ON THIS DAY

It was on this day, the Feast of St Matthew, 21 September 1833,  the Brig Ariel arrived in St John's.  Under the watchful eye of Master Mariner William Staunton, the Ariel was carrying some very special and history making passengers. Four Presentation Sisters (PBVM) from the Galway Convent were on board.  When they set foot on Newfoundland soil, the four Sisters made history as the first English speaking Sisters in Canada.  They would also establish the first Presentation Convent outside of Ireland. Therefore, Sister Bernard Kirwan, who was in charge of the Sisters, became the founder of the Presentation Congregation in North America.  Lots of history made on the Feast of St Matthew, 21 September 1833.

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 6, MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE

Did you know that the Presentation Sisters were the first teachers in Newfoundland to introduce music into schools on a daily basis? Well they were and that musical tradition was carried on down through all the years and in all their schools, Province wide.  This post shows St Patrick's Pupils enjoying the music, song and dance opportunities on offer. I am grateful to all the people who have contributed these wonderful photos. Thank you so much for your help.  

Strutting their Stuff at a St Patrick's Day Concert

Nellie's achievement

Sr M Xaveria and piano player, 1978/79

Miss Eleanor Lawton and student enjoying the music

St Patrick's High School Choral Group,
directed by Sr M Carmelita Meaney

Award Winning Choir, with Miss Lawton, Sr M Brendan
and Sr M Luke

Kiwanis Music Festival

Wow!  Even a record!

Doreen entertaining schoolmates at 2010 Reunion

Nano Nagle - Our Foundress

THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE VIDEO ABOUT NANO NAGLE. HAVE A LISTEN BECAUSE THIS SISTER PRESENTS THE HISTORY IN A WAY THAT IS STRAIGHT FORWARD AND SO IT MAKES EASY LISTENING. I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY IT.

ANNIVERSARY OF NANO NAGLE'S DEATH

PBVM Symbol

Worn out by long days and nights of ministry, Nano Nagle collapsed in Cross Street, Cork, on her way to one of her schools. The Foundress of the Presentation Sisters died on Monday, 26^th April 1784.  She was 65 years old.   In 1994 Pope John Paul II declared Nano Nagle a ‘Servant of God’, the first of four steps to canonisation.  The next step came in 2013 when Pope Francis bestowed the title ‘Venerable’ on Nano Nagle.

  

Venerable Nano Nagle

ANOTHER PRESENTATION FACT

After their arrival in St John’s, the pioneer Sisters lived at the Bishop’s residence where a section had been set aside for them. A month later they moved to ‘The Rising Sun’, a former tavern which the Bishop had renovated for their use.  This accommodation proved to be most unsuitable so Bishop Fleming rented the former residence of Archdeacon Wix.  It promised to be a happy New Year for the Sisters as, on New Year’s Eve, 31^st December 1833, the Sisters moved into this larger, more comfortable property situated near King’s Road. The Sisters remained there for about nine years and the area became known as Nunnery Hill, a name it bears to this day.

Next time you are in the Prescott St, Gower St area of downtown, spare a thought for the valiant Irish ladies whose presence gave rise to the name of Nunnery Hill.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

A PRESENTATION FACT

On Christmas Eve, 1775, in a cottage in Cove Lane, Cork, Nano Nagle founded the Sisters of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Later, the name was changed to the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM).

Venerable Nano Nagle,
Foundress of the Presentation Sisters

We wish all Presentation Sisters, pupils and former pupils, a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2017. (Special Christmas greetings to former St Patrick's teachers and pupils.) 

SISTER ROSE MULALLY P B V M

Venerable Nano Nagle, foundress of the Presentation Sisters

November 21st, is PRESENTATION DAY.

On this Presentation Day 2016, we remember another, long ago Presentation Day, and pay a humble tribute to a very special Presentation Sister, SISTER MARY ROSE MULALLY.  Why is Sr Rose special?

Sr Mary Rose Mulally was the first Newfoundlander to become a Presentation Sister!  Born in Bonavista in 1824 to Edward and Eliza Mulally, she was baptised Catherine. Catherine entered the Presentation Convent, St John’s, on Presentation Day, 21^st November, 1851.  (Sr M Francis Mulally, a founding member of the Harbour Main Convent, was her sister.) 

