9TH JUNE, THE BIG DAY!

This post is to remind the school friends and classmates of Christine Rossiter Butler of the 6th Annual Gathering of grade 3 (1967-68) class and/or grade 9 Graduates of 1973-74.

Mrs Coady's Grade 3 Class, 1967-68

Here is Christine's email with details for you to note in your diary.

"This year's 6th annual gathering, 2019, will be Sunday, June 9th at Janice's summer cabin on Salmonier Line from 2 pm - 5 pm.

Mark your calendar! When we get closer to this date we can look at food, car pooling, directions, etc.  Debbie has already offered car pooling. Janice is also looking at renting a van.

At this time I'd like to get an idea of numbers attending and, of course, last minute is awesome and always welcomed!

Look forward to seeing you all!"

You can contact Christine on butlerchristine@nl.rogers.com.  

Have a wonderful time girls and don't forget to let us know all about your get together.  Some pictures would be nice  too.

If anyone else is planning a reunion or just meeting up with a schoolfriend for coffee, please share your meeting with us and send along a photo.  We are all interested in how our schoolmates are doing.  You can send any photos or stories to mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIP

If this group of ladies isn't the best example of enduring friendship, then I don't know who is!   In the 1990s, some years after graduation, this group of school friends began meeting up.  They meet three times a year, May, September and December.  Sadly, some of the classmates have died and their numbers are dwindling.  However, those who remain and are able, still get together in a happy celebration of friendship.

Joan Reynolds Fogarty is one of the friends and she keeps me up to date with their news, which we share here on the School Blog.  I owe Joan a great debt of gratitude because she helps and supports this Blog in many other ways. 

Here is Joan's news on the latest get together.  Nine of the approximately 15 or 16 who usually meet were able to attend on 15 May.  The venue was Mama Soula's on Torbay Road.  Joan sent along a photo of the party enjoying their meal.

Food and Friendship!

Left, nearest the camera;
Patricia Connolly Leonard, Mary Fitzgerald, Judy Fitzgerald Squires, Catherine Corbett Stanley, Joan Reynolds Fogarty.
Right, nearest the camera;
Eleanor Sears Vatcher, Mary Bulger Corcoran, Rita Kielley, Betty Fitzgerald Pye.

Again, I thank you, Joan.  To all of this amazing group, I wish you many, many more gatherings.  Friendship is such a very precious gift and you ladies certainly know how to preserve and celebrate it.  God bless you all.

TERI NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT

So many of us were classmates of the Healey girls from Brine Street.  Cindy Healey was 58 years old when she died in 2016.  She had been struck down by that cruel and relentless disease, ALS.  

Cindy Healey, 2015, in beautiful Fermeuse where the Healeys spent many happy holidays with relatives

Since Cindy's death, her younger sister, Teri Healey Evans, has worked like a Trojan  to raise funds to help eradicate the scourge of ALS.  Teri has sent a plea for help, which is posted below.  Please help Teri if you can.

"IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!!!

I made a promise to my sister Cindy (Healey, Brine St., St. Patrick's Girl) on her death bed as ALS was ravishing & destroying her body, that I would never stop trying to help find a cure for ALS . I am hoping that my friends will help me to fulfill that promise.

This year the 2019 Walk to End ALS is on

Date: June 9, 2019

Location: H.G.R. Mews Community Centre

Address: 40 Mundy Pond Road, St. John's

Time: 12:00 pm Check-in | 2:00 pm Start

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WALK WITH US I CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH A SPONSOR SHEET or IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR ME PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ANY AND ALL DONATIONS ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED.

LINK TO DONATE ONLINE: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=4471820&langPref=en-CA

E TRANSFER: burgawgirl@gmail.com

Or I can pick up your donation within St. John’s - Mt. Pearl

Please support my fund-raising efforts by donating toward my 2019 goal.

Support me now - we are stronger together!

Thanks again!" 

A TRIBUTE FROM ONE ST PATRICK'S GIRL TO ANOTHER

Today's post is a tribute to Mary Skinner, well know and well loved parishioner of St Patrick's Parish who died recently.  This heartfelt poem was written by Mary Lou (Louie) Mallard Tucker.  

Mary Skinner speaking at St Patrick's Convent  closing ceremony 

"Mary Skinner

A perfect tribute for a Christian life well lived

I shared with a church filled with people for her today,

Fr. Dohey, Fr. Pat, and two other    priests  

Celebrated this sad day in the Month of May.

Father Dohey did treasure Bill and Mary's friendship 

As they appeared to be the salt of the earth,

They certainly left their mark on the St Patrick's community 

Her parents and grandparents were there before her birth.

As May being the month of our precious Mother

Mary was a great mother figure through the years,

Being the outstanding mother to her wonderful family

Also House Mother to Nursing students, for whom she loved and cared.

Some of my siblings knew Mary’s family through singing and softball 

I'd see her at concerts and nod to her from time to time,

I would see her at the deanery with Regina when I’d drop by

She would smile at me while church events were on her mind.

My cousin Rose and Cathy J. were heartbroken for the family,

They had been singing with Mary's girls for years,

Both Rose and Cathy were away on holiday

As they both share the sadness, the cares and the tears.

Jesus smiled at your mother and took her by the hand,

He thanked her for her job so very well done,

Jesus told Mary you would be remembered as an angel

But to me you are my very special one." 

This is a lovely tribute from one St Patrick's girl to another.  Thank you very much, Louie, for sharing this touching  poem with us.  I am sure your thoughtfulness will be greatly appreciated by Mary's family and her many friends in St Patrick's Parish and beyond.

Mary Lou (Louie) Tucker Mallard

ANNIE FINLAY

At St Patrick's Convent, next to where the old Passage used to be, is the little cemetery where so many of our former teachers rest.  If you have ever stopped there to say a prayer for them, you probably noticed a headstone that was a bit different from all the others.  That would be the stone that marks the grave of Annie Finlay.  Why is Annie's stone different?  Who was Annie?

In Memory of Annie

I don't suppose there are many St Patrick's pupils who remember Annie now - just some of us older 'girls'.  At that time I was quite young  myself and I am not entirely certain that I ever actually met Annie. I know Annie was then resident at the Convent as she was frequently spoken of by the Sisters and also by my mother and aunts.

Annie Finlay was born on the beautiful Southern Shore, at either St Shotts or Trepassey, in November 1887. She wasn't a Sister but I think she was a relation of one of the Sisters at St Patrick's Convent.  Annie went to work there as a live in Domestic.  For many years Annie was a faithful member of the Convent family and she was well loved by the Sisters.  When she died on 3rd November 1953, Annie was laid to rest among the Sisters whom she had known and served for so many years.  

If you see Annie's headstone you will notice that it does not give her age at death.  The 1921 census gives her age at that time as 33. Assuming the census was conducted before November, this would correspond with a birthdate of 1887. So, as poor as my mathematical skills are, even I can work out that Annie would have been 66 years old when she died.  If anyone can add something to Annie's story, I would be very grateful if you shared with us.  You can send it to mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

I also came across an interesting item regarding St Patrick's Cemetery in the will of one of the Sisters, Sr M Patrick Wadden.  

Sr M Patrick (Ellen Wadden) was born in Ferns, Ireland, to Catherine and Nicholas Wadden.  She and two of her sisters joined the Presentation Community at St Patrick's Convent, Riverhead.  Her sisters were Sr M Gertrude and Sr M Aloysius.  Sr Patrick died at St Patrick's Convent on 8th March 1920.  She was 67 years old.

Sr Patrick'c Grave

It appears that Sr Patrick was the owner of a property on Water St.  The following is an extract from her will. 

"2nd.  All rights and titles held or possessed by me over that house and property situated on Water Street West, and at present occupied by Mr Thomas Wall, I will and bequeath to my sister Bridget Wadden (in Religion Sister Mary Aloysius) to be held by her as heretofore held by me, having always in view the obligations as well as the privileges of her Religious Vows.


3rd.  It is my wish that the sum of Forty Dollars ($40), be given annually out of the rents of said house, on Water Street, for Masses for the repose of the souls of the Sisters of St Patrick's Convent at present interred, or hereafter to be interred in the Cemetery attached to said Convent."

I don't know if it is possible to visit the Cemetery now that the Sisters have left St Patrick's but I sincerely hope it is.  It is important for relatives, friends and former pupils to have the freedom to pay respects at the graves of the Sisters who, over the years, contributed so much to the life of St John's West. 

May the souls of Annie Finlay, Sr M Patrick Wadden, and all who lie in that little cemetery rest in peace.