I don't know if it is a St Patrick's thing, a West End thing, or a Newfoundland thing in general but, whatever it is, it is a beautiful thing!

This group of ladies started Kindergarten together many years ago at St Patrick's Convent and they are still friends who meet up several times a year.  Over the years, they have shared life's ups and downs and remained steadfast friends and loyal St Patrick's girls.

This little group is also an important part of St Patrick's history. In 1958, they were part of the last class to complete Grade 11 at St Patrick's Convent School.  (After that, girls moved on to Holy Heart upon  completion of Grade 8.) Joan Fogarty tells me that their Graduation, with white cap and gown, was held at Holy Heart where some of the girls had enrolled in Business Education Classes.  

Joan Reynolds Fogarty has sent a photo of  the group taken a couple of days ago at their Christmas Tea at Joan's house.  The lovely ladies are L-R:  

FRIENDS FOREVER

Joan Ryan Cobb, Joan Connolly Alston. Rosemary Ashley Healy, Judy Fitzgerald Squires, Eleanor Sears Vatcher, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Mary Bulger Corcoran, Betty Fitzgerald Pye, Catherine Corbett Stanley, Brenda Casey Grouchy and hostess, Joan Reynolds Fogarty.

To each and every one of you I wish a very Merry Christmas and say may you continue for years to come with your celebration of friendship.

Thank you Joan for the photo and the information.  All the very best to you, your family and friends. 

RAY'S AMAZING PICTURES

A year or so ago Ray Simms sent me a couple of photos which I thought were just amazing.  Well, me being me (not a computer expert!), I managed to lose the photos somewhere in cyberspace.  It took me until now, and with the encouragement of my dear friend, Betty, who happens to be Ray's niece,  to pluck up courage to admit my loss to Ray and ask him to resend the photos.  The ever understanding and obliging Ray responded immediately.  So I am delighted to post Ray's photos today but first I must fill you in with a little of the background. 

Sr M Imelda taught Commercial at St Patrick's for many, many years.  Then when Holy Heart of Mary opened, Sr Imelda was transferred to that new High School.  She served there until her retirement to Presentation Mother House, Cathedral Square. Such was Sr Imelda's reputation among St John's firms, that she received requests from them for her graduates to fill their vacancies. 

Although in its early days, St Patrick's had taught boys and girls, in later years it became an all girls' school. However, many young men wished to avail of Sr Imelda's expert tutelage so, until sometime in the 1950s, Sister's classes were open to young men wishing to learn office skills. One of those young men was Ray Simms.

Ray has given us the names of the boys in this great photo. 

Sr Imelda's Commercial Class (click on the photo to enlarge)

L-R: Harry Farrell, Bob Kieley, Tom Finn, Francis Evans, Aiden McCarthy, Ray Simms

Ray has also promised to try to identify the young ladies in this photo, so, watch this space! 

Sr Imelda's Commercial Class (minus the boys)

Thank you Ray for these wonderful photos and for your patience with this not so great techie! If you would like to tell us about your days at St Patrick's with Sr Imelda, I would be more than happy to hear your story. Again, thanks for everything, stay safe, and God bless you and yours.

This next photo isn't one of Ray's.  As I don't have a picture of Sr Imelda, I am posting one of her resting place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Sr Imelda's grave in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery

40th REUNION, HOLY HEART OF MARY GRADUATES,1979

Holy Heart Yearbook, 1979

Paula Cowan-vineham has sent us an important notice for all St Patrick's Girls who graduated from Holy Heart of Mary in 1979.

The Old School Crest

There is a 40th Reunion coming up on 3rd - 5th August. Tickets are now on sale. For tickets and more information go to eventbrite.

Did you wear them in 1979?

It promises to be a great time so don't miss out and be sure to tell your friends who graduated with you.

Have a wonderful reunion ladies!

REST IN PEACE, SR MARY LUKE

Sr M Luke, taken at St Patrick's Convent, about 1962

 

“Passed peacefully away at Presentation Motherhouse, St. John's, on Friday, December 27, 2013, Sister Mary Luke, daughter of William and Mary Parsley of Harbour Main, aged 94 years. Predeceased by her sisters - Sister Mary Nano, PBVM, Sister Mary Mark, RSM, Catherine Ford and Ursula Kavanagh; her brothers Samuel, John, James, Edward and William. Left to mourn and celebrate her life are the Presentation Sisters, many devoted nephews and nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces. The wake will be held at Presentation Convent, Cathedral Square with visiting hours on Saturday, December 28th from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; on Sunday, December 29th from noon - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with a vigil at 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Monday, December 30 at 11:30 a.m. with interment at Presentation Cemetery, Cathedral Square.”

I am posting this notice, which appeared in today’s newspaper, because I think many of you will want to know the times of visitation and the time of the funeral.  I know that there will be a lot of people who will feel sad to hear this news but who will also feel very blessed to have known Sr Luke.

Sr Luke came to St Patrick’s Convent, St John’s, in 1959.  She taught Grade 8 for some years and eventually became Principal.  Sr Luke was an exceptional teacher and proved to be an excellent leader in the role of Principal.  She was loved and respected by pupils and staff alike. 

St Patrick’s girls will not be the only ones remembering Sr Luke today.  Nuns go where they are sent and so after many years at St Patrick’s Sr Luke moved on to other schools and parishes.  Such places as Cape St George, Trepassey & Holy Heart of Mary were graced with her gentle presence. 