On 24^th September 1853 Sr Rose Mulally, under the leadership of Mother Bernard Kirwan, was part of the group of five Sisters who founded Our Lady of Mount Carmel Convent in Admiral’s Cove, Fermeuse. 

Three years later, Sr Rose was again a member of a founding group.  On 10^th January 1856, she joined Sr M Clare Waldron, Sr M Ignatius Quinlan and Sr M Regis Halpin in establishing the new community at St Patrick’s, Riverhead. 

At some point, Sr Rose returned to the Fermeuse Community, which relocated to Renews in 1876.  Sr Mary Rose Mulally died at Renews on 3^rd March 1903.  She is buried in the Presentation Cemetery, Renews.

The grave of the first Newfoundland born Presentation Sister

Earlier this year, on a cold and windy day, my sister, my husband, and I climbed the hill to the Presentation Cemetery in Renews to find the grave of Sr Rose. Though cold and windblown, we felt privileged to be able to stand at her grave and honour this Newfoundland girl who played such an integral part in the founding of St Patrick’s Convent.  Surely, as the first Newfoundland born Presentation Sister, Sr Mary Rose Mulally holds an important place in the history of the Presentation Sisters as well as in the history of Newfoundland.

Two very cold St Patrick's 'girls' pay their respects at the grave
of one of the founding Sisters of St Patrick's Convent 

HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY EVERYONE!

PRESENTATION SISTERS' PARTING GIFT

On 3rd November the media was full of the news that the Presentation Sisters have donated St Patrick's Convent to the City of St John's for use as affordable housing for senior citizens. Sister Betty Rae Lee pointed out that through their various ministries they learned that elderly people are experiencing great difficulty finding comfortable, affordable places to live. Sadly, the Presentation Sisters, a caring presence in the West End for 160 years, have gone from our Parish, but through their magnanimous  gift, their generous spirit will live on.  The City of St John's, particularly the  people of the West End, owe much to the generations of Presentation Sisters who have graced our corner of the world.  May God's richest blessings be theirs.

ST PATRICK'S CONVENT, WHICH THE SISTERS HAVE GIFTED TO THE CITY

Our thanks go to Katrina who has kindly sent us a copy of a recent Sunday Bulletin from  St Patrick's Parish.  

ST PATRICK'S PARISH BULLETIN

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BULLETIN

ALSO FROM THE BULLETIN

ST PATRICK'S SCHOOL FRIENDS AT CLAY CAFE

We lost the last of our three schools in 1999. Now we are losing our convent and we have to say goodbye to our good Presentation Sisters.  St Patrick’s Convent and the Presentation Sisters have been an outstanding presence in St Patrick’s Parish for 160 years and it is certainly a great loss for the West End. 

However, we have not lost the wonderful bonds of friendship that developed during our school days at St Patrick’s Convent Schools!  That those friendships are still held dear is evidenced by all the lovely ‘get-together’ pictures we receive.  Brenda Pearcey Cardwell has sent us just such a photo with news of her group of St Patrick’s friends.

Brenda said they started at St Patrick’s, Miss Murphy’s Grade 1 Class, in 1962.  They try to get together throughout the year.  In September they did a painting class at Clay Cafe.  (What a great idea.)  Here they are, friends and sisters – St Patrick’s girls all!

FRIENDS SINCE 1962

The ladies in the photo are L-R;

Karen Dawe, Audrey Dawe (seated), Lorraine O’Rielley, Debbie Crane, Debbie Doherty, Sharon Pearcey (behind Debbie D), Betty Walsh (back right), Brenda Pearcey (back far left)

Thank you so very much for sharing with us Brenda.  It is really nice to hear from you and your friends and we hope you will keep us up to date on your future meetings.    

