ARE YOU IN THIS PICTURE?

It is time to get your Deerstalkers on again, my sleuthing friends!  This time we have a photograph of a Grade 4 Class,  St Patrick's Convent School.  We know that the year is 1950 but we don't have any names for the lovely young girls nor do we know the name of the teacher.  If you are on this photo, or if someone you know is in it, we would love to hear from you.  You can contact us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com with any names or details.  I look forward to hearing from you  and I thank you in advance for your help. 






Grade 4, St Patrick's Convent, 1950
(IF YOU RIGHT CLICK THE PICTURE IT WILL ENLARGE)

It is time for a bit of editing!  Thanks to Joan (Reynolds) Fogarty, I now have the names of the girls on this picture. 

 

 

ROW 1: Kathleen Dobbin, Emily Bishop*, Lorraine Sheehan, Rosemary Ashley, Joan Abbass, Yvonne Beck, Margie Miller, Mary Bulger, Brenda Casey, Brenda Molloy, Andrea Martin*, Eleanor Sears, Joan Predham*.

 

ROW 2: Mary Whalen, Catherine Corbett, Rita Kielley, Joan Reynolds, Joan Ryan, Joan Connolly, Irene Viscount, Barbara Ryan, Joan Byrne, Ruth Howell*, Patricia McCarthy, Marie Madden, Barbara Mahoney.

 

 

ROW 3: Joan O'Dwyer, Lillian Hynes, Marie Fitzgerald, Gertrude Cleary, Betty Antle, Joan Stanford, Mary English, Mary Farrell.

The Teacher was Mother John.

 

THE * INDICATES  DECEASED.

 

 

Thank you,  Joan, for all your help.  Thanks also to the other ladies who were able to give me a name or two.  I appreciate your help.

VOLLEYBALL TEAM, 1979

St Patrick's Convent School  Volleyball Team, 1979

This is a picture taken from the 1979 St Patrick's Yearbook.  Thank you Paula for the loan of your yearbook.  It has a lot of great pictures in it. 

 

 

Are you on this picture?

1st Row: S Evans, B Martin, C Power, L Barrett, T Hefferman/Mary Heffernan, S Prim,

 

2nd Row: Mrs S Wade (Coach), L Gallagher, V Hawco, J Tucker, C Thompson, M Keating, E Donnelley, L Hickey, P Harding, J Walsh (manager)

If anyone has any stories about this team, it would be nice if you would share them with us on the blog. You can send them to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com

I am very grateful to "Anonymous" who has been kind enough to send us the correct name of one of the girls in this picture.  Here is the comment, which was received yesterday:

Anonymous16 November 2014 17:20

"Hi! In the photo of the Volleyball players, it's Mary Heffernan, I believe I am correct."

 

A MYSTERY WORTHY OF SHERLOCK?

 



High School Chorus, St Patrick's High School
(If you click on the picture, it will enlarge)



 

This post could prove to be a very interesting one  and it might take Sherlock himself to solve it.  However,  I have great faith in St Patrick's Pupils so, although it is a High School Choir, it will probably prove elementary to the St Patrick's sleuths.  Here we go!

 

This photo, from Presentation Archives, comes with very little information and we are hoping that you have some knowledge of it.  All we know is that THE YEAR IS 1955 and it is a group of HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SINGING IN CHORUS AT ST PATRICK'S HIGH SCHOOL.

 

We know from the uniform that it is a Presentation School. The hands also give it away. In my day at St Patrick's we girls referred to this as 'The Presentation Clutch'.   Not, I hasten to add, within earshot of any of the good Sisters!

 

 

We would appreciate ANY INFORMATION you can provide but there are two main things we hope you can tell us:

 

1)  Please, can you identify any of the girls in this picture?

 

2)   Is this even OUR St Patrick's Convent School?

 

I don't remember the stage in our auditorium looking like this.  The background is too busy with all that pattern and frills and flounces but perhaps it was done that way for a themed concert or something.  Also, did we have footlights?  Perhaps we did but I don't remember them. 