So, on 27^th December, after a long and faithful life of service, Sr Mary Luke passed away at Presentation Motherhouse, Cathedral Square.  A true daughter of Nano Nagle, Sr Luke will be remembered with love and gratitude by those of us who have had the great privilege of knowing her.  For myself, I will certainly miss my visits with Sr Luke but I will always treasure the memory of them. 



Sr Mary Luke, 2009

"But they that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity"   Daniel 12:3

Rest in peace, Sr Mary Luke.

GRADE SIX, CIRCA 1950

Cindy Stone has sent me this lovely picture on behalf of her mother-in-law, Lillian Hynes Stone.  Lillian said that it is her grade six class picture and it was taken about 1950.  Lillian has also given us the names of the girls in the picture.  Notice that the girls are all wearing white tams.  Some are wearing or holding white gloves also.  Does anyone know if this was the full school uniform or would this have been a special occasion?  The only school hat I ever remember wearing  was that brown and blue beanie at Holy Heart so  I would appreciate anything you can tell me about the white tams and gloves.

GRADE SIX, CIRCA 1950

FRONT ROW, R-L:

B Mason, B Broderick, L Lavigne, J Murphy, F Murphy, H O'Brien, M O'Brien

SECOND ROW:

C Dwyer, A Cahill, B Curvin, C Dawe, M O'Brien, S Howell, F Cook, A Green, J Connolly, C Walsh, A Kavanagh, M Lou Ryan, H Doran

THIRD ROW:

J Snow, C Breene, H Hearn, D Ryan, M McDonald, M Voisey, R Whelan, L Hynes, N Collins, M Antle, J Kilfoy

FOURTH ROW: 

M O'Brien, B Nugent, T Robinson, G Adams, C Nolan, C Hearn, M Crane, C Whelan, M Healey 

Lillian, thank you very much for sharing this  picture with us.  Please know that your support is greatly appreciated.   Thanks also to Cindy for sending the picture.

*A LITTLE REMINDER:  IF YOU CLICK ON THE PICTURES, MOST OF THEM WILL ENLARGE.

COMMERCIAL CLASS

Here is another great picture from Enid O'Brien along with the e-mail that accompanied the photo.  The only thing I will add to Enid's information is that the Commercial Class was taught by Sister Mary Imelda.  She taught at St Patrick's for years and years and her students received excellent training.   Sr Imelda was transferred to Holy Heart of Mary when it opened and she served for many years as Secretary to successive Principals.  I think her heart belonged to St Patrick's though because even at H H M, she still kept an eye on all the St Patrick's girls there.  Sr Imelda died at the Mother House in Cathedral Square and she is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. 

 

 

"Hello Beth Anne

I am enclosing another picture for your St. Patrick’s School archives. This is the 1956/57 Commercial Class dressed in their uniforms all prepared to take on the business world. Not only did they get good training they were also found positions in offices when they completed the course. St. Patrick’s girls had a terrific program and local employers would sometimes leave their names with the Sisters to send their girls for interviews when their training was complete. Unfortunately I can not identify all on this picture. However, with the help of former students I have been able to identify most and would be grateful for your readers to help in the identification. If there are errors I would appreciate hearing as well so we can make corrections.

 

St Patrick's Commercial Class 1956/57

 

 

Front Row (Seated L-R) #1 Anna Cahill; #2 Joan Morgan; #3 ?; #4 Helen Brewer; #5 ?; #6 ?; #7 Helen Hearn; #8 Alice Kavanagh

2nd Row (L-R) #1 ?; #2 ?; #3 Mary Lou Ryan; #4 Kathleen Grant; #5 Betty Broderick; #6 ?'; #7 Marguerite Murphy; #8 Elizabeth “Betty” Mason; #9 Frances Cooke; #10 Rosalie Horan; #12 ?

3rd Row (L-R) #1 Mary O’Brien; #2 Joan Cooper; #3 ?; #4 Theresa McCarthy; #5 Rosemary Stanford.

Best wishes for 2013

Enid O’Brien"

 

Thanks once again, Enid, for this trip down memory lane.

CALLING ALL H H M GIRLS, CLASS OF 1967

"COR UNUM INTER NOS"

I have had an e-mail from Terri (Kelly) Morris.  Terri is trying to contact the HOLY HEART OF MARY CLASS of 1967 .  If you, or anyone you know, went to Holy Heart of Mary and graduated in 1967 Terri would like you to contact her at dtmor@pei.sympatico.ca  It looks like there is a reunion in the planning so don't waste another minute - get those e-mails off to Terri NOW!

ST PATRICK'S BASKETBALL TEAM 1979

St Patrick's Basketball Team, 1979

Front Row:  S Evans, A M Walsh, C Power, M Evans, L Gallagher, S Prim.

Second Row:  Mrs S Wade (coach), D Woodford, V Hawco, J Tucker, D Fitzpatrick, C Thompson, T Moore, E Donnelley, L Hickey, T Minnett, G Evans, M Keating (manager)

Mrs Wade would never have gotten past the Nuns at Holy Heart of Mary with those boots on!  The Gym floor at H H M would not have been better protected if it had been covered in gold!  Remember girls?  No boots, no heels, no etc, etc?  I admit it - that Gym floor really did have a great finish!