CLOSING CEREMONY

I think by now everyone knows the sad news that St Patrick's Convent is closing and that we will lose the presence of the Presentation Sisters in our Parish. What you might not know is that St Patrick's Parish has a great new website https://stpatricksstjohns.wordpress.com/ and it has some wonderful features.   I highly recommend it, especially to all you St Patrick's people who now dwell in foreign climes! As well as current events, news and photographs, there is a very informative section on the History of the Parish.  I came across this excellent report of the closing ceremony and have been very kindly permitted to reproduce it here on our School Blog.  I feel it will be of great interest to those of us who were unable to attend.

(COURTESY OF ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

St. Patrick’s Convent/School Closing – 

Sept 11, 2016

MESSAGE OF APPRECIATION IN THANKSGIVING FOR 

PRESENTATION SISTERS ON 

THEIR COMPLETION OF 160 YEARS 

OF MINISTRY IN ST. PATRICK’S PARISH

Truly, this is a bittersweet occasion. While we are celebrating the incredible impact the Presentation Sisters had on so many of us, we are also sad because after 160 years they will no longer have a presence at St. Patrick’s Convent.

I am part of four generations who were taught by the Nuns, my mother, my sisters and I, my daughters, and my grandson all attended St. Patrick’s School, as did so many other family members in the West End. I’d like to share some of my experiences at school back in the early 40’s and 50’s.

We were very fortunate that **Nano Nagle was a brave woman of faith who came here in 1883 with four nuns** to establish schools in Newfoundland, and the rest is history. My generation was the last pupils to attend the Deanery Avenue School. Many of you will remember some of our teachers: Mother Francis, Mother John, Sister Agatha, and Sister Camilla. As children it seemed to us that the nuns knew everything; they were wonderful teachers, our spelling and writing had to be perfect and who will ever forget learning the “Time Tables”.

All of those skills stayed with us for our lifetime. We had all the core subjects and I even remember we were taught Latin for one year. Religion played a big part in our education, daily prayers, Sunday Mass, and you knew on Monday you would be questioned on the sermon. We were taught to respect ourselves and others and that God saw everything we did.

The Nuns were gifted in so many ways. They taught us how to knit, crochet, and do fancy work. It seems there was nothing they couldn’t do, and teach us to do. Perhaps one of their greatest contributions was in the field of music.

St. Patrick’s was so well known for its wonderful school choirs under the direction of Sr. Brendan, and the choir won so many awards and accolades over the years. Many students took their first piano and theory lesson in St. Patrick’s convent. The love of music was nurtured in so many students under the careful instruction of those wonderful Nuns.

I think we all realize how fortunate we were to get such a good education. While we may not have had all the options available to students today, we were enriched by the wonderful skills that were taught to us.

The Patrick Street School opened in 1954 and the nuns continued their work in education. Later things changed and with the end of denominational education, St. Patrick’s School closed in 1996. The sisters remained at the Convent and focused on other ministries; helping the sick, the needy, doing pastoral work and opening the Lantern and the Gathering Place.

The congregation is ageing and some difficult decisions had to be made for the future, one of which was the closure of our Convent.

MARY SKINNER (PHOTO COURTESY OF
ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

So, while we are sad that our sisters will not have a presence at St. Patrick’s, we are blessed and grateful for the wonderful years they were with us and the profound impact they had on so many lives. We will be forever grateful to them.

In closing, on behalf of St. Patrick’s Parish Family, I wish them well as another door in ministry opens for them. I want them to know they will be warmly welcomed back to visit at any time. Finally, I invite all of you to join us in the Parish Room for a reception to say good-bye personally.

Mary Skinner – 

Parish Council Representative

Eucharistic Liturgy of Thanksgiving

 Closing of St. Patrick’s Convent 

St. John’s, NL Canada 

September 11, 2016

Address by Sister Betty Rae Lee, 

NL Provincial Leader

We gather here today to celebrate the story of the relationship between the people of St. Patrick’s Parish and the Presentation Sisters for the past one hundred and sixty years. We honor the weaving of our lives together as a small, but also significant part of God’s unfolding dream and we express our deep gratitude to God and to each other for the blessings we have known throughout the years.

SR BETTY RAE LEE (PHOTO COURTESY
ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

The Presentation Story, through which we are connected, began in the mind of God through the dream of a compassionate and visionary woman, Nano Nagle, our Foundress. Known as the “Lady of the Lantern” in Cork, she did all she could to alleviate the sufferings of Ireland’s poor in the 18th century.

