CALLING ALL H H M GIRLS, CLASS OF 1967

"COR UNUM INTER NOS"

I have had an e-mail from Terri (Kelly) Morris.  Terri is trying to contact the HOLY HEART OF MARY CLASS of 1967 .  If you, or anyone you know, went to Holy Heart of Mary and graduated in 1967 Terri would like you to contact her at dtmor@pei.sympatico.ca  It looks like there is a reunion in the planning so don't waste another minute - get those e-mails off to Terri NOW!

THREE SISTERS FROM TREPASSEY

For this beautiful Family photo I am indebted to Eleanor Dalton.  A little while ago I posted a picture of my mother and her friend, Sr Josephine.  (LINK HERE)  Sr Josephine spent many years at St Patrick's and, although I never knew her myself, I know that she was a popular and well loved member of the community.  I was very pleasantly surprised when Eleanor contacted me to say that Sr Josephine was her great-aunt.  (LINK HERE)  Sr Josephine and her sister, Sr Agnes, were on the photo that I posted.   Eleanor informed me that there was a third Halleran sister who was a Presentation Sister and she promised to send me a picture of the three sisters.  True to her promise, Eleanor has sent me this wonderful picture. 

THE HALLERAN SISTERS FROM TREPASSEY

"The photo is of the three Halleran sisters, Srs. M Agnes, M Josephine and M Zita, (don't know the order of the girls). In the middle of the Sisters is their nephew Fr. Tom Halleran, and Mercy Sister in the second row is their niece my mother's sister Sr. M. Andrea Sutton.  I don't know who the other two Sisters are but would guess that they are also from Trepassey, as the photo was taken in Trepassey."

I don't suppose anyone reading this actually knew Sr Josephine but there is a chance that you have heard older members of your family speak of her. If so, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you very much Eleanor.  Let us know if you come up with anything else.

LINKS TO THIS POST

RAISING MONEY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL
GREAT AUNTS WHO WERE REALLY GREAT

MEMORIAL DAY IN NEWFOUNDLAND



THE FIGHTING NEWFOUNDLANDER

At Beaumont Hamel on 1^st July 1916 the Newfoundland Regiment was all but annihilated as they bravely went over the top only to be cut down in a hail of German fire.  General de Lisle, 29^th British Army Division said, “It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour, and its assault only failed of success because dead men can advance no further.”   It was two weeks before the tragic news reached St John’s.  Not a family on the Island was untouched by the news for everyone had lost a relative, a friend or a neighbour.   Not a family on the Island would ever forget!

Since 1917, 1^st July has been observed as Memorial Day in Newfoundland.  As a sign of remembrance, Newfoundlanders wore a spray of blue Forget-me-nots on Memorial Day.

These days, 1^st July is celebrated as Canada Day and Newfoundland observes both Canada Day and Memorial Day.  So on this Canada Day weekend, I wish all St Patrick’s girls a very happy Canada Day.  I also wish you a thoughtful and very proud Memorial Day!

It is fitting today to remember Thomas Nangle, who has a connection with Memorial Day and with  St Patrick’s Parish.  There is even a tenuous link  with Nano Nagle, the foundress of the Presentation Sisters. 

The name “Nangle” is a variant spelling of the name “Nagle”.   “Nagle” is of Norman Irish origin and, after the Norman invasion of Ireland, the Nagles were granted large tracts of land in Cork and in north Connacht.  The Cork branch of the family used the “Nagle” spelling and the Connacht branch the “Nangle” spelling.  (I did warn you that the link was tenuous!)  

PADRE THOMAS NANGLE

Thomas Nangle was born in St John’s on 5^th September 1889.  He was educated at St Bonaventure’s College and, in 1909, young Tom went to Ireland to  commence studies for the priesthood.  On 29^th June 1913, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Tom Nangle was ordained in St John’s by Archbishop Howley.  Father Nangle served in various parishes at Bell Island, Topsail and St John’s.  From 1914 to 1916 the people of St Patrick’s Parish enjoyed the ministrations of Fr Nangle.  St Patrick’s was his last parish for shortly after the debacle of Beaumont Hamel, Fr Nangle was off to join his fellow Newfoundlanders as the Catholic Chaplain to the Newfoundland Regiment.

Chaplains don’t carry arms but Padre Nangle was side by side with the men, tending to the wounded, burying the dead, and encouraging the battle weary.  The Padre’s commitment to the men of every religious persuasion made him a popular figure and he was chosen to do some recruiting while on leave in Newfoundland.  Fr Nangle served bravely and unstintingly throughout the remainder of the War.  After the War, Padre Nangle was involved with the identification and re-interment of the bodies of the Newfoundlanders who had died in battle.  He was also the driving force behind the erection of the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel.

This proud, patriotic and brave Newfoundlander, Thomas Nangle, died in Rhodesia on 4^th January 1972.  Padre Thomas Nangle and the men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment are worthy of remembrance every day, but especially today, 1^st July, Memorial Day in Newfoundland.

Some Memorial Day/Canada Day reading: