A GOLDEN CHAIN

"Friendship is a golden chain, the links are friends so dear, And like a rare and precious jewel, it's treasured more each year"  Helen Steiner Rice  ⏳⏳💖💖

Pat HURLEY McDonald sent this photo and news of a delightful time with treasured friends.  

Bernadette, Mary, Lila, Cynthia, Margie, Nancy, Maureen, Sheila, Pat

Nancy STANLEY Cook hosted a lunch at her home on Saturday, 4 January 2025.  The longtime friends, St Patrick's Girls all, had a wonderful time.  

Many thanks to hostess, Nancy, and to Pat for the news and photo.  

Helen Steiner Rice was not wrong!

OH THOSE ST PATRICK'S GIRLS!

I am delighted to say those St Patrick's Girls are at it again! They just can't stop getting together and that is a beautiful thing.  I just wish I could be with them.😔

This picture was sent by Sheila BULGER Power and Pat HURLEY  McDonald. On 13 November 2024, they and some of their St Patrick's friends got together for a happy lunch at the Capital Hotel.  Here they are enjoying each others company - and the food too of course.  

The best kind of lunch.   Lunch with friends!

As Pat said "St Patrick's girls stick together". They definitely do, through thick and thin!   Long may that be so.  Thanks Pat and Sheila.  May God bless you both and all your (and my) beautiful friends there.

AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS

I think friendship is undefinable but it is  definitely a thing of beauty and a gift to be treasured. It is evident that St Patrick's girls certainly know the value of friendship because they just keep reconnecting with their school friends and the years always seem to melt away.

Some wise words from Charlie Brown

I have had news of another recent get together.  On 5th June 2019, a sizable number turned up at Bally Haly on Logy Bay Road.  This group of friends had graduated from St Patrick's in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  From all reports, it is apparent that a wonderful time was had by all.  We are delighted that Betty Simms and Pat Hurley McDonald have very kindly sent along some pictures of the happy gathering.

Thank you, Pat and Betty, for the pictures and the information.  I don't know if it is true, but I heard a little whisper that there is a BIG 60th reunion in the pipeline for next year.  If you graduated from St Patrick's in 1960, keep your eyes and ears open for news of a reunion.  Be sure to make a big effort to attend - even if you have to trek from far off places like Alberta, Florida, Wales, or anywhere else on planet earth!  If that reunion materializes, it will be well worth attending.

Still close friends

Catching up on the news

Still smiling and looking great!

So great to see you!

Some serious chatting going down here!

Pat and Jackie share some news

I'd rather chat than eat!

Well, Hello!

GRADE 7, 1959/60

This year, 2019, marks the twentieth anniversary of the closing of St Patrick's Convent Schools.  That day in 1999 St Patrick's students walked the well kept floors of the "new school" on Patrick St for the last time.  It was a sad day indeed.  Today, I will begin posting photos from different years and submitted by girls from those years.  

The first photos were sent to us by Pat Hurley McDonald.  It is Pat's Grade 7 Class and the year was about 1959/60.  Pat informed us that her teacher that year was Miss Catherine Kennedy. 

A very big "THANK YOU" to Pat who has been a loyal supporter of this blog since its beginning.

Grade 7, 1959/60

The names written on the back of Pat's photo

LUNCH WITH SHEILA

Pat Hurley McDonald has once again kept us up to date with news of another get together.  This get together was in honour of Sheila Moriarty Amos, who was on a visit home from Cape Breton.

On October 6^th school friends Maureen O’Brien Roche, Cynthia Murphy Downey, Sheila Moyst O’Neill and Nancy Stanley Cook welcomed Sheila home. The ladies met for lunch at Fionn MacCool’s Pub on Kenmount Road and, by all accounts, it was a great get together. I think the photo confirms that!

Maureen O'Brien Roche, Cynthia Murphy Downey,
Pat Hurley McDonald, Sheila Moriarty Amos,
Sheila Moyst O'Neill, Nancy Stanley Cook
lunching  at Fionn MacCool's Pub

I hope Sheila had a lovely time at home and I am sure she was delighted to meet up with her dear friends again.  Way to go girls – keep the friendships firm.  They are indeed precious.

