ST PATRICK'S DEANERY

This post has been prompted by an email and a photograph which we received several months ago from Enid O’Brien.  The photo is of St Patrick’s Deanery.  Enid thought that it might be of interest to former students and parishioners who are living away from home.  I quite agree with Enid!  Enid’s sister worked at the Deanery around 1955, operating the switchboard.  Her sister was still attending school and worked there after school and on weekends.  Enid observed that it is hard to believe that they would have been busy enough to need a switchboard operator.  Good point Enid!

 



Historic St Patrick's Deanery

It was the dream and the firm intention of Bishop John Thomas Mullock to establish at Riverhead in the west end of St John’s a fine Church to minister to the spiritual needs of the people of that area.  His Lordship determined that this Church would be dedicated to St Patrick, the Apostle of their “ancestral land”.  The Bishop recorded in his diary for 23^rd March 1852 that he had “Paid Mr Little £341 for land at Riverhead for church, schools, and a convent”.  On a rainy 17th September 1855, as part of the celebrations for the consecration of the Cathedral, the foundation stone for the new church was laid by Archbishop John Hughes of New York.

 

For various reasons, it was quite a few years before the actual construction of the church could begin.  So, in 1860, Bishop Mullock decided to build a temporary church until the more fitting edifice could be erected.  No time was lost in building the wooden church that would serve the Catholics of Riverhead for more than twenty years.  On Sunday, 9^th September 1860, the first St Patrick’s Church was dedicated to the glory of God.  This time the ceremonies were carried out in brilliant sunshine! 
 

This ‘temporary’ Church stood where St Patrick’s Deanery stands today and it served the people well until our beautiful and long awaited St Patrick’s Church was dedicated in August 1881.   St Patrick’s Deanery was erected in 1884. It is a Registered Heritage Structure.  To learn more about the  designation of St Patrick's Deanery, click here.

 

Our thanks go to Enid for once again providing us with material for an informative post about our St Patrick’s Parish.

TIME FOR ANOTHER HOLY CROSS PHOTO (EDITED POST!)

It is time to post another Holy Cross Class Photo and have I ever got a beauty for you!  It was sent to me by Dianne HAWLEY King and it belonged to her late brother, Roger, who passed away last December.  I think many of you will remember Dianne who lived on Water Street and then Sudbury St.  I am also pretty certain that quite a few of you will remember handsome Roger who was a real heart throb.  There were many 'heart throbs' at Holy Cross!  Here are just a few of them.

Another group of Holy Cross Heart Throbs!

***I am very pleased to edit this post because we have recently been given some more names of the boys in the photo.  Originally Dianne and I came up with a few names but Enid O'Brien has once again come to our rescue!  Enid and her friend, Jim Dodd, have been able to supply many more names for us. Jim, by the way, is one of the boys in this photograph. 

Here is the updated version:

 

FRONT ROW, L-R:

Jim Dodd, Bruce Jones, Pat Casey, Damien Ryan, Brian Moriarity, Donald Dinn and Paul Duggan

 

 

2nd ROW:

Jack Power, Hubert Dunne, Bud Gushue, Pat Power, John Dewling, Kevin Martin, Jerome Dinn

 

3rd ROW:

Mike Kelly, Gus McGrath, Pat Ryall, Roger Hawley, Brian Leonard, Andy Samuelson, Mike Power and Tom Fagan

 

4th ROW:

Cyril O'Leary,   Ed Shapter,  Bob Perchard, Don Murphy, Bill Neville, John Anderson and Bernard Sheehan

 

 

5th ROW:

Stuart Rose, Gus Samuelson, Alan Murphy, Dennis Coffey, Bill Hynes

 

6th ROW:

Leo Power, Pat Downey, Brian Philpott, Mike OKeefe, John Whelan and Tom Wakeham

 

We don't know the year this photo was taken nor do we know what grade it is.  We are hoping that someone out there can help us with that and also with any of the names that we don't yet have. 

***The previous paragraph is now redundant because, thanks to Gus Samuelson, we have all the names as well as the grade and year.  Gus informed us that this is a photo of the Grade 11 class of 1958.  Gus noted that  Jack, Pat and Leo Power are three brothers from Fort Amherst.  I rememebr them Gus.  Their father was the Lighthouse Keeper at Fort Amherst. 

 

Thanks Dianne.  This is a great picture and if you come across any more pictures of Holy Cross or St Patrick's, please share them with us.  We all get a lot of pleasure from seeing old friends and classmates.   To Jim Dodd, a very big thank you for you help. Thanks also to  Enid O'Brien who is always helpful!   Last, but by no means least, thank you very much Gus Samuelson.  Whatever would I do without you all?

MISS MURPHY'S KINDERGARTEN, 1950/51

For this beauty, I owe sincere thanks to Enid O'Brien. Enid has a rich source of material which she generously shares with this blog. As well as this photo, Enid has also supplied most of the names. If anyone out there is able to add any more names or, indeed, add any information about the photo, where it was taken or ANYTHING AT ALL, Enid & I would be delighted and grateful.

Miss Murphy's Kindergarten Class, 1950/51

Enid wrote;

"I have attached a picture of Miss Murphy's Kindergarten Class 1950/51. It is unbelievable that she could teach so many children without a helper(at least I don't remember one). Also, I think Kindergarten was a full day.

Below you will find a list of names. There are some omissions, a few girls I couldn't see their faces and if there are errors I am open to corrections. It is hard to remember everyone after 63 years."

Row 1. L-R: Paula Murphy, Barbara Crotty, Geraldine Reddy, Mary Reddy, Marie Perchard, Diane Edison, Gail Skinner, Geri Hearn, Carmelita Hearn, Pauline Reddy, Betty Finn, Maureen Shea, Marina Grace

Row 2. 1. Over Barbara Crotty’s shoulder ?, Norma Williams, ? Shirley Dooley’s sister, Shirley Dooley, Patsy Scott, #6 ? #7 ?, #8 ? , Patricia Morrissey, Francis Meaney, Patricia Squires, ? , Shirley/Sheila Power, Shirley Walsh

Row 3. Mary Hatfield (standing), Florence Furey (uniform), 3.?, Mary Neville, Sheila Pridham, Margaret Murphy, Mary Healey, Joan Picco, Joan or Marie Reddigan, Pauline Reddy, Frances Cousins, Joan Rumsey, Betty Healey, Elisabeth Roche, Joan Evans

Row 4. Betty Rodgers, Rosalie Stevenson, ? , Enid Stanford, Elizabeth White, Betty Holden, Libby Dillon, Theresa Brewer, Helen Westcott, Barbara Cleary, Trudy Hayes

You have done well to remember so many names, Enid.  And I agree, it must have been a daunting task to have to teach such a large group of children.   When I was in Kindergarten, we just went a half day.  I went in the morning as did my friend but her sister went in the afternoon.  Perhaps it was different other years.  Anyway Enid, I appreciate all your input and thank you again.  Let's hope we hear from some of the 'girls' on this beautiful picture.

TWENTY FIFTH REUNION

This is another post which I own to Enid O'Brien.  Enid is a treasure-house of pictures and stories concerning St Patrick's and I am greatly indebted to her for sharing them with us on this blog. 

 

I don't know exactly when this reunion took place but I would say it was sometime in the late 1970s.  If someone could enlighten me on the dates or give me any more information on the reunion, the girls, etc, I would be grateful.  You can e-mail me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com 

 

To make the picture and the names larger I have cropped the original into two separate pictures so here they are.  Another trip down memory lane, thanks to Enid.
 

THE GIRLS

 

THE NAMES  (click on the pictures to enlarge them.)