 

So, my dear schoolmates, I am counting on you to help us out with this dilemma because I don't want to call Dr Watson & his strange friend.  They might prove to be very pricey.  We would be more than grateful if you would contact us on mcallistersmith@gmail.com if you have any information at all. 

MINI REUNION IN FLORIDA



Mini Reunion in Florida

I don't know exactly what it is about St Patrick's girls that makes them friends for life.   No matter where they find themselves, living or visiting, they just can't resist getting together for a reunion. That is just one more thing that makes St Patrick's folks so special!

 

Janet (McGrath) Crane, Phyllis Reardon, Cathy (Hearn) Greene, Pat (Hurley) McDonald, Myra (Walsh) Meigle and Judy (Comerford) Newton had a happy reunion in Florida on 13 February 2014.  This picture was taken at Marina Jack's, Sarasota, Florida, where the ladies got together to chat, reminisce and, no doubt, to laugh a lot!  You all look like you are having a wonderful time and, I have to admit to a bit of jealousy on my part as I wish I could have been there too. 

 

Thank you, Pat Hurley McDonald, for the picture & the information.  I am glad it  went so well for you all. 

N B

IF ANYONE HAS HAD, ARE HAVING, OR ARE PLANNING A REUNION, PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS ON THIS BLOG.   ANYTHING CONCERNING ST PATRICK'S OR FORMER PUPILS OF ST PATRICK'S OR HOLY CROSS WILL BE GREATLY WELCOMED.

AWARD WINNING CHOIR

 

St Patrick's Glee Club, April 1973

Were you a member of this award winning choir?  If so, I am in urgent need of your help.   The good folks at Presentation Archives inform me that this picture was taken at CBC Studios and the date on the photo is April 1973.  They are anxious to identify the students in this photo. The Pianist is Miss Eleanor Lawton, the Choir Director is Sr Mary Brendan Lynch and the Principal is Sr Mary Luke Parsley.  This Glee Club was a very talented one &, through its excellence, won a trip to Ottawa. 

 

We would be very grateful if you would help us out with the names of the girls. 

 

Also, do you have, or do you know of anyone who has, a recording of when you sang in any concerts, choirs, glee clubs, etc?   Our friends at Presentation Archives are gathering up any musical recordings or videos and digitizing them. So, if you have any recordings or videos of your choirs, they would be very grateful if they could borrow them.  

 

Please contact us at mcallistersmith@gmail.com if you can help us to identify the girls or lend us your recordings or videos.  We will be forever grateful!

 

Just so you can see everyone more clearly, I have divided the photo into three sections.  I hope it will help you identify the students.

 

 

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

GET TOGETHER AT PAPA'S RESTAURANT,
18th NOVEMBER 2013

 

On Monday, 18th November 2013, a Get Together Lunch was held at Papa's Restaurant, Churchill Square.  From all reports, a great number of St Patrick's girls attended and a good time was had by all.  I am indebted to Patricia Hurley McDonald and Mary Johnson Godsland for these photographs.  If anyone else would like to share their photos of this event, please send them to me at mcallistersmith@gmail.com and I will be delighted to post them for you.  Everyone enjoys hearing about school friends and classmates and seeing pictures of them today so, don't be shy, we would love to hear from you!

 

GOOD FOOD, GOOD FRIENDS!

 

LOTS OF MEMORIES SHARED WITH OLD AND
TRUE FRIENDS

 

Again, a big thank you to Mary and Pat for the photographs.  I wish I could have been there!

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

WATCH THIS BLOG FOR NEWS OF A REUNION FOR THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLASS OF 73/74!