Thanks once again Pat.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

SIXTY- FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY

St Patrick's Convent School, Patrick St

Sixty four years ago today, on 2nd October 1953, the Corner Stone of the new St Patrick's Convent School on Patrick St was blessed by His Grace, Archbishop P J Skinner. 

Archbishop P J Skinner, Archbishop of St John's
1951-1979

Just look at that gleaming floor!
Didn't we (under Sr Immaculata's watchful eye) do well?

Thanks to Pat Hurley McDonald for this photo of the interior of Lakecrest School (formerly St Patrick's Convent School). Would you believe that the gleaming floor you see here is the original?  Yes it is an amazing sixty-four years old.  It is the same one we mopped and never, ever walked on with our muddy, wet boots!  Sr Immaculata would be so pleased!

PAT AND CATHERINE VISIT THEIR ALMA MATER

Pat Hurley McDonald has sent us some really great pictures that will cause all our memory banks to go into overdrive!

Pat tells us that she and her sister, Catherine Hurley Teed, visited St Patrick's last week. As you are all aware, St Patrick's is now Lakecrest, a very well respected independent school. Pat said that the Principal graciously allowed them to tour the school which, understandably, brought back some great memories.

Pat has kindly shared her lovely photos of their visit. Get your hankies ready!

The beautifully maintained Lakecrest School, formerly St Patrick's Convent School

Pat Hurley McDonald  visiting her Alma Mater

Catherine Hurley Teed  visiting her old school

Thanks to Sr Immaculata, to us and our hours of mopping, this original floor still looks like new.  Be proud all you "moppers".

Catherine and Pat at the School door and not a "Rubber Bag"
in sight!

Pat, thank you very much for sharing these delightful pictures with us. Having seen them, all our heads will be buzzing with memories.

"WE'LL MEET AGAIN"

A note from Pat HURLEY McDonald brings news of a visit home by Sheelah HURLEY Martin-McArthur and a lunch held in honour of her visit. It seems to me that we St Patrick's folk need no excuse for a get together but when a wanderer returns home for even a brief time it is a wonderful reason to meet up again.  Pat and friends did just that!  

During Sheelah's recent visit, they met for a meal at Pat's Place in Mount Pearl.  Pat has also enclosed a photo of the lovely ladies. 

Pat, Cathy, Sheelah, Judy, Lila, Sheila, Cynthia

The friends who met for lunch are Pat HURLEY McDonald, Cathy TOBIN Healy, Sheelah HURLEY Martin-McArthur, Judy COMERFORD Newton, Lila MERCER Young, Sheila MOYST O'Neill and Cynthia MURPHY Downey.

Thank you once again to Pat for keeping us up to date with her group and for all the help she gives to this Blog.  Sheelah, I am pretty certain that your friends are already looking forward to your next trip home and another chance to meet. Good luck and very best wishes to all of you. 

FRIENDS FESTIVE GATHERINGS

We have two nice festive pictures to post today. The photos come to us courtesy of Joan Reynolds Fogarty and Pat Hurley McDonald.

Joan Fogarty and her school friends really have something very special.  Their friendship! These ladies have been friends since their school days at St Patrick’s and they maintain that friendship by being there for one another in good times and not so good times.  They also meet up several times a year to share a meal, chat, laugh and just take pleasure in each other’s company.  Long may they continue to do so!

This photo was taken on 2^nd December at The Sheraton Hotel where the friends held their Christmas Dinner and enjoyed a lovely evening.

BACK ROW: Rosemary Ashley Healy, Joan Connolly Alston, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Judy Fitzgerald Squires, Mary Bulger Corcoran, Brenda Casey Grouchy, Joan Reynolds Fogarty

FRONT ROW: Madeline Adams Thomson, Catherine Corbett Stanley, Mary Fitzgerald, Betty Fitzgerald Pye, Eleanor Sears Vatcher.

