FIRST COMMUNION 1911

This time of the year seems to be when, in Parishes all over the world, children are making their First Holy Communion  and receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  For this reason, I am going to do a couple of posts on that theme.

 

This post is, I think, very special and a really beautiful slice of our School and Parish history.  I hope you enjoy this 102 year old photo and, if you would like to share a  First Communion or Confirmation photo, certificate or story  on this blog, you would be most welcome to send it to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com

 

This is the First Communion picture and certificate of Mary Margaret Williams.  She was born in August 1900 in Petty Harbour.  When she was very young, her family moved to St John's and became parishioners of St Patrick's, Riverhead.  Mary, always know as May, attended the old St Patrick's Convent School on Convent Square.  Here she came to know such distinguished teachers as Mother De Sales Walsh and Mother Rose Reddy.  At that time, Mother Rose was a  Novice, still with her white veil. 

 

On 29th April 1911, May received her First Holy Communion.  The certificate states; "Mary Margaret Williams Baptised in the year 1900 received First Holy Communion in the church of St Patrick on the 29th of April 1911 and the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation in the same year".  She was 11 years old.

 

Mary Margaret Williams,
First Holy Communion, April 1911

 

 

First Communion and Confirmation Certificate
of Mary Margaret Williams,
St Patrick's Church, April 1911

 

SR COLUMBA'S BUDGIE



SR COLUMBA'S BUDGIE???




MARIE IN GRADE 5

 This lovely little gem comes from Marie O’Brien. I think this story is priceless and I am sure that those of you who shared a classroom with Sr Columba’s Budgie will love it too. Marie wrote:

“I lived on George St. and I was in Sr. Columba's Class. I don't have any pictures but I do have a lot of memories of the Sisters, including a budgie bird that Sr. Columba had in her class room and I used to have to buy the feed for it. I can't remember the Principal's name at the time and I am sure it will come to me, but Sr Columba would hide the receipts plus the feed whenever she came into the room. So funny! I always made sure I had receipts for anything I bought her.



SR COLUMBA



I also remember buying her black stockings from the Arcade. Those were the days! I was probably the poorest kid in the class and I never could figure out why she trusted me. lol.

I also have to add that Sr. Columba wanted me to take her name for my Confirmation and I did. My Mom just about had a fit and of course she wouldn't change it because she didn't want to offend her, but I am thinking she was also scared of the nuns back then, just like we were. This is the first time I have ever told anyone my Confirmation name. I wonder if anyone else reading this has the same name.

Regards,

Marie Burkhart (O’Brien)”

Marie later remembered that the Principal was Mother DeSales.

Marie, I too was given my Confirmation name by Sr Columba. However, I was a lot luckier than you were! Sr Columba gave me the name of Marie. That is a nice name so my Mom and I were both quite happy with that. I don’t know of anyone else with the name of Columba but they used to say that if you were Confirmed in Mother John’s class, she made everyone take either Mary or John! I don’t know if that is true or not but, knowing Mother John, it certainly has the ring of truth to it!

Thanks for getting in touch with these wonderful little anecdotes Marie. I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Anyone with photographs, stories, etc, to contribute can e-mail me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com