TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 7, MORE MUSIC, DANCE AND SONG

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.  

Kiwanis Music Festival, 1956

St Patrick's Day Concert

Madeline entertains at a Class Reunion

Making music on the Xylophone, 1978/79

Doreen and the Montereys

Miss Lawton and pupil

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SR BRENDAN LYNCH

I have received some happy news from Wayne Lynch regarding his Aunt, Sr Brendan Lynch.  Wayne tells me that Sr Brendan celebrates her 90th Birthday today, 25 February, 2021.    Sr Brendan, we all wish you a wonderful Birthday and, were it not for this Covid situation we find ourselves in, I am sure there would be a steady stream of St Patrick's girls making their way to Presentation Convent to greet you on this special day. 

Sister Mary Brendan came to St Patrick's in 1967 and began to work her musical magic. She found an abundance of talent at St Patrick's and she certainly honed and polished it into a thing of beauty.  Awards and accolades came thick and fast for Sister and her choirs(here).  (To see other news of Sr Brendan and her choirs, just enter her name in the search box in the top left corner of the blog.)

Gertrude Lynch was born to Agnes and Patrick Lynch on 25 February 1931 in Grand Falls-Windsor. Sadly, Agnes passed away when Gertrude was just a child. Gertrude, Gen Murphy and Kay McDermott all started school together and became fast friends. The girls went through school together and eventually graduated together.  The beautiful thing is that the three are still friends and this year they all celebrate their 90th Birthdays. Happily for us, Gertrude joined the Presentation Sisters and was given the name Sr Mary Brendan. Sr Brendan taught in various schools across the Island sharing her talents and instilling the love of music and song in her charges.

Wayne has kindly shared some photographs of Sr Brendan with us.  I will post them here because I think many of Sr Brendan's pupils will be wishing her well today. 

Wayne, thank you so much for making  it possible for us to let Sr Brendan know that she and her music always will be special to her St Patrick's girls.

Happy Birthday, dear Sr Brendan, and may God bless you today and always.

SR BRENDAN'S GRADE 9 CLASS

We start 2017 off by featuring a class photo of Sr Brendan's Grade 9 Class. The photo is taken from Paula's 1979 Yearbook and, I am happy to say, we have everyone's name!

Sr Mary Brendan and her Grade 9 Class

Row 1 (l-r): J Reddigan, C Mercer, M O'Brien, S Pearce, A Reddigan, S Wade, S Sommerton, G Lamkin, Sr M Brendan

Row 2:  P Drover, R Angel, L O'Leary, D Carew, P Tucker, C Flynn, K Murphy,

Row 3:  K Steele, V Dalton, R Hennessey, L Maher, D O'Toole, C Fitzpatrick, P Dalton, S Francis

Are you in this picture ?  If it brings back some memories for you, perhaps you would like to share them.  You can do just that by emailing me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

Once again, Paula, thanks for the loan of your Yearbook.  It is a treasure.