REST IN PEACE, SR MARY LUKE

Sr M Luke, taken at St Patrick's Convent, about 1962

 

“Passed peacefully away at Presentation Motherhouse, St. John's, on Friday, December 27, 2013, Sister Mary Luke, daughter of William and Mary Parsley of Harbour Main, aged 94 years. Predeceased by her sisters - Sister Mary Nano, PBVM, Sister Mary Mark, RSM, Catherine Ford and Ursula Kavanagh; her brothers Samuel, John, James, Edward and William. Left to mourn and celebrate her life are the Presentation Sisters, many devoted nephews and nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces. The wake will be held at Presentation Convent, Cathedral Square with visiting hours on Saturday, December 28th from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; on Sunday, December 29th from noon - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. with a vigil at 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Monday, December 30 at 11:30 a.m. with interment at Presentation Cemetery, Cathedral Square.”

I am posting this notice, which appeared in today’s newspaper, because I think many of you will want to know the times of visitation and the time of the funeral.  I know that there will be a lot of people who will feel sad to hear this news but who will also feel very blessed to have known Sr Luke.

Sr Luke came to St Patrick’s Convent, St John’s, in 1959.  She taught Grade 8 for some years and eventually became Principal.  Sr Luke was an exceptional teacher and proved to be an excellent leader in the role of Principal.  She was loved and respected by pupils and staff alike. 

St Patrick’s girls will not be the only ones remembering Sr Luke today.  Nuns go where they are sent and so after many years at St Patrick’s Sr Luke moved on to other schools and parishes.  Such places as Cape St George, Trepassey & Holy Heart of Mary were graced with her gentle presence. 

So, on 27^th December, after a long and faithful life of service, Sr Mary Luke passed away at Presentation Motherhouse, Cathedral Square.  A true daughter of Nano Nagle, Sr Luke will be remembered with love and gratitude by those of us who have had the great privilege of knowing her.  For myself, I will certainly miss my visits with Sr Luke but I will always treasure the memory of them. 



Sr Mary Luke, 2009

"But they that are learned shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity"   Daniel 12:3

Rest in peace, Sr Mary Luke.

LULU'S CHRISTMAS POEM

This post comes courtesy of Lulu Tucker.  Lulu, better known to most of you as Marylou Mallard, is a St Patrick's girl with a talent for writing poetry.  Lulu's lovely Christmas poem puts the emphasis where it belongs - on the birth of Jesus and the message of love which He brought.  Thank you Lulu and may you all have a very Happy CHRISTmas.

CHRIST'S WISH FOR CHRISTMAS

 

 

As willow white snowflakes fall to the ground

With a cool breeze blowing all around

The only skin showing is rosy red cheeks

Christmas will be coming to our town.

 

 

The beauty of this wondrous season,

Pretty colours peeking through the snow,

Many tired shoppers rushing all around

With perfect Christmas parcels all in tow.

 

 

As this Holy Season approaches we have to reflect

On the blessings that's presented to us

From a little child named Jesus placed in a MANGER

He is trying to teach us we really should not fuss.

 

 

The presents He wants us all to give

Come from our beautiful hearts within

Faith, Hope and Love as we all help each other

Then forever we'll stay closer to him.

CHRISTMAS LONG AGO

FIGURE OF INFANT JESUS FROM ST PATRICK'S
CHURCH CRIB, CHRISTMAS 1948

 

Once again it is almost Christmas and I have a very special Christmas picture to post.  Some of you will have no recollection of the wonderful living Nativity scenes that were re-enacted at Midnight Mass in St Patrick's Church long ago. 

 

However, I have no doubt that many of us not only remember but have very fond memories of those Christmases of our childhood.   If my memory serves me correctly, the children from Kindergarten and grade 1  were chosen to play the parts of Mary, Joseph and the Angels.  At the beginning of Midnight Mass (and it actually was MIDNIGHT Mass in those days!) priests, altar boys, Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and all the Heavenly Host processed into the church.  The crib was blessed and the Holy Babe lovingly placed in the waiting manger.  It was a simple yet beautiful and moving ceremony.  Despite the years and the miles between now and that very happy childhood experience, the memory of it still adds  a warm and happy feeling to my Christmas Mass.

 

Are you ready for this?  As promised, here is that very special picture.  It was taken at Christmas 1948 and in it we see Mary and the Heavenly Host.