Our second festive photo  comes from Pat Hurley McDonald.  Again we have a group of school friends who have become life-long friends.  Janet McGrath Crane is home from Florida to celebrate Christmas with her daughters and their families so, as always, the friends took advantage of the opportunity to meet up.  The celebratory meal took place on 16^th December at Milestones Restaurant on Torbay Road.  From the looks of the ladies, we can see that it too was a happy and enjoyable event.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Kay Johnson, Cynthia Murphy, Maureen O’Brien, Pat Hurley, Carmel Hayes, Mary Johnson and Janet McGrath.

Many thanks to Joan and Pat for the photographs and thanks to both of you for all the help and support you give to this blog.  We wish you and all your friends a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2016.  We look forward to hearing about your future escapades.  May they be many and may they all be happy ones!

CHAINED TO THE PEARLY GATES!

I believe it was that true blue Newfoundlander, Al Clouston, who told us that, in heaven, St Peter has to chain all the Newfoundlanders to the Pearly Gates because otherwise they’ll all go home.  Well, I think Al was probably right because, no matter where we are, our hearts and footsteps always seem to take us back to Newfoundland.  What Al didn’t tell us, perhaps because he didn’t know, was that if you are a Newfoundlander AND a St Patrick’s girl you have to get home and then you have to meet up with some more St Patrick’s girls!  Today’s post is about just such a meeting and it comes to us courtesy of Pat Hurley McDonald.

Recently Pat’s cousin, Sheelah Hurley Martin-McArthur, was home on holiday from Florida and a group of school friends got together to enjoy a visit with her.  On 23^rd September, the ladies met for luncheon at Press and Bean Restaurant on Torbay Road.  The friends who attended were Cathy Tobin Healey, Maureen O’Brien Roche, Sheelah Hurley Martin-McArthur, Lila Mercer Young, Nancy Stanley Cook, Cynthia Murphy Downey, Judy Comerford Newton, Sheila Moyst O’Neill and Pat Hurley McDonald.

Pat has sent us some photographs of the gathering.

  

Cathy, Maureen, Sheelah & Lila

Nancy, Cynthia, Judy & Sheila

 

Seated, L-R: Cathy, Maureen, Sheelah, Lila
Standing, L-R:  Nancy, Cynthia, Judy, Sheila & Pat

Pat said that everyone had a very enjoyable time.  They had so much fun reminiscing about the “good old days” and the Nuns that nobody wanted to leave.  I agree with Pat 100% when she says, “Hopefully we will continue this tradition”. 

Thanks Pat for sharing and for all the support you give to this blog.

TOGETHER AGAIN!

Those St Patrick's girls are at it again!  Coming home, getting together with old friends and generally having a great time.  And how absolutely wonderful it all is!

 

Pat  HURLEY McDonald has sent me  photographs of a recent happy reunion.  Pat tells me that Cathy HEARN Green was home from Ottawa and a group of her school friends got together on 15th September for  lunch at Papa's Pier 17.  Pat said that a great time was had by all & I have no trouble believing that.  I bet excited chatter and laughter topped the menu that day!

It seems someone has brought old snaps.

 

We'll get around to looking at the menu eventually!

So much to say and so little time to say it!

Eating finished (maybe) but still lots of
chatting and laughing left!

You all look great!  When is the next get together?

The ladies in the group photo are:

Left to right: Pat Hurley McDonald, Lila Mercer Young, Cathy Tobin Healy, Judy Comerford Newton, Cynthia Murphy Downey, Nancy Stanley Cook, Maureen Walsh Carter, Betty Hamlyn, Mary Hamlyn Holloway and Cathy Hearn Greene.

 

Thanks for sharing this, Pat.  Judging by all the smiling faces, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the next reunion isn't already in the planning stages.   

GRADE 6, 1959/60 (REPOSTING WITH A NOTE FROM NOREEN CULLETON)

Today, 27th June 2017, I am re-posting this  with the addition of an email I received from Noreen Culleton Press. Noreen has come up with some more names plus an added bit of information which I didn't know. Here is Noreen's email.

"Hi Beth Anne,

My cousin’s son emailed me with the link to your blog, as he had seen my name in a class picture. Pat Hurley McDonald had posted a picture on May 10/14.

