KIWANIS MUSIC FESTIVAL, 1956

I think we have a real treasure of a photo here today and it is all thanks to Cathy Simms Healy and Betty Simms.  Cathy is the owner of the prized photo and she passed it on to Betty who then passed it on to us.  Cathy has also given us names, year and event!

The year was 1956 and the event was the prestigious Kiwanis Music Festival.  The girls are all decked out in their special attire, which was probably commissioned for the occasion. This St Patrick’s Convent School choir was under the direction of Sr M Carmelita Meaney PBVM.

The girls are,

Back, L-R:  Norah Brazil, Joan Galway, Patricia Power, Frances Jackman, Patricia Farrel, Marge McGrath, Eleanor O’Reilly, Catherine Whalen, Marina Sorenson, Betty Wilson, Eileen O’Brien, Joanne Ashley

Row 3:  Alice Tobin, Barb Morrissey, ?, Patricia Walsh, Barbara Stone, ?, Patricia Browne, Irene Grant, Joan Alyward, Sheila Squires, Margie Sorenson, Bernice Corbett

Row 2:  Brenda Whalen, Jessie Murphy, Shirley Mahoney, Carol Bennett, Bernice Everard, Patricia Reardon, Frances Hennessey, Madonna O’Neill, Judy Whiffen, Roseann Bulger, Lucy O’Keefe, Rosalie Follett, Ada Mercer

Row 1:  Josephine Mahoney, Catherine Simms, Patricia Moore, Judy Murphy, Catherine Martin, Peggy O’Toole, Barbara Walsh, Noreen Carter, Patricia O’Leary

A very big Thank You to Cathy for sharing this wonderful memory with us.  Thanks also to my dear friend Betty for passing it on to us.  Thank you both for your continued support for this blog.  

CHRISTMAS LONG AGO

FIGURE OF INFANT JESUS FROM ST PATRICK'S
CHURCH CRIB, CHRISTMAS 1948

 

Once again it is almost Christmas and I have a very special Christmas picture to post.  Some of you will have no recollection of the wonderful living Nativity scenes that were re-enacted at Midnight Mass in St Patrick's Church long ago. 

 

However, I have no doubt that many of us not only remember but have very fond memories of those Christmases of our childhood.   If my memory serves me correctly, the children from Kindergarten and grade 1  were chosen to play the parts of Mary, Joseph and the Angels.  At the beginning of Midnight Mass (and it actually was MIDNIGHT Mass in those days!) priests, altar boys, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and all the Heavenly Host processed into the church.  The crib was blessed and the Holy Babe lovingly placed in the waiting manger.  It was a simple yet beautiful and moving ceremony.  Despite the years and the miles between now and that very happy childhood experience, the memory of it still adds  a warm and happy feeling to my Christmas Mass.

 

Are you ready for this?  As promised, here is that very special picture.  It was taken at Christmas 1948 and in it we see Mary and the Heavenly Host.

 

 MARY, ANGELS AND INFANT JESUS - ST PATRICK'S CHURCH, CHRISTMAS 1948

 

 

FRONT ROW:   Carol Ann Maddigan, Constance Jackman, Judy Murphy, Bernice Everard, Judy Whiffen

 

BACK ROW:  Roseann Bulger, K Jardine, Catherine Simms, Peggy Bradbury

 

A very big "THANK YOU" to two wonderful St Patrick's girls, Cathy and Betty Simms, for this beautiful picture.   Cathy is the proud owner of the picture and Betty obtained the picture and Cathy's permission to post it here.  Thank you both for sharing it.  I think it will provide a very pleasant walk down Memory Lane for a lot of people this Christmas.

 

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO

ST PATRICK'S GIRLS AND BOYS

EVERYWHERE. 

MAY 2014 BE FILLED WITH MANY BLESSINGS FOR EACH AND

EVERY ONE OF YOU.