"A CITY BUILT ON A HILLTOP"

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp stand where it shines for everyone in the house."

BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S CHURCH

Just as the city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden, neither can a church built on a hilltop be hidden.  For one hundred and forty-one years, through good times and bad, St Patrick's Church stood sentinel on Patrick Street.  Through that one hundred and forty-one years, St Patrick's let its light shine for everyone in the West End.  Sadly, St Patrick's Parish is no more.

What about its light though?  Does it still shine?  Of course it does!  It shines in the heart of every one of us who loved St Patrick's. We will carry its light in our memories and in our hearts wherever we are and as long as we live. 

OUR PATRON SAINT, ST PATRICK

On this, our first St Patrick's Day bereft of our beloved Church, we give thanks for all the good and faithful Pastors and parishioners of St Patrick's Parish.  May God bless them all and may St Patrick's light continue to shine through them.

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY, EVERYONE

ANNA HAMLYN McCARTHY

I begin the New Year of 2020 with a sad post.  On 9th December 2019 we lost a loved St Patrick's Graduate, Anna Hamlyn McCarthy.  From a large and well respected West End family, Anna Hamlyn grew up on Shaw St and she and her sisters all attended St Patrick's Convent Schools.  

Anna Hamlyn McCarthy

After Graduation, Anna turned her many talents to teaching and for a time, returned to her Alma Mater where she became a popular teacher, loved and respected by pupils and colleagues alike.  Later, the students of St Peter's School had the great benefit of Anna's dedicated and loving instruction.

Anna married Mike McCarthy and they became the parents of a beautiful daughter, Karen, and a fine son, Michael. They and the rest of Anna's family must be feeling her loss deeply and we offer them our heartfelt condolences.  But, like all of us who had the pleasure of knowing Anna, they must also be finding comfort in the joy of having had such a person in their lives.

Rest in peace, Anna Hamlyn McCarthy.

https://www.barretts.ca/obituaries/Anna-Mary-McCarthy?obId=9505601#/obituaryInfo 

WEST END IN DAYS GONE BY

I have received the most wonderful photo from Marina Carew Aita!  It is an old picture of our neck of the woods, the West End, in all its glory. Marina is a school mate of the late Shirley Hipditch Ellizey.  Marina and several other school friends of Shirley’s recently attended a get together hosted in Shirley’s memory by her family.

Marina said, “This photo was sent to me by Loretta Dawson O’Toole from the West End who obtained it from a friend of hers. Shirley’s family was delighted to receive it.  Thanks again, Loretta.”

Marina went on to say that the photo shows the vicinity where Shirley grew up, Galgay’s Range, which is behind the white building opposite the trestle where Shirley regularly walked as a young girl.

 

DEAR OLD WEST END

Marina, this photo will bring tears to the eyes of so many St Patrick’s girls of a certain age. Galgay’s Range, that trestle, and the old Railway buildings, are embedded in fond memories of years gone by!  Thank you so very much, Marina, for sharing this gem with us.

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.    

"THE WAR TO END ALL WARS"

The Plaque which was on the Deanery Avenue School

Since this is Memorial Day in Newfoundland, I thought this was a good photo to post here.  As children when we were filing in & out of the doors of St Patrick's on Deanery Ave we probably took no notice of the plaque on the side of the door.

 

The plaque indicated that the school, our school, was built as a memorial to the men & boys of St Patrick's Parish who gave their all in the mud and the blood and the gas and the unspeakable horror of "the war to end all wars"! 

 

Now we can appreciate just what those young men of our Parish sacrificed.  Today, on the Anniversary of Beaumont Hamel, where so many young men were killed or maimed, let us remember those who came before us, those who died & those who grieved for them.  Let's also remember just what this plaque & the school to which it was attached meant to that generation.

 

May they all rest in peace and, please God, may we all live in peace. 

 

"BETTER THAN THE BEST"

SR MARY TERESITA MARTIN

Enid O'Brien has been a constant help to me with this blog and a wonderful source of material.  For today's post I am once again indebted to Enid as she very kindly supplied this picture and the relevant information.  Thank you once again, Enid.

 

Sr Teresita with her childhood friend

 

This is a picture of Sr Mary Teresita Martin P B V M.  The picture was taken when Sister was enjoying a visit home to Cape Broyle.  Also in the picture is Sister's childhood friend, Kathleen Hartery Murphy. 

 

The only child of Ned and Catherine Martin, Sr Teresita was born in Cape Broyle  in April 1914 and given the name Susannah.  When Susannah was just eight years old her beloved mother died. 

 

Eventually, Susannah Martin entered the Presentation Congregation in St John's.  Upon receiving her white veil, Susannah was given the name of Sr Mary Teresita.  Trained as a teacher, Sr Teresita taught in various Presentation Schools around the province, including St Patrick's Convent School in the west end of St John's.  Many former St Patrick's pupils will remember Sr Teresita as a very kind and gentle person with a sweet smile and a quite voice. 

 

Sr Mary Teresita Martin passed away on 1st April 1986 at the age of 72 and she is buried in the Presentation  Convent Cemetery, St John's.  Her dear friend, Kathleen, died on 30th September 2011 at the wonderful age of  98 years.

 

Enid  tells us that Kathleen's sister, Annie Hartery Hayes, was also a good friend of Sr Teresita and she named her daughter Teresita in honour of her friend.  Annie's granddaughter is also named Teresita.  I think it is safe to say that Sr Teresita's memory still lives in the hearts of grateful pupils and loyal friends. 

 

 

Sr Mary Teresita P B V M
1914 - 1986