SO SAD TO SEE YOU GO!

We are all so sad to hear of the closure of St Patrick’s Convent.     It has been an integral part of life in the West End for 160 years.  As former   pupils of the    School,     it has had a profound influence on our lives.    We will miss   the   presence   of   the  Sisters  in   St Patrick’s   Parish   but   the  memories    will remain. 

Eleanor Dalton has shared some treasured photographs and memories with us.  

The main entrance to St Patrick's Convent as it is today

Eleanor said: 

“I’M SO SAD THAT THE CONVENT IS CLOSING.  HERE ARE A COUPLE OF PICTURES OF THE CONVENT’S MAIN ENTRANCE IN 1948 AND TODAY.  MY GREAT AUNT IS HOLDING ME.  I’M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I’M A ST PATRICK’S GIRL AND ALSO THAT THERE IS SO MUCH FAMILY HISTORY WITH THE CONVENT.  MY PARENTS WERE MARRIED IN THE CONVENT CHAPEL IN 1941.”

Eleanor being held by her great aunt, Sr M Josephine Halleran, outside the main entrance to St Patrick's Convent, 1948.
Who are the other Sisters?

Eleanor's great aunt, Sr M Josephine Halleran, was her mother's aunt.  Sr Josephine and her sister, Sr M Agnes Halleran, were long standing and well loved members of St Patrick's Convent community and they now rest side by side in the little cemetery there.

The graves of Eleanor's great aunts in
St Patrick's Convent Cemetery

Eleanor, we are very grateful to you for sharing with us and we look forward to hearing more from you.   

We would very much like to hear from anyone with photos, memories or any connection with St Patrick’s Convent so, please, rifle your drawers, albums, cupboards, and anywhere else that you have stashed away the old photos and memories.  When you have dug them out, please share them with us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

THE FRIENDSHIPS ENDURE!

C B C has just given us the very sad news that St Patrick’s Convent will soon be no more.  After 160 years in the West End, the good Sisters will finally close the doors and leave what has long been a beacon of education and good works.  We are very sad at their going and we will remember them for many things.  We owe them a great debt and thank the Presentation Sisters, past and present, who have contributed so much to our community and to our lives. 

BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S CONVENT, CONVENT SQUARE

We have carried through our lives many gifts gained from our days at St Patrick’s.  One of the most beautiful of those gifts is the precious gift of lasting friendships which we still treasure from our school days. 

Joan Reynolds Fogarty has sent us this lovely photograph of five St Patrick’s Convent classmates. The classmates are Yvonne Stephenson Meissner, Margie Miller Ryan, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Rosemary Ashley Healy and, of course, Joan.

SCHOOL FRIENDS ROSEMARY, YVONNE, MARGIE,
JOAN AND KATHLEEN

Joan informed us that Yvonne lives in Ontario but she and her husband spend several months every year at their beautiful home by the ocean in Pouch Cove.  It is a wonderful opportunity for meeting up with old friends too and every year the friends do just that.  This year the ladies got together for dinner at Joan’s house. 

Joan closed her email with this touching remark, “Still connected after almost 70 years”.  That truly is the beautiful gift of friendship!  Thank you Joan for sharing it with us and may you and your school friends enjoy that special bond for many, many years to come.