GREAT PHOTOS FROM DEBBIE AND TERI

I have two great photos to post today and they span quite a few years.  Have a look and see how many names you can add.

The first photo comes from Teri Healey Evans and it was taken in the 1970s.  It is of some of the members of one of Sr Brendan’s amazing Choirs and the incomparable Sr Brendan herself is here with her girls.  The photo was taken at a Convent that they visited when the Glee Club travelled to Ottawa to perform.  Teri informed us that on one of their outings between performances, they visited this Convent and they all crammed into a room and sang for the Sisters there.   Teri is sitting directly in front of Sr Brendan; to her right are Helen Mallard and Karen Mugford.  To Teri’s left is Heather Ann McDonald (wearing glasses).  Teri can’t name the rest but perhaps you can?  If you can, would you please drop us a note at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

*21st March 2018
This nice little addition to Teri's photo comes to us, via email, from Yvonne Cullen McIsaac:  "I enjoyed seeing the photo so much on fb. I was there also (YVONNE CULLEN was my maiden name now YVONNE MCISAAC). The Keating girls were there. Peggy Keating is the girl in the blue with glasses.

I live in Ottawa now and occasionally drive past the convent we visited on Montreal Road. Beautiful memories for sure." 

Thanks for getting in touch, Yvonne. We appreciate and enjoy every scrap of information that we can gather.  Have you ever dropped into that Convent and told them your story?  It might be a pleasant memory for somebody there also.  Just a thought!

Sr M Brendan and her girls

The second picture was sent to us by Debbie Thomas Meyer.  This beautiful photo was taken in 1950.  Debbie’s mother, PAULINE MCDONALD, (now PAULINE THOMAS) is seated, second right.  Debbie’s aunt, SHIRLEY MCDONALD (now SHIRLEY McCOLLUM of Marion, Indiana) is in the back row, fourth right.  

Debbie's lovely Mom and Aunt with their
Grade 8 classmates

Debbie, because my sister, Doreen McAllister, is in this photo, I can add a couple of other details.   This is Grade 8 and the teacher was Miss Carew.  Some of the other girls in the photo are;

Lorraine Nugent, kneeling right

Helen Power, seated 5 left

Doreen McAllister, seated 6 left

Mary Hawco, back row 5 left

Thank you very much Teri and Debbie for these two lovely photos.  They span a lot of years and I am sure they will bring back some rich memories for a lot of people.  If you have any other photos or stories that you would like to share with us, I would be more than delighted to post them.  As I stated above, you can send anything you have to mcallistersmith@gmail.com. Thanks again Debbie and Teri.

MARYLOU'S TRIBUTE

Those of you who know the Mallard girls will also know what a talented family they are musically.  It seems they have other talents as well. Marylou Mallard Tucker  is also a gifted poet.  We have posted several of Lulu's poems previously and we are proud to post this special poem written by her on the occasion of St Patrick's Convent and the leaving of the Presentation Sisters.  The Sisters' leave taking ends 160 years of their presence at St Patrick's but the memories they have left us with and the loyalty which they have inspired in us will be here for many, many years to come. Here is Marylou's loving tribute.       

St. Patrick’s Convent  

A beautiful Mass was held in the Presentation Sisters honour

With Archbishop Currie, Father Beresford and Father Wayne,

To celebrate one hundred and sixty years

“Love” was Sister Nano Nagle and her Sisters’ claim to fame.

I was asked by my sister Rosemary

To attend a very special Mass,

It was in honour of the closing of the Convent Home

As our memories kept flowing back to the past.

Prayer beads were received when doing messages for the nuns

As we brought back packages to their sacred place,

Piano at this convent was taught to us by Sister Stephanie

We always carried a happy smile upon our face.

A celebration was held at the parish room

Food and drink was so meticulously prepared,

Seeing fellow students from so many years ago

The gathering showed how much everybody cared.

The highlight for me was seeing Sister Brendan

Sitting there to my surprise,

I went over to her and held her hand

With heartfelt tears that glistened in my eyes.

She remembered me when I told her who I was

As it has been over 45 years,

“The Mallards, Oh yes, I think of you often,

Beautiful singers", the words I did hear.

Sister Catherine had introduced us to Sister Brendan.

Rosemary, Helen, Elizabeth and I,

We sang in harmony, “Come Home Newfoundlander”

They smiled, nodded their heads and sighed.

As I stood there, still holding her precious hands

My heart was lit on fire,

Memories flowing back to when we were little kids

Singing in her fabulous and outstanding well know choir.

Love you always, and think of you fondly when we sing!!!!

Mary Lou (Mallard) Tucker and the Mallard family

SR MARY BRENDAN 

This is a lovely tribute to the Sisters who served us so well and particularly to Sr Brendan. Thank you so very much Marylou.