Our Presentation Newfoundland and Labrador story began in 1833 when four brave women from Galway, Ireland, Mary Bernard Kirwin, Xavier Mullowney, Magdalen O’Shaughnessy, and Xaverius Lynch arrived in St. John’s on September 21st of that year after a 25 day journey across the rough Atlantic seas.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our faith-filled ancestors and St. Patrick’s Parish plays an important part in our Irish/Newfoundland story. Can you imagine that this treasured booklet is 160 years old? It records our Presentation beginnings here at St. Patrick’s and I read, “On the 10th of January 1856 Sister Mary Clare Waldren, Sister Mary Ignatius Quinlan, Sister Mary Rose Mullally and Sister Mary Regis Halpin, Novice, came from the Motherhouse to establish a house of their Order at Riverhead, in this town, under the authority of the Right Reverend Dr. Mullock, Bishop of St. John’s.” God bless our noble pioneers.

The Annals further reveal the hardships under which the Sisters lived and, no doubt, the people of Riverhead were suffering much at that time also. So many young Sisters died because of the “provisional dwelling” in which they lived which was described as “miserable, cold, damp and uncomfortable”. There are many touching narratives of the faith and acceptance of these brave women. Of one such Sister, Sister M. Agnes Kitchen who died at 36, it was written, “Her resignation to the Divine Will was admirable and her heroic patience edified all. She offered her life as a sacrifice to her Heavenly Spouse and calmly breathed her last sigh. Her life was holy. Her death tranquil.”

Since these beginnings in 1856, 205 Sisters served at St. Patrick’s and over the years they shared their gifts and leadership as they ministered among you in the school and parish. Since most of our time here was connected with the young through the teaching ministry, these memories are most treasured. It is interesting to note that we have a list in our Archives naming every teacher who taught at St. Patrick’s from 1921-1999.

So many of these Sisters who taught at St. Patrick’s have since returned home to God but their memory remains in this place as does the energy of many of your relatives who were so good to them. Some women who lived and ministered among you have left our community to continue to live their Christian call in a different manner. Many others now live in other parts of our province and beyond and they carry with them the memories of their time among you. We cannot forget to acknowledge the women from this parish who, because of the faith, inspiration and encouragement of home and church community became members of our congregation. We acknowledged our beginning with four Sisters. Now we recognize the last community to reside at St. Patrick’s: Sisters Dorothy Baird, Dorothy Corrigan, Marie Furey, Mary Molloy, Frances Pennell and Patricia Whittle. Sisters Marie and Patricia will remain until the building is closed at the end of October this year. Some of you may not know the Sisters who are present in our Church today here today, who served in this parish so I would ask them to stand now. Hopefully some of you can get re-acquainted during the reception afterwards.

SR PATRICIA WHITTLE (PHOTO COURTESY
ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

As we hold tenderly the lives of these 205 women in a treasured narrative, our hearts are grateful indeed.

In reflecting on the meaning of our common story within home, school and parish over these 160 years, we acknowledge the moments of joy in wonderful connections and the moments of sadness because of misunderstandings and hurts. And that is really the whole of life, the shadow and the sun, the darkness and the light of our lives, both calling out for reconciliation and celebration.

In God’s universal dream for all creation we were drawn together for a time. There is indeed pain for all of us in seeing the Convent close, yet we trust that the God who has led us to this point will continue to be faithful to creating and nurturing life through the next use of this building.

We cannot announce today how the Convent will be used because an agreement for the use of the building, while in process, has not yet been finalized. Hopefully, by the end of October we will be in a position to make an announcement relative to the future of this wonderful and historic building. A new story is waiting to be told in this place.

Before concluding, I would like to say a special thank you to Archbishop Currie, Father Dohey, and to all of you who prepared for and participated in this beautiful Liturgy today and to all of you who have come to share this moment with us. This is a memory we will treasure. In our name I express deep appreciation to you, Mary Skinner, for your kind words of gratitude and we, in turn, extend a heartfelt thank you to the parishioners for your kindness, generosity and support over the years. You have allowed us to share in your lives and you have helped shape our congregational story.

So now the time has come for us to leave this sacred place Strong in this holy company of living faith.  May you know that absence is full of tender presence and that nothing is ever lost or forgotten.

I invite the Sisters to stand and raise their hands over you as I pray a blessing from all  our Presentation   Sisters:

THE BLESSING (PHOTO COURTESY
ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

We pray a blessing on you as you journey onward from this moment. As you meet the poor, the sad, the stranger, may you see the face of Christ. May you remember that our love and appreciation for you are etched on our hearts in a bond that unites us forever. And may the power of God’s presence bless us all at this moment of leave taking.

Amen."

RECEPTION IN THE PARISH ROOM
(PHOTO COURTESY ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

RECEPTION IN THE PARISH ROOM
(PHOTO COURTESY ST PATRICK'S PARISH WEBSITE)

We add our own thanks to the Presentation Sisters who have graced our Parish over the last 160 years.  We were indeed blessed!  

Thank you also to Regina Slaney, Parish Administrative Assistant, for her prompt reply to my  email and for permission to use the above material and photographs.

**I just want to point out a small error.  Nano Nagle did not come to Newfoundland, ever.  It was Mother Bernard Kirwan who established the  Presentation Convent in Newfoundland.  This foundation was the first Presentation House outside Ireland and also the first in North America.  That, of course, makes Mother Bernard Kirwan the founder of the Presentation Congregation in North America. 

****AS THEY SAY, "WATCH THIS SPACE" FOR SOME MORE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ELEANOR DALTON AND BRENDA CARDWELL!

THE FRIENDSHIPS ENDURE!

C B C has just given us the very sad news that St Patrick’s Convent will soon be no more.  After 160 years in the West End, the good Sisters will finally close the doors and leave what has long been a beacon of education and good works.  We are very sad at their going and we will remember them for many things.  We owe them a great debt and thank the Presentation Sisters, past and present, who have contributed so much to our community and to our lives. 

BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S CONVENT, CONVENT SQUARE

We have carried through our lives many gifts gained from our days at St Patrick’s.  One of the most beautiful of those gifts is the precious gift of lasting friendships which we still treasure from our school days. 

Joan Reynolds Fogarty has sent us this lovely photograph of five St Patrick’s Convent classmates. The classmates are Yvonne Stephenson Meissner, Margie Miller Ryan, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Rosemary Ashley Healy and, of course, Joan.

SCHOOL FRIENDS ROSEMARY, YVONNE, MARGIE,
JOAN AND KATHLEEN

Joan informed us that Yvonne lives in Ontario but she and her husband spend several months every year at their beautiful home by the ocean in Pouch Cove.  It is a wonderful opportunity for meeting up with old friends too and every year the friends do just that.  This year the ladies got together for dinner at Joan’s house. 

Joan closed her email with this touching remark, “Still connected after almost 70 years”.  That truly is the beautiful gift of friendship!  Thank you Joan for sharing it with us and may you and your school friends enjoy that special bond for many, many years to come.

DOREEN WALSH NOSEWORTHY, TALENT GALORE!

In my humble, and perhaps not quite unbiased, opinion all former St Patrick's pupils are amazing people, each with an interesting life story to tell. In regard to St Patrick's, Doreen Walsh Noseworthy wears two hats - one of pupil and one of teacher! As such, she has been a presence in the lives of many of us.  I thought it would be interesting  to track her down for a chat.

"You were born in St John’s, Doreen.  When? Or is that too personal?  July 2, 1946.  

The eldest of six children, you were followed by four sisters and a brother.  If they don’t mind you letting the cat out of the bag, would you like to put them in order of age for us please?    Zita, John, Marian, Brenda and Mary Elizabeth.

You and your sisters all attended St Patrick’s Convent Schools. Would I be correct in assuming that John was a Holy Cross Boy? You would indeed! A Crusader true!

