THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT!

Just thought this picture would help dispel any gloom & doom regarding the future!

 

 

THE ORIGINAL SCHOOL RING

I am really pleased to be able to post this picture of an original St Patrick's School Ring.  This one belongs to Doreen Heffernan and she tells me that it was bought about 1948.  I had a St Patrick's School ring but mine was the newer version.  Unfortunately, I lost mine.   Some of you will remember the updated ring.  You may even have one.  If you do, I'd love to see a picture of it.  If you would like to share a picture of it, please send it to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com 

 



An original St Patrick's Convent School Ring,
circa 1948

Many thanks to Doreen for letting us photograph her ring and thanks to Lynn for modelling it!

ST PATRICK'S REUNION 2008, PART 3

I hope you have all read Parts 1 and 2 of this post.  If not you can do so by clicking here and here. Today's post features pictures from the final day of the 50th Anniversary Reunion for the class of 1958.

On Sunday 3rd August 2008, the 50th Anniversary Reunion celebrations drew to a close.  As they had done so often in their school days, the girls gathered once again at St Patrick's Church for Sunday Mass.  Joan said that the 11 o'clock Mass was celebrated by Fr Wayne Dohey who, in his lovely homily, acknowledged and welcomed them.  After Mass the school friends regrouped for Brunch at  Cabot Club, The Newfoundland Fairmont.

In the foreground;
Patricia McCarthy Philpott, Rita Kielly
and Joan Connolly Alston

Joan Predham Janes, Carmel Madden O'Mara
and Emily Bishop Monahan
(Sadly, these ladies have since passed away)

Madeline Adams Thomson, Eleanor Sears Vatcher,
Patricia McCarthy Philpott and Mary Morey Matheson

Most of the Class of 1958, at The Fairmont Newfoundland

Joan Reynolds Fogarty, the lovely lady
who has made this post possible

Thanks to Joan Reynolds Fogarty, we have this  wonderful pictorial record of the happy 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Class of 1958.  Friendship is a powerful thing. Its pull brought Yvonne Stephenson Meissner home from Claremont, Ontario, Mary Morey Matheson from Rothesay, New Brunswick and Irene Viscount McCrate from Maple Ridge, British Columbia.  I am sure it seems like only yesterday you were all sitting in the desks at dear old St Patrick's.    Although they loomed large at the time, Mother John, Sr Immaculata,  Homework and Rubber Bags were really only minor worries. Now they provide grist for the mill of nostalgia. 

Do any of you remember the School Song?  I have never heard it sung but I think the refrain is a fitting way to conclude this post.

"St Patrick's, St Patrick's,

You're Home away from Home.

St Patrick's, St Patrick's,

No matter where we roam,

You teach us and reach us

And down across the years

We'll think of you with happy smiles,

Only sometimes with tears.

We'll think of you with happy smiles

And sometimes with tears."

Joan Reynolds Fogarty, thank you very much for sharing this lovely celebration with us.

ST PATRICK'S REUNION 2008, PART 2

Following an exciting night of renewing old acquaintances and meandering down Memory Lane, the Class of 1958 met again the next evening, Saturday 2nd August.  This time the venue was the B I S where the celebrations continued with dinner and entertainment.  Dinner was an excellent hot and cold buffet and the first-rate entertainment was provided by the ladies themselves.  (If anyone reading this post has the grave misfortune of  being  unacquainted with any St Patrick's Girls, I hasten to inform you that St Patrick's Girls are multi-talented!)  

 

SATURDAY NIGHT:

EVENING DINNER AND ENTERTAINMENT AT THE B I S

Catherine Corbett Stanley and Yvonne Stephenson Meissner

 

 

The late Carmel Madden O'Mara as Sr Immaculata
(note the infamous Rubber Bag)

 

Madeline Adams Thomson

 

 

Brenda Casey Grouchy, Carmel Madden O'Mara (deceased), Mary Bulger Corcoran, Mary Morey Matheson,
Irene Viscount McCrate, Joan Predham Janes (deceased)

 

 

Betty Fitzgerald Pye and Judy Fitzgerald Squires

 

 

For Part 1 see yesterday's post at this link.  For Part 3 of this Reunion, remember to look in again tomorrow.   Once again, thank you Joan for these great pictures.  I would guess that the entertainment provided much hilarity! 

 

ST PATRICK'S REUNION 2008 - PART 1

In August 2008 St Patrick's girls from the class of 1958 held a 50th Anniversary Reunion.  The Reunion was a weekend event, beginning on Friday 1st August with a Meet and Greet with Wine and Cheese at the Botanical Gardens.  Joan Reynolds Fogarty attended the three day event and she has very kindly shared photos of that celebration with us.  As I said, it was a three day event and today I am posting the pictures from the first day, the Friday night Meet and Greet.  I think you will enjoy these pictures as much as I have so be sure to look in again tomorrow for more photos of the 2008 Reunion. 