 

 MARY, ANGELS AND INFANT JESUS - ST PATRICK'S CHURCH, CHRISTMAS 1948

 

 

FRONT ROW:   Carol Ann Maddigan, Constance Jackman, Judy Murphy, Bernice Everard, Judy Whiffen

 

BACK ROW:  Roseann Bulger, K Jardine, Catherine Simms, Peggy Bradbury

 

A very big "THANK YOU" to two wonderful St Patrick's girls, Cathy and Betty Simms, for this beautiful picture.   Cathy is the proud owner of the picture and Betty obtained the picture and Cathy's permission to post it here.  Thank you both for sharing it.  I think it will provide a very pleasant walk down Memory Lane for a lot of people this Christmas.

 

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO

ST PATRICK'S GIRLS AND BOYS

EVERYWHERE. 

MAY 2014 BE FILLED WITH MANY BLESSINGS FOR EACH AND

EVERY ONE OF YOU.

HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY

Today, 21st November, is Presentation Day.  Because St Patrick's Convent School was founded by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) I thought a post about Presentation Day and the founding of the Presentation Sisters in Newfoundland would be appropriate.  The Newfoundland Convent has the distinction of being the first Presentation House outside Ireland and also the first in North America. 

 

Painting of the Presentation of Mary into the Temple.  This
painting is the work of a member of the Presentation
Community at the Motherhouse, Cathedral Square.

Just in case we may have forgotten what 'Presentation Day' actually is, I am posting an excerpt from "The Church's Year of Grace" by Pius Parsch. 

 

"Presentation of Mary
Sacred Scripture contains no text concerning the event commemorated in today's liturgy. For something of a historical background one may consult the apocryphal works, particularly the Protoevangel of St. James (ch. 4:1ff). After an angel had revealed her pregnancy, Anna is said to have vowed her future child Mary to the Lord. Soon after birth the infant was brought to the sacred precincts at which only the best of Israel's daughters were admitted. At the age of three she was transferred to the temple proper (7:2). According to legend, here she was reared like a dove and received her nourishment from the hand of an angel (8:1)."In the East, where the feast, celebrated since the eighth century, is kept as a public holiday, it bears the name, 'The Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple'. It was introduced at Rome by a Cypriotic legate to the papal court of Avignon in 1371. In 1472, Sixtus IV extended its observance to the whole Church. Abolished by Pius V, it was reintroduced some years later (1585)."

 

The following video is another of the excellent videos by my friend Ed O'Neill.  It is a very interesting video about Mother Bernard Kirwan and the founding of the Presentation Sisters in Newfoundland.  In the video, Ed interviews the late Sr Perpetua Kennedy, visits the Presentation Convent in Galway from where Mother Bernard and her little band of pioneers set out, and also visits Mother Bernard's grave in Port Kirwan, Fermeuse, on the beautiful Southern Shore of Newfoundland.  Please take the time to watch the video.  You will be glad you did!

 

 

Thanks again, Ed, for allowing me to repost your video.  And a very Happy Presentation Day to everyone.

A GET TOGETHER!

This is an e-mail I received from Doreen Walsh Noseworthy.    Unfortunately, I can’t be there but all you lucky ladies who are able to attend should get in touch with DOREEN BY FRIDAY, 15^TH NOVEMBER.  I wish I could be there and I send “hello” & “love” & “best wishes” to all my St Patrick’s friends.  Have a great time, everyone!

 

The original School, Convent Square,  & part of the 'new' Convent

Doreen's e-mail:

“Hi everyone! A few of us got together last week and thought it would be nice if we could get some of the crowd together for lunch someday soon. I know this will not include those of you who are at a great distance, but it's easier to send the email to everyone on the list.....we may be getting older, but still not too stunned (ha!).

We have decided on lunch at PAPA'S RESTAURANT, ROWAN ST., CHURCHILL SQUARE, AT NOON, ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. We have a dining area all to ourselves - The Red Room. However, I WILL NEED THE EXACT NUMBER OF THOSE ATTENDING NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, NOV. 15TH. We have been getting a lot of requests for an event like this so we're hoping to see many of you there. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANYONE WHO IS NOT ON THE MAILING LIST BUT WOULD LIKE TO GO, PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND PASS ALONG THE INVITATION.