DOREEN WALSH, THE GRADE 6 PUPIL, IS IN THE VERY CENTRE OF THE FRONT ROW

I remember your grandmother Walsh when she lived next to the shop kept by Miss Hayes.  That shop was a haven for the girls and boys of St Patrick’s and Holy Cross.  Miss Hayes had the patience of Job.  Your Mom took over the shop after Miss Hayes and her warm personality ensured that it continued to be a place of welcome and friendship (and delicious Bulls Eyes!).  How long was ‘Walsh’s Store’ a fixture of West End life?  10 years

Of course I knew your parents, Betty and Leo, well.  Were they both St John’s people?  Yes, they were both townies. Mom grew up on Flower Hill and Dad on Angel Place. Mom went to school at St. Patrick’s (as did her mother) and Dad was a Holy Cross boy.

You attended St Patrick’s from September 1950 to June 1960 then it was off to Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School.  Later you returned to St Patrick’s as a teacher.  What year was that and was it your first teaching position? My first teaching job was at St. Patrick’s Convent School,   September 1964. The first two years, I taught grade four and for the next 13 years, I taught grade five. In 1979, with a very heavy heart, I resigned my position due to health issues with our 17 month old son. It really was a difficult decision to make, since I knew that going back would not be an option. Teaching jobs, especially in the city, were at a premium at that time and once the decision was made, there was no turning back. I felt like I was leaving a part of me behind that June when I left and, in fact, I was. St. Patrick’s had been such a huge part of my life for so many years, it was hard to imagine a time when it wouldn’t. I’ll never forget the feeling, in September of that year, when everyone was returning to school except me. How could my “family”, the teachers I worked with all those years, and the students and parents I had come to know and love, move on without me? It was the loneliest, strangest feeling I had ever experienced up to that point in my life. However, life does go on and later that fall I opened a Nursery School in our home in Holyrood, which I operated for five years, working only mornings, from 9:00 – 12:00. When our children were in school full day, I went back teaching, substituting in schools all around Conception Bay Centre, CBS, St. Joseph’s and Mount Carmel for quite a few years and later retired in 2003, from St. Catherine’s Academy, Mount Carmel, with a career in education that spanned 38 years. 

You were at St Patrick’s for a very long time. 15 years.  

DOREEN, THE TEACHER,
WITH HER GRADE 5 CLASS

You come from a very musical family so music has always been a big part of your life.  I actually remember you playing the spoons for us when we were in Miss Murphy’s Kindergarten!  I have many memories of your parents but the most enduring one of your father is a very old one but also a very happy one.  It was when you lived on Warberry St and I believe it was Christmas.  ‘In the Mood’, having been revived by someone, was a huge hit at the time and we girls were jiving up a storm to your father’s amazing rendition of it.  Tell us about your own musical career. I have been blessed with many good fortunes in my life and, aside from my family, singing and playing my guitar is my greatest passion. I had the great fortune of being born into a musical family. My mother’s parents were both musical and my father’s family even more so. My grandfather, John (Jack) Walsh loved to sing, my father, Leo, played guitar and had an amazing voice, and my Uncle Jack (Jackie Walsh or Cowboy Jack, as he was often called), “Newfoundland’s First Celebrated Country Singer” was a Pioneer of Country Music in Newfoundland. Uncle Jack had his own radio show on VONF (later to become VOCM) and was the opening act, playing his guitar and singing with his own band, when the radio station first went on the air. With a background like that, it was hard not to have grown up with such a love of music.

I am told that I could sing as soon as I learned to talk. In fact, my parents were never sure which came first. I used to play my dad’s guitar but he would have to hold it for me since it was much too big for such a little girl. I would play and sing for my parents’ friends when there were parties at our house. I was seven years old when I got my own guitar, a ukulele, from O’Brien’s Music Store. I remember sitting on the swing in our neighbour’s yard, playing my ukulele and singing to my heart’s content, never realizing that the neighbours were watching and listening. I also remember that when I was in grade three, Harry Brown, known fondly as “Uncle Harry” had a kids show on VOCM radio at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoons. My friend, Joan Roy, and I decided that we were going to go down and be on the “Uncle Harry Show” and that’s what we did. She sang “Changing Partners”, a popular song on the radio at the time, and I did a recitation “Twinkle Eye” which we had learned in school. We did that on several occasions and, of course, we loved the attention we got at school the next day. I guess that was the start of my public performance. 

Of course, music was always a big thing in school, at St. Patrick’s. From Kindergarten, my talents were displayed. Miss Murphy, the kindergarten teacher at St. Patrick’s for over forty years, was a friend of the family and had taught my mom’s mother, my mom and was now teaching me. So she knew of my singing and my ability to play the spoons before I even started school. Whenever the Reverend Mother (Mother De Sales) would come visit our classroom, Miss Murphy would have us sing for her, do recitations and little dances she had taught us, and yes, get me to play the spoons while she accompanied me on the organ.

As we got older, there were class choirs, school choirs, church choirs, plays, concerts, Kiwanis Music Festivals and Trinity College Choral Speaking; and there was I, right in the thick of it all. There wasn’t a Requiem Mass at St. Patrick’s Church I didn’t attend, from grade six to grade eight. The Mass was all in Latin then, and so was all the singing. Lots of work went into learning all that. It started in grade four, with little bits at a time so that, when you got to grade six, you were ready to go it on your own.

When I went to Holy Heart I was in the class choir but, because of bussing, I couldn’t join the School Choir. However, I did continue to participate in the Trinity College Choral Speaking program in grade nine.

The year I started teaching, my brother, John, his friend Gerald Collins and my cousin, Jack (Uncle Jack’s son), were talking about forming a band but they didn’t have a singer. They would always practice at our house because John played drums and they were too cumbersome to move from house to house. Whenever I was around during their practices, they would ask me to sing for them. One of the teachers at school, Helena Gough, had a twin sister who was getting married that summer and asked me if we would play for her sister’s wedding. We had never done anything like that before. It was just a bit of fun up to that point. We agreed to do the wedding and there was born “The Montereys” and a second career for me, as lead singer. Our band played all over the Avalon region of the province doing night clubs, private dances, garden parties, weddings, Christmas parties and the like. We were very much in demand and, I recall December 1970 we played every night, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and played twice on Boxing Day, with a matinee for the Bella Vista staff that afternoon. It was a very hectic month, never to be repeated. Needless to say, the bookings in the Decembers to follow were well checked after that. It was just too difficult, with teaching each day and trying to have a life of my own separate from all that. I stayed with the band until February 14, 1975 when, being 4 months pregnant with our first child, I decided it was time to quit.

DOREEN,  THE "ROCK STAR"

I continued with my playing and singing over the years at local concerts, a little pub work now and then, substitute teaching for music teachers and being involved with musical events in the Conception Bay Centre area. I was “Leader of Song” for 25 years at Holy Cross Church in Holyrood, I am a member of the Cloudberries Community Choir and Holy Cross Church Choir. For the past number of years I find myself filling my summers with music and song at the H.W. Duffet Shriners’ Park in Eastport, NL. We have two nights of music each week and a Gospel Sing every Sunday morning, as well as appearances at the Heritage Theatre in Eastport. Through music and singing, I have made the most rewarding and remarkable friendships and I feel especially blessed because of it. I have always been willing to share my talents because I know that I have been blessed with a gift and gifts are meant to be shared.   

Doreen, you are a lady of many talents. You have surprised me with your very considerable painting ability.  Have you always painted or is it something you took up recently?   I am a fan of your website, ‘Newfoundland Artist Doreen Noseworthy’  (link here).  You have some beautiful work displayed there.  You must get a lot of pleasure from painting but do you paint solely for pleasure or do you also sell your work?   Where can it be purchased? 

Thank you, Beth Anne, for your kind words about my paintings. It is something I took up in retirement. I was never very good at Art per se, but I always said that I would love to be able to paint. My daughter, Nicole, was taking lessons and I was so amazed by what she was doingI have only recently offered some of my prints for sale. I don’t do any advertising, just word of mouth, by family and friends. My daughter set up a Facebook page with some of my work displayed there, as you referenced earlier. I don’t consider myself an “artist” but if people like my work I can’t argue with that.

Do you do specific requests for people or are your paintings all your own thoughts and inspirations? I have done a couple of requests for people but I mainly paint for my own pleasure.

