ON THIS DAY

It was on this day, the Feast of St Matthew, 21 September 1833,  the Brig Ariel arrived in St John's.  Under the watchful eye of Master Mariner William Staunton, the Ariel was carrying some very special and history making passengers. Four Presentation Sisters (PBVM) from the Galway Convent were on board.  When they set foot on Newfoundland soil, the four Sisters made history as the first English speaking Sisters in Canada.  They would also establish the first Presentation Convent outside of Ireland. Therefore, Sister Bernard Kirwan, who was in charge of the Sisters, became the founder of the Presentation Congregation in North America.  Lots of history made on the Feast of St Matthew, 21 September 1833.

Story - Forget-me-not - The Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel - Learning Modules - Information for Educators - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada

Story - Forget-me-not - The Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel - Learning Modules - Information for Educators - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada

THAT AMAZING GROUP AGAIN!

 That amazing group of friends have been celebrating again.  Joan Reynolds Fogarty has sent a couple of photos of their latest get together, this time at Pop's Diner.  These St Patrick's girls have been together since Kindergarten and have been through all the joys and sorrows of life together. What a wonderful example of loyalty and friendship!   

Celebrating at Pop's Diner

It was also a great opportunity to celebrate the Birthday of one of the friends, Catherine Corbett Stanley.  

Happy Birthday Catherine

Happy Birthday Catherine and to all you beautiful ladies, keeping on meeting and enjoying the pleasure of lifelong friendship.  May God, and St Patrick of course, bless you all.

Thanks again Joan for the photos and the news.  I am grateful to you for all the support you have given to me and to this blog over the years.

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 14, SPORT

We continue to remember our St Patrick's Convent Schools although this year, 2024, marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the closing of the last St Patrick's School in the west end. Today I am reposting photographs of the various sporting teams and their achievements over the years.  The photos have all been shared by former pupils.  I hope you enjoy this post and the others that have been posted.

SPC Basketball Team, 1955/56 ( Enid Stanford O'Brien)

1966  Kindergarten Uniform, size XX Small,
1972 Gym Shirt size Medium (Linda Withers)

Cheerleaders, 1989/90 (Wendy Power)

Two St Patrick's Cheerleaders 1989/90 (Wendy Power)

1978 Champs (Norma Peddle Bulger)

Read about the 1978 Champs (Norma Peddle Bulger)

1975 Champs (Norma Peddle Bulger)

1983/84 Volleyball, Gym Teacher Sharon Martin,
Mrs Anne Pennell (Kim Bartlett-Doyle)

From 1979 yearbook

St Patrick's Basketball Team 1978/79 (Mrs Wade, coach)

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 13, ON TO HOLY HEART OF MARY

Many St Patrick's girls graduated from St Patrick's then moved on to Holy Heart of Mary to complete their education.  Therefore, a reposting of submitted photos relating to those High School days seems like a good idea.  Here goes!

Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School

Brown and White Shoes and $4.50 a pair!

Teachers and pupils enjoying lunch time fun

St Patrick's Girls Elizabeth, Patricia, Barbara, (friend Betty)
and Edith graduate from Holy Heart of Mary

A peek inside a classroom with Sr M Reginald

Holy Heart Year Book 78/79

St Patrick's girls celebrate at their 40th HHM Reunion in 2018

Mug with English translation of Latin motto, 
"Cor Unum Inter Nos"

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 12, DEFINITELY OLDIES!

Today I have some definitely oldies!  It is a long time since this uniform was worn. Again, it is a random selection of photos that have been submitted over the years.  If you  are in any of these photos you are, like me, not 21 anymore 😉. 

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO11, MORE REUNIONS!

It seems St Patrick's girls have this strange little quirk.  They just can't stay apart!   That's definitely a beautiful little quirk to have. Here they are again, various groups meeting up over the years in happy get togethers.  Well done ladies!  Lets keep the reunions going and enjoy one another as long as possible.  

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 10, ALL ABOUT MAY

The month of May held many customs and traditions.  Some are still observed, some have dwindled considerably and others have completely disappeared.  One which I am pretty sure disappeared with the closure of our Catholic Schools is the wearing of the blue ribbon and medal in honour of Our Lady. Oh, and May Altars.  Remember those lovely May Altars in classrooms and even in some of our homes? 

Another tradition was the daily recitation of the Rosary.  When the Virgin Mary appeared to the three children at Fatima in 1917, she asked that the Rosary be prayed daily.  

Of course there was that wonderful and still continuing tradition of getting away for the 24th weekend!  Up to the cabin or to a favourite fishing spot for a revitalizing breath of fresh air - never mind that it could very well snow!  That didn't diminish the pleasure of the 24th weekend one iota.

The St Patrick's Girls went off for the weekend too. Lawrence Pond or Seal Cove, anywhere at all, they were together and they enjoyed themselves!

Audrey Dawe-Sheppard reminded me of the beautiful May Crownings that were such a part of our young lives.  We sang some very lovely hymns and one of my favourites was this one, sung here by Emmett Cahill.

https://youtu.be/PxFux66sLWo?si=mpKpPXzDTLerdjED

I hope you will enjoy this little look back at the month of May.  If you have any memories, stories or pictures of May, Mary's month. please share them with us.  You can send them to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

🌷🌻🌷🌻🌞⛅⛈🌂🌈⛄☔🌷🌸🌹🌻🌼🌹

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 9, SOME OF OUR TEACHERS

Once again, I remind you that these pictures are not from twenty five years ago. They are a selection of submitted photos that were previously posted on the St Patrick's School Blog.  I am reposting them to commemorate the TWENTY FIVE YEARS that have passed since the last St Patrick's Convent School closed, in June 1999. It is another trip down Memory Lane.  I hope you remember someone here.

Sr M Columba, Mother Rose, and Sr Columba's Budgie

Sr M Brendan and Miss E Lawton

Miss Fagan and Miss Howard (Mrs Lee)

Faculty 1978/79

Sr M Luke

Sr Marie Furey and Sr Mark

Sr M Teresita