia.

FORTY YEAR REUNION, 1974-2014

 

Donna Constantine Walsh has sent us details of a "Small but sweet gathering of some of the 1974 St Patrick's Grade Nine Graduates". 

 

This month marks the 40th anniversary of their Graduation so, on 1st June 2014, the group of classmates got together at the Woodstock Colonial Inn on Topsail Road.  Old friendships were renewed and Donna  says that "Oh my God!" and "You haven't changed a bit!"  could be heard as classmates introduced themselves.

 

Donna also sent the great photo which we are very happy to post below.

 

FORTY YEARS LATER

 

 

 

BACK ROW (L-R)

Sharon Murphy, Christine Rossiter, Donna Constantine, Marilyn Maher, Cathy Bishop

 

FRONT ROW (L-R)

Terri Healy, Debbie Barron, Joanne Greene, Donna Simmonds, Karen Mugford, Judy Kavanagh, Barbara Holden, Collette Beaudoin, Marilyn Taylor, Gladys Layman, Cathy Foley, Janice Fagan, Ann O'Driscoll

 

A good time was had by all and Donna hopes that more people will be able to attend next year.  I am sure that Donna  speaks for all who attended when she says that thanks are due to Christine Rossiter Butler for organizing the event.   

 

 

 

Thanks Donna for sharing this happy gathering with us.  If anyone has other pictures or stories you would like to share, we would love to receive them and if you send them to mcallistersmith@gmail.com we will post them here on the blog and on the St Patrick's Convent School facebook page. 

LET'S TRY AGAIN!

This photo, from Presentation Archives, was posted here before.  Thanks to some of you, particularly Joan Fogarty, we were able to identify some of the girls in the photo.  We are re posting this photo in the hope that someone will be able to give us a few  more names and perhaps even supply a bit of information about it.  For instance, it would be interesting to find out the year and the occasion.  If you can help in anyway, please contact us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and  you will make us very happy.

A group from the 1950s. 
Who are they & what's the occasion?

Row 1: ?, Barbara Parsons, Yvonne Beck, ?, ?, ?

Row 2: Connie Jackman, ?, ?, Patricia Ann Roche, Sharon Horan

Row 3: Sheila Carew, ?, ?, Patricia McCarthy

These are the names we have so far.  Can you add more?   Do you know what the occasion was? 

MEMORIES OF HOLY CROSS SPORTS DAY

Once upon a time, June was the month in which Holy Cross Sports Day provided an exciting diversion for the boys at Holy Cross and for their sisters and friends at St Patrick's.  Craig McAllister has sent me some great pictures of one such Sports Day.  The first picture was taken as the boys marched along Water St, near the foot of Leslie St.  I was tempted to crop the picture but I thought it better to remind ourselves of how Water St at Leslie looked before progress set in!  The second picture shows the boys marching into Brother Egan field on Leslie St.   These great pictures were  taken either in 1959 or the early 1960s.  My thanks go to Craig for sharing them with us. 

 

Holy Cross Boys marching up Water St,
near the foot of Leslie St

 

Arrival at Brother Egan Field,
Holy Cross Sports Day

 

This third picture is one I found among my old photographs.  It was probably taken at the first Sports Day held in the new field on Leslie St.  That would have been in June 1959.  Time certainly does fly!

 

My brother, Shannon McAllister,
Holy Cross Sports Day, 1959
 

 

This final picture is also from my own photo collection.  I am sure many of you will remember Gerry Dawson for his prowess on the sports field.  If my memory serves me correctly, Gerry ran away with many trophies at previous Holy Cross Sports Days.  Reg Farrell, from St Lawrence, was known for his sporting achievements for his home town and for St Bon's College in St John's.

Gerry Dawson and Reg Farrell,
keeping in touch with Gerry's old School,
Holy Cross Sports Day June 1961

 

Are there any more H C Sports Day pictures out there?  If so, please send them to mcallistersmith@gmail.com and we would be very happy to post them.

GRADE 6, 1959/60 (REPOSTING WITH A NOTE FROM NOREEN CULLETON)

Today, 27th June 2017, I am re-posting this  with the addition of an email I received from Noreen Culleton Press. Noreen has come up with some more names plus an added bit of information which I didn't know. Here is Noreen's email.

"Hi Beth Anne,

My cousin’s son emailed me with the link to your blog, as he had seen my name in a class picture. Pat Hurley McDonald had posted a picture on May 10/14.

I was in Grade 4 in this picture. It was a Grade 5 class. There was a row of Grade fours, as there wasn't enough room in the Deanery Avenue School for all the Grade Fours. In the first row, I have Helena Turner as the 1st ?, Patsy Dinn as the 2nd ?, and Mary Healey as the 3rd ?.

In the 2nd Row, I don't have a name for the 1st ?. I have Catherine Sheehan instead of Patricia Penney. I don't know which one is correct. I have Stella Brazil for the 2nd?.

In the 3rd Row I have Bonnie Guy instead of Elizabeth Guy. I have a last name Grant for the 1st?. I have Maureen Healey for the 2nd ?. I have Elizabeth Pynn for the 3rd ?, and Patsy O'Keefe for the 4th ?. I have no name for the 5th?.

In the 4th row, I have Maureen Walsh instead of Sharon Walsh. I have no name for the 1st ?. I have Ellen Dobbin for the 2nd ?.

My name is Noreen(Culleton)Press.

Thanks,

Noreen"

This picture comes courtesy of Pat Hurley McDonald.  It is Pat's Grade 6 Class, 1959/60.  Pat has also identified many of the girls but a few names are missing.  If you can name any of the unidentified girls in this photo we would appreciate hearing from you with the names.  Oh, yes, the teacher's name was Sr Mary Immaculata.  Lots of corridor mopping that year girls? 

Grade 6, 1959/60

"Grade 6 – Sister Immaculata's Class probably 1959/60

I think the first person in this first row half cut out of the picture is Carmel Hayes

1^st Row L – R:  Rosemary Bishop,  ?,  Patricia Hurley, Catherine Sheehan, ?, Janet McGrath, Catherine Walsh, Noreen Culleton, ?.

2^nd Row:  Sheila Moriarty, ?, Elizabeth Guzzwell, Margaret McManus, Brenda Murphy, Ann Marie Cleary, Phyllis Reardon, Patricia Penney, ?, Diane Flynn, Elizabeth Finch, Maureen O'Brien.

3^rd Row:  Elizabeth Guy, Catherine Tobin, ?, Geraldine McDonald, Carol Ann Fowler, Margie Whitty,?, ?, Esther Scott, ?,?.

4^th Row:  Trudy Ashley, Sharon Griffen, Kay Johnson, Sharon Walsh, Nancy Stanley, Joan Roy, Diane Mulcahy, Sheelah Hurley, ?, Sheila Moyst, ?, ?, Sharon Perchard"

I am sorry, I was unable to make the photo any clearer.  Thank you Pat for sharing this photo.  I am always delighted to receive  photographs.

Thank you Noreen for taking the time to update us.  I find it very interesting that grade 4s and 5s shared a classroom. Although I was at St Patrick's at that time, I wasn't aware of the sharing.  Of course, thanks again to Pat Hurley McDonald for the original post.  I hope to hear from both of you again soon.  

SR MARY TERESITA MARTIN

Enid O'Brien has been a constant help to me with this blog and a wonderful source of material.  For today's post I am once again indebted to Enid as she very kindly supplied this picture and the relevant information.  Thank you once again, Enid.

 

Sr Teresita with her childhood friend

 

This is a picture of Sr Mary Teresita Martin P B V M.  The picture was taken when Sister was enjoying a visit home to Cape Broyle.  Also in the picture is Sister's childhood friend, Kathleen Hartery Murphy. 

 

The only child of Ned and Catherine Martin, Sr Teresita was born in Cape Broyle  in April 1914 and given the name Susannah.  When Susannah was just eight years old her beloved mother died. 

 

Eventually, Susannah Martin entered the Presentation Congregation in St John's.  Upon receiving her white veil, Susannah was given the name of Sr Mary Teresita.  Trained as a teacher, Sr Teresita taught in various Presentation Schools around the province, including St Patrick's Convent School in the west end of St John's.  Many former St Patrick's pupils will remember Sr Teresita as a very kind and gentle person with a sweet smile and a quite voice. 

 

Sr Mary Teresita Martin passed away on 1st April 1986 at the age of 72 and she is buried in the Presentation  Convent Cemetery, St John's.  Her dear friend, Kathleen, died on 30th September 2011 at the wonderful age of  98 years.

 

Enid  tells us that Kathleen's sister, Annie Hartery Hayes, was also a good friend of Sr Teresita and she named her daughter Teresita in honour of her friend.  Annie's granddaughter is also named Teresita.  I think it is safe to say that Sr Teresita's memory still lives in the hearts of grateful pupils and loyal friends. 

 

 

Sr Mary Teresita P B V M
1914 - 1986