You are married to Gerry Noseworthy.  When and where did you marry? Gerry and I are married almost 44 years now. We were married at St. Patrick’s Church, July 8, 1972. He is my soul mate, my best friend, my confidant, the father of our two children (Nicole and Neal) and we are the proud grandparents of Jaxson Neal Noseworthy who is four years old and lives with his parents, Neal and Melissa, in PEI.

Do you have any other strings to your bow, any more hidden talents that you would care to tell us about? I am very proud of the fact that I have been an advocate for teachers/educators and students all my life. It started with my early involvement as NTA Liaison for St. Patrick’s School when I first started teaching. As time went on, I got involved,  at the Branch level, as part of the Branch Executive. From there I went on to become an elected member of the Provincial Executive of what then became NLTA. Before I retired in June of 2003, I was elected Vice President of Avalon East Division of the Retired Teachers Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (RTANL). I served two years as VP, four years as President, and two years as Past President of the Division. I have also served at the provincial level and am currently Vice President of Provincial Executive of RTANL and will be running for President in October.

In my retirement, I was also asked to serve as a member of the provincial Aging Issues Network established by Government through   the Seniors Resource Centre. The purpose of this was to research and identify the main issues of seniors living in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The research was done and a report submitted over a period of about 4 years. Subsequent to that, Government established a Department of Seniors’ Wellness and Aging.  

I am also currently serving as Secretary of the Coalition of Pensioners, Retirees and Seniors of NL. This group is also advocating on behalf of seniors throughout the province and is made up of 14 other member retiree groups and former union leaders both provincially and federally. We have been working diligently and  meeting with both levels of government to try to improve the quality of life for the seniors, who have built this place we like to call home, through hard work and sacrifice over the past numbers of decades.

As you can imagine, I am and have always been a very busy person but my summers are still my own. That’s when I unwind, take time to smell the roses and do the things I really enjoy for myself.....visiting with family and friends, singing and playing my guitar, walking, painting a bit (on rainy days) or just relaxing with a good book or  movie.

I am so grateful for the many blessings which have been bestowed on me throughout my life.

What else do you get up to in your spare time?  That is, if you have any ‘spare time’!  Spare time? What’s that? One of these days I’ll find the answer to that question. (The answer to this question, however, is included in the previous one, Beth Anne.)

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me, Beth Anne. It has afforded me the opportunity to do some reflecting and recall some wonderful memories of times past. There are so many St. Patrick’s girls who have achieved such accomplishments in their lives that I feel truly humbled to be asked to do this. I’m only a cog on the wheel of life but every cog has its purpose and makes the wheels turn as they should. So, if I have contributed in any way, I am very pleased about that. I attribute many of my achievements to the wonderful years I spent at St. Patrick’s both as a student and teacher. We learned about responsibility, leadership, commitment, a desire for learning, being the best that we could be, sharing, getting along with and caring about others from our parents and family initially, but these things were so strongly reinforced through the many experiences of school life at St. Patrick’s. There were times, I’m sure, when we all thought things could have been better or that too much was expected of us. I remember those early mornings when we had to be there for Mass before going to school instead of sleeping in a bit longer, or the late evenings walking home in the dark after festival practice or worse still, having to give up a Saturday morning or afternoon for practice or to sing at a funeral Mass. What were they thinking?? Little did we know that, in years to come, we would be so grateful for the lessons that we have carried with us throughout our entire adult lives; the character building, the motivation, the inspiration, the lasting friendships and wonderful memories – things that have made us the people we are today.

DOREEN ENJOYING SOME OF THOSE
"LASTING FRIENDSHIPS"

In concluding, I would be very remiss if I didn’t say a special “thank you” to the Presentation sisters who made it all possible and who instilled such values and standards of right and wrong into each and every one of us. They weren’t all saints, but they did their best to deliver an education and respect for both learning and living that remains with us to this very day. God bless you all!"   

Thank you Doreen.  It has been a real treat talking to you.  I am sure your school friends, who are many, and former pupils will be delighted to see this post.  You have certainly carried St Patrick's banner through life so, thank you once again and, please, "keep on keeping on"!