  

FRIDAY  NIGHT:
MEET AND GREET WITH CHEESE AND WINE AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS

 

THE 50th ANNIVERSARY CAKE!

 

 

Betty Antle Coffen, Kathleen Dobbin Benson,
Yvonne Stephenson Meissener, Mary Morey Matheson

 

 

 

Rosemary Ashley Healy, Carmel Madden O'Mara (deceased), and  Patricia Connolly Leonard

 

Mary Bulger Corcoran, Joan Connolly Alston,
Joan Predham Janes (deceased), Joan Ryan Cobb,
Mary Fitzgerald

 

 

Mary Fitzgerald, Bonnie Beck Byrne,
Rita Kielly, Catherine Corbett Stanley

 

Barbara Parsons Macleod

Madeline Adams Thomson

Thank you, Joan. Without the help of people like you I could not keep this blog going so I am very grateful to you for your help and support.

CHILDREN OF MARY

Did you know that the very first Sodality of the Children of Mary in Newfoundland was established at St Patrick's?   It was established there in 1876 by two Sisters from the Riverhead Convent, Sr M Patrick Kielly and Sr M Aloysius Caulfield, and the Parish Priest, Rev John Ryan.  

 

 

This beautiful certificate, signed by Fr Bradshaw, belonged to Rosemary Stanford.  In 1954, seventy-eight years after its establishment, Rosemary was received into the Sodality of the Children of Mary.      

 

Rosemary Stanford's Certificate

 

The Act of Consecration on Rosemary's Certificate

The beautiful picture on Rosemary's Certificate

 

Many thanks to Enid Stanford O'Brien for sending us her sister's certificate.   It is a lovely reminder of life as a pupil of St Patrick's Convent, Riverhead. 

DOREEN, PUPIL AND TEACHER

This is a comment left on a post by Doreen Walsh Noseworthy.  I thought it should be used as a post so that everyone can see it.  Doreen has put names to all the staff in this picture, which was posted a while ago.  Thanks, Doreen, it is so good to hear from you.  Perhaps, if you haven't already done so, you could have a look at the blog's facebook page and give it a LIKE.  It all helps to get the word out. 

 

St Patrick's Convent School Faculty, 1979

Doreen wrote;

"I, too, was a former student and went on to become a very proud member of staff at St. Patrick's Convent School. I remember the names of each of these former colleagues and friends because we were more than all of that. We were family. I am very pleased to present:

1st row (L-R): Patricia Laidley, Sharon Reddy, Sister Anne, Anna (Croft) Meaney, Sister M. Luke, Ewald Hajek, Kathy (Croke) Warren, Patricia (McCarthy) Philpott

2nd row (L-R): Doreen (Walsh) Noseworthy, Susan (Poole) Wade, Eleanor Lawton, Dianne O'Brien, Ann Broderick, Denise (Power) Barbour, Angela Greene

3rd row (L-R): Marilyn McGrath, Sister M. Brendan, Roseanne (Wakeham) Linehan, Helen Hannon, Mary McGrath, Anne (Ball) Pennell

I hope this will be of some help in recalling other wonderful memories of school days for many of you. This site, thanks to Beth Anne, is such a great way to reconnect. Keep passing it on and watch it grow.

All the best to all former students and teachers of St. Patrick's Convent School, both living and deceased.

Sincerely,
Doreen (Walsh) Noseworthy"

 

Thank you Doreen.  Now that everyone has seen Doreen "the teacher" in the above picture, I am re-posting Sr Immaculata's Grade 6 Class from 1957.  In this photo, you will be able to see Doreen "the pupil". 



Sr Immaculata' Grade 6 Class, 1957. 
Doreen is in the very centre of the front row.

MISS HAMLYN'S GRADE 4, 1967

For this lovely photograph, I owe Frances(Walsh) Noseworthy a sincere "Thank You".  Frances originally posted this on our facebook page.  So that those of you who aren't on facebook could see this picture, Frances has very kindly given me permission to re-post it here on the blog.  Frances did an excellent job of remembering the names too.  Are you on this picture or do you know anyone here?  Do you have a story to share?  Post a comment & let us know.   

MISS HAMLYN'S GRADE 4 CLASS, 1967

1st Row (L-R): Mary Lou Murphy, Karen Murphy, Madeline ?, Betty Cooper, Catherine Burton, Patricia Emberley (who sadly passed away in Grade 5), Frances Walsh (me), Shirley Johnson

2nd Row (L-R):  Rhonda Gollop, Deborah Whelan, Gina Kielly, Catherine Cromwell, Janet Burton, Barbara Learning, Sheila Tobin, Miss  Mary Hamlyn

3rd Row (L-R): Perpetua Locke, Gladys Dalton, Cecelia Sinnott, Karen Mercer, Judy Howell, Margaret Donovan, Patricia Osmond, Bernadette Christopher

Back Row (L-R): Cathy O'Leary, Cynthia Doyle, Gloria Cooper, Charmaine Wiseman, Sharon Roy, Barbara Dillon, Paulette Cromwell, Mae Doyle

Again, a very sincere "Thank You" to Frances for sharing this photo.  If anyone else has a photo or a story to share, we would be more than happy to post it on this blog .  Don't forget we are also on facebook so have a look and give us a like.

MISS CAREW'S GRADE 8 CLASS, 1950

Today's post is a great photo of Miss Carew's Grade 8 class of 1950.  It was very kindly loaned by Doreen Heffernan.  The photo was taken in the convent garden and, as usual, the photographer was Sr M Immaculata.  The pupils were able to purchase copies of the pictures for the princely sum of 10 cents!  We can smile at that I suppose but I am very grateful to the parents who scraped up the 10 cents and to the girls who have shared their photos with us.  I think an immense debt is owed to Sr Immaculata for the wonderful photographic record she has left us.   I just wish the teachers had joined the girls on these photographs!

 

Anyway, with thanks to Doreen, here is Miss Carew's Grade 8 class of 1950.  Anyone here you know?  Does anyone know anything about Miss Carew? 

 

Miss Carew's Grade 8 class, 1950

 

Front Row: Shirley Walsh, Lorraine Nugent

2^nd Row: Joan Turner, Cecelia Byrne, Mary Tobin, Anna Tobin, Helen Power, Doreen McAllister, Patsy Picco, Joan Kerrivan, Pauline McDonald, Anne Buckingham

3^rd Row: Margie Kavanagh, Blanche Green, Margie Stafford, Tess Dunphy, Madeline Kavanagh, Lorraine Holden, Dorothy Nugent, Lorraine Doran, Marie Cunningham, Helen Hickey,

4^th Row: Joan Skinner, Joan Tobin, Shirley McDonald, Pauline Corbett, Mary Hawco, Betty Hayes

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.  Enjoy!

MOTHER JOHN'S GRADE 4 CLASS, 1950

This is a picture sent to me by Enid O'Brien and her sister, Joan (Stanford) Dutile. It is Joan's Grade 4 picture from about 1950.  It is a great picture and I only wish that Mother John was on it.  Have you noticed that in  the class pictures from the 50s and 60s the teachers were seldom in the photo?   I wonder why?  Perhaps they were just shy!  On that thought, if anyone has  pictures of any of the teachers, they would make great posts here.  You could send them to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com

I love the background to this picture too.  I am no expert on architecture but I know what I like and I love the look of the Convent in the background.  It is a really beautiful building.  Also, note the washing on the line.  By the way it is blowing, I would say it was an ideal day for drying clothes!

Mother John's Grade 4 Class, circa 1950

Front Row L-R:

Kathleen Dobbin, Emily Bishop, Lorraine Sheehan, Rosemary Ashley, Joan Abbass, Yvonne Beck, Margaret Miller, Mary Bulger, Brenda Casey, Brenda Molloy, Andrea Martin, Eleanor Sears and Joan Predham.

2nd Row:

Mary Whelan, Catherine Corbett, Rita Kielly, Joan Reynolds, Joan Ryan, Joan Connolly, Irene Viscount, Barbara Ryan, Joan Byrne, Ruth Howell, Patricia McCarthy, Marie Madden, Barbara Mahoney

3rd Row:

Joan O'Dwyer, Margaret Hynes, Marie Fitzgerald, Gertrude Cleary, Betty Antle, Joan Stanford, Mary English and Mary Farrell

Many thanks to Joan & Enid.  I could not keep this blog going without the help of people like you so I am very grateful to you for your support.

FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION

Today's post has a little mix of both First Communion and Confirmation memories with two certificates and a photograph.  The first photo is courtesy of Enid Stanford O'Brien and is Enid's Confirmation certificate.  This beautiful certificate is dated 10th June 1953.

 

Enid was Confirmed in St Patrick's Church, Riverhead,
on 10th June 1953

A post about First Communion and Confirmation in St Patrick's Parish would be incomplete without somehow including dear old Holy Cross!  This wonderful picture is of two Holy Cross Boys, Bill and John McAllister.  The picture was taken in 1941 on the occasion of John's First Communion and Bill's Confirmation.  John is wearing the traditional white rosette and Bill the traditional red rosette.

 

 

John's First Communion and
Bill's Confirmation

This last photo shows my own First Communion Certificate.  It is dated 10th June 1952, exactly one year earlier than Enid's Confirmation certificate.