I was in Grade 4 in this picture. It was a Grade 5 class. There was a row of Grade fours, as there wasn't enough room in the Deanery Avenue School for all the Grade Fours. In the first row, I have Helena Turner as the 1st ?, Patsy Dinn as the 2nd ?, and Mary Healey as the 3rd ?.

In the 2nd Row, I don't have a name for the 1st ?. I have Catherine Sheehan instead of Patricia Penney. I don't know which one is correct. I have Stella Brazil for the 2nd?.

In the 3rd Row I have Bonnie Guy instead of Elizabeth Guy. I have a last name Grant for the 1st?. I have Maureen Healey for the 2nd ?. I have Elizabeth Pynn for the 3rd ?, and Patsy O'Keefe for the 4th ?. I have no name for the 5th?.

In the 4th row, I have Maureen Walsh instead of Sharon Walsh. I have no name for the 1st ?. I have Ellen Dobbin for the 2nd ?.

My name is Noreen(Culleton)Press.

Thanks,

Noreen"

This picture comes courtesy of Pat Hurley McDonald.  It is Pat's Grade 6 Class, 1959/60.  Pat has also identified many of the girls but a few names are missing.  If you can name any of the unidentified girls in this photo we would appreciate hearing from you with the names.  Oh, yes, the teacher's name was Sr Mary Immaculata.  Lots of corridor mopping that year girls? 

Grade 6, 1959/60

"Grade 6 – Sister Immaculata's Class probably 1959/60

I think the first person in this first row half cut out of the picture is Carmel Hayes

1^st Row L – R:  Rosemary Bishop,  ?,  Patricia Hurley, Catherine Sheehan, ?, Janet McGrath, Catherine Walsh, Noreen Culleton, ?.

2^nd Row:  Sheila Moriarty, ?, Elizabeth Guzzwell, Margaret McManus, Brenda Murphy, Ann Marie Cleary, Phyllis Reardon, Patricia Penney, ?, Diane Flynn, Elizabeth Finch, Maureen O'Brien.

3^rd Row:  Elizabeth Guy, Catherine Tobin, ?, Geraldine McDonald, Carol Ann Fowler, Margie Whitty,?, ?, Esther Scott, ?,?.

4^th Row:  Trudy Ashley, Sharon Griffen, Kay Johnson, Sharon Walsh, Nancy Stanley, Joan Roy, Diane Mulcahy, Sheelah Hurley, ?, Sheila Moyst, ?, ?, Sharon Perchard"

I am sorry, I was unable to make the photo any clearer.  Thank you Pat for sharing this photo.  I am always delighted to receive  photographs.

Thank you Noreen for taking the time to update us.  I find it very interesting that grade 4s and 5s shared a classroom. Although I was at St Patrick's at that time, I wasn't aware of the sharing.  Of course, thanks again to Pat Hurley McDonald for the original post.  I hope to hear from both of you again soon.  

MINI REUNION IN FLORIDA



Mini Reunion in Florida

I don't know exactly what it is about St Patrick's girls that makes them friends for life.   No matter where they find themselves, living or visiting, they just can't resist getting together for a reunion. That is just one more thing that makes St Patrick's folks so special!

 

Janet (McGrath) Crane, Phyllis Reardon, Cathy (Hearn) Greene, Pat (Hurley) McDonald, Myra (Walsh) Meigle and Judy (Comerford) Newton had a happy reunion in Florida on 13 February 2014.  This picture was taken at Marina Jack's, Sarasota, Florida, where the ladies got together to chat, reminisce and, no doubt, to laugh a lot!  You all look like you are having a wonderful time and, I have to admit to a bit of jealousy on my part as I wish I could have been there too. 

 

Thank you, Pat Hurley McDonald, for the picture & the information.  I am glad it  went so well for you all. 

N B

IF ANYONE HAS HAD, ARE HAVING, OR ARE PLANNING A REUNION, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS ON THIS BLOG.   ANYTHING CONCERNING ST PATRICK'S OR FORMER PUPILS OF ST PATRICK'S OR HOLY CROSS WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED.