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

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 6 (MUSIC, SONG AND DANCE, CONTINUED)

I had to do this separately from the rest of the post because, for some unknown reason (at least "unknown" to me 😅) it just would not come up.  I hope it works this time because this is an amazing piece of St Patrick's musical history. I love it and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do. 

 

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

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 5, FAMILY AND FRIENDS (MAINLY SISTERS )

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

Today I thought it might be nice to post some photos of family (mostly sisters) and friends. This is a small selection and I hope to be able to post more before the end of June. I think you will recognize some of the people - you just might even be one of them. Enjoy! 

Judy and Betty, still singing

Mary and Gerri

Beth Anne, Paula, Susan and Barbara

Gerri, Mary (Mom), Carmie

Katrina and Heather 

Brenda, Moya, Janet, Dianne, Barbara, Norma, Lauren

Doreen, Pat, Sheila, Betty and Donna

Catherine and Pat visit their Alma Mater

Matthew, Teri, Melanie, Sharon and Owen

GOLDEN FRIENDSHIP

This is a post that should have been done in November but I am afraid I missed it.  I apologize to Christine Butler and her friends - I must be slipping!  Each and every friendship is precious and deserves celebrating and this is a very special friendship and worthy indeed of celebrating. 

The friendship between this group of St Patrick's girls blossomed in Grade three and it has survived the ups and downs of life ever since.  The ladies regularly get together to celebrate that friendship.  They all graduated from St Patrick's in the School Year of 1973/74. On the 9  November 2023 they gathered at the Royal Yacht Club in Manuels to celebrate the amazing Golden Anniversary of their graduation together. 

Christine and Terri have sent a photo of that happy day  and I am pleased to post it below.

Celebrating a Golden Friendship

Congratulations on such a wonderful occasion and may you continue to enjoy your beautiful friendship for many more healthy and happy years.  God bless you all.

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 4 (REUNIONS)

Because of a little mix-up with post  3, I thought I had better point out that the twenty five years in the title does NOT REFER TO THE AGE OF THE PHOTO. The photos are from many different years. The twenty five refers to the number of years that have passed since the last St Patrick's Convent School closed. I hope that clears things up a bit.

Today's post features photos of some of the many reunions that St Patrick's Girls are always so happy to attend.  Long may such reunions and friendships continue! If you don't see your reunion here, don't worry, I will be posting more in the weeks to come.

Class  of 1958, last Grade 11 class

No need to explain this picture

Some 1973/74 Graduates 

Back row, 3 left, Miss  Howard, former Grade 3 teacher
with some of her  'little' pupils'

1957/58 Grads reunion, 2017

1960 Grads get together 

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 3 (CLASS PHOTOS)

Sr Imelda's Commercial Class, about 1957

Grade 4, circa 1950

 Sister Immaculata's Grade 6 Class 1940s

Grade 2, 1967

Grade 7, 1979

Miss Hamlyn's Grade 4 Class, 1967

Pamela Marie's Grade 1 photo, Miss Walker's Class 1967

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO 2

As Promised, I am back with more photos to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the closing of St Patrick's Convent Schools. Today I am posting some bits and pieces that have made our St Patrick's just that - our St Patrick's!
Enjoy! 💖💖💖💖

Louie's tribute

 

Doreen's School Ring circa 1948

The ubiquitous Rubber/Gaiter/Boot Bag
(name depends on your generation 😂)

Linda's success

Nellie's musical success

Even Covid couldn't diminish the loyalty!

English Grammar Book used by a St Patrick's
pupil in 1912

Date and pupil's name on the inside of the
English Grammar Book

That's enough for today but don't go away.  The next time I will post class pictures from various years.  

TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO

As the pupils and staff of St Patrick's Convent Schools left the building in June of 1999, they witnessed not only the closing of the school.  They witnessed the close of an era.  For over one hundred years St Patrick's Convent Schools had held such an important  place in the Parish of St Patrick's as well as in the whole community of Riverhead, i.e. St John's West.  With the locking of the doors on that June Day in 1999, St Patrick's Convent Schools ceased to exist, save in the hearts and memories of its former pupils.  To commemorate our School, I am going to post pictures that I have received over the years .  I will post several times each month from now until the end of June.  If you have any that you would like included please send them to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and I will add them to our collection.  Here is the first batch.  Happy browsing.

The First School

An early picture of Sisters and pupils of St Patrick's Convent School

Mother M Bernard Kirwan PBVM, Foundress of
the Presentation Foundation in Newfoundland

The old St Patrick's Convent

Mother M DeSales Walsh, Born Tralee, Ireland 1866, died Presentation Motherhouse 1968.
 Former teacher at St Patrick's Convent and twice Mother General of the Presentation
Sisters in Newfoundland.

From an Irish Stamp depicting Nano Nagle, Foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation, PBVMs

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY 2024

It is hard to believe that another St Patrick's Day has rolled around again but here it is 17 March 2024.  As always, I wish you a very happy day.  ☘☘

I have a very interesting picture to post today.  It will, I hope, stir some pleasant memories of our days at St Patrick's Convent Schools.

ALICE'S MEMENTOS

My very dear friend and school mate, Alice Prim, sent me a picture of her perfectly preserved Uniform Crest and the beautiful green bow and medal of our Patron Saint which was worn on St Patrick's Day.

Thank you Alice for sharing this lovely memento and bringing back the many Happy St Patrick's Days that we have been fortunate to celebrate.

STATUE THAT ONCE WELCOMED
 WORSHIPPERS
 TO ST PATRICK'S CHURCH

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY

☘☘

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2024

 

THE GATE OF THE YEAR

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown".

And he replied:

"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way".

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.

And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

(Minnie Haskins)

MAY 2024 BRING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES BLESSINGS GALORE