My First Communion Certificate,
signed by Msgr R McD Murphy



FIRST COMMUNION, 1916 AND 1943

We continue our First Communion Theme with a picture of two more St Patrick's Convent School pupils. Approximately 27 years separate the  pictures as one was taken in 1916 and the other in 1943. The two girls, Ellen Josephine Williams and Doreen McAllister, are mother and daughter  The certificate is also from 1943. 

 

 

Ellen Josephine Williams,
First Communion 1916

 

 

 

Doreen McAllister,
First Communion, 1943



Doreen McAllister's First Communion
Certificate, 11th June 1943

FIRST COMMUNION 1911

This time of the year seems to be when, in Parishes all over the world, children are making their First Holy Communion  and receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  For this reason, I am going to do a couple of posts on that theme.

 

This post is, I think, very special and a really beautiful slice of our School and Parish history.  I hope you enjoy this 102 year old photo and, if you would like to share a  First Communion or Confirmation photo, certificate or story  on this blog, you would be most welcome to send it to us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com

 

This is the First Communion picture and certificate of Mary Margaret Williams.  She was born in August 1900 in Petty Harbour.  When she was very young, her family moved to St John's and became parishioners of St Patrick's, Riverhead.  Mary, always know as May, attended the old St Patrick's Convent School on Convent Square.  Here she came to know such distinguished teachers as Mother De Sales Walsh and Mother Rose Reddy.  At that time, Mother Rose was a  Novice, still with her white veil. 

 

On 29th April 1911, May received her First Holy Communion.  The certificate states; "Mary Margaret Williams Baptised in the year 1900 received First Holy Communion in the church of St Patrick on the 29th of April 1911 and the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation in the same year".  She was 11 years old.

 

Mary Margaret Williams,
First Holy Communion, April 1911

 

 

First Communion and Confirmation Certificate
of Mary Margaret Williams,
St Patrick's Church, April 1911

 

SR IMMACULATA'S GRADE 6 CLASS, 1948

This is a picture of Sr Immaculata'a Grade six class of 1948.   I have to thank Doreen (McAllister) Heffernan for contributing the photo.  Doreen has also supplied most of the names but if you can fill in any of the missing names we would be happy to add them.  I am going to post two versions of this photo.  I will post the original because there is so much great background visible.  I will also post a cropped version, all the better to see everyone.

 

Doreen said that the photo was taken, by Sr Immaculata, in the Nuns' garden. The old Convent Square School can be seen in the background.   The double windows that can be seen in the school are Mother Berchman's Grade 9 class, grade 8 class, and Sr Immaculata's Grade 6 class.   In the left hand corner of the photo, part of the Convent is visible and to the right of the school, among the trees, you get a little glimpse of that 'famous' Passage Way! 

 

Those who wanted a copy of the photo could buy one for 10 cents each!  I think Sr Immaculata must have been the official photographer because she was still taking class pictures in the late 1950s and possibly early 1960s.  For that we should be grateful to Sr Immaculata because she has left us an excellent photographic record of St Patrick's Girls.  While I am thanking people, I have to say a big 'THANK YOU' to Sean for all his hard work in getting this and some other fantastic pictures to me. 

 

By the way, Doreen has dug into the family archives and come up with some First Communion pictures (St Patrick's and Holy Cross) and a certificate or two. One is from 1911! I hope to post some of these soon so if anyone out there has a First Communion or Confirmation picture, certificate, etc, that you would like to submit, we would be more than delighted to post it.  Just send it to mcallistersmith@gmail.com

 

 




Sr Immaculata's Grade 6 Class, 1948

 

Front Row: Dorothy Nugent, Doreen McAllister, Lorraine Nugent, Maureen Molloy, Margie Stafford, Eileen Penny

2^nd Row: Irma Kelly, Tess Dunphy, Anne Buckingham, Bernadette McCormick, Helen Walsh, Joan Turner, Dorothy Dillon, Joan Skinner, Kay Fowler, Betty Ryall, Mary Tobin

3^rd Row: Shirley Cromwell, Betty Hayes, Mary Hawco, Mercedes McAllister, Helen Power, Anna Tobin, (?), Jean Connolly, Geraldine Horan, (?), Barb Green

4^th Row: Imelda Walsh, Margie Kavanagh, Patsy Picco, Madeline Kavanagh, Blanche Green, Claudine Horan, Pauline Corbett, (?), (?), (?), Genevieve Power, (?)

 



The cropped version


LIBRARY HELPERS 1979

This is another picture from the 1979 St Patrick's Year Book.  Are you on this photo.  Sr Redempta was the Librarian.  She was a lovely Nun.  Do you remember her?

 

Sr M Redempta & the Library Helpers, 1979

 

Front Row, L-R: L Maher, B Ducey, E Thomas, B Carew, R A Gillingham, H Gushue, E Efford

Standing, L-R: C Flynn, M Moores, L Hickey, K Noftal, N Mulrooney, P Carew, C A Carroll, C Ryan, S Francis, Sister M Redempta