Hope this message finds all of you well. Looking forward to seeing many of you next week.

Cheers to all,

Doreen”

 

Contact Doreen at;  <dgnoseworthy@nf.sympatico.ca>

"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

In 1921, the new St Patrick's Convent School opened on Deanery Avenue.  The school was dedicated to the memory of the men and boys of St Patrick's Parish who had lost their lives in WWI.  Today, as Remembrance Day dawns once again, we dedicate this post to all those who have paid the supreme sacrifice, not only in WWI, but in all the wars and conflicts that have cursed the earth ever since. 

 

 

The Plaque from  the Deanery Avenue School

 

 

This little newspaper clipping found in a very old scrapbook tells of one parishioner of St Patrick's who gave his young life in WWI. 



From a 1918 newspaper

 

Private Jack Pynn was the son of Daniel and Margaret Pynn of 329 Water Street West. Private Pynn was only 17 years old when he died of wounds on 31st October 1918, just eleven days before the Armistice was signed.  Far from his home in the shadow of St Patrick's, young Private Jack Pynn rests in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.

 

"They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun

and in the morning
We will remember them."

(Robert Laurence Binyon)

CUBS ON PARADE

1st St Patrick's Cub Pack on Parade in 1953

This lovely picture, courtesy of Doreen (McAllister) Heffernan, was taken in 1953, probably on 1st July.  It is the 1st St Patrick's Cub Pack on parade and it shows the leaders, Mrs Rose McCormack and Miss Doreen McAllister.  Following close behind are John McCormack, Tommy Greene and Gerry Meaney.  Behind Gerry is another Meaney, (Basil perhaps?). 

Tommy Greene's creation for the 2010 St Patrick's Reunion

Sadly, Mrs McCormack and John McCormack have passed away.  I think Gerry still lives in St John's and I don't know about the other Meaney boy.  (If you know, please let me know.)  Little Tommy Green grew up to be a very talented maker of beautiful cakes!  He also had the good sense to marry a St Patrick's Convent Girl, Florence Furey.  The above photo shows one of Tom's delicious cakes, made by him for the 2010 St Patrick's Convent School Reunion.   

 

Thanks for this photo, Doreen.  It gave me much pleasure and I am sure it will do the same for many other readers of this blog.

 

DRAWN FROM MEMORY

This post will bring back some memories for a lot of people.  I am posting a  sketch of St Patrick's Convent School, Deanery Avenue.  Many of us were pupils at this school, which was built as a memorial to the boys and men of St Patrick's Parish who gave their lives in WWI.     This beautiful drawing was done, from memory,  by a former pupil of St Patrick's, Kay Simms McCormack .

One of eleven children, Kay Simms was born in 1932 to Bill and Louise Simms, prominent and well respected members of St Patrick's Parish.  Many will recall the concerts at which the dancers and singers were accompanied on the piano by Mrs  Simms.  In the 1930s and 1940s Kay and her three sisters, Dot, Betty and Jennie, all attended St Patrick's Convent School.  One of Kay's brothers, Ray, also attended St Patrick's where he took Commercial.  It seems the norm that friendships forged as children at St Patrick's last a lifetime. Kay is no exception as she still cherishes the friendships and keeps in contact with some of her school friends. 

A SKETCH OF THE DEANERY AVENUE SCHOOL,
DONE FROM MEMORY BY KAY McCORMACK

Kay loves to sketch but her niece, Betty Simms,  tells me that she is also a very talented painter.  For this lovely additiion to our School Blog I am very grateful to my good friend Betty Simms and to her amazing Aunt, Kay Simms McCormack.  Long may you continue to paint and sketch, Kay, and we would be delighted to see more of your work.  Thanks very much and may God bless you.

DO YOU REMEMBER MISS LEE?

OK Friends, I need your help on this one so please put your thinking caps on.  I have received the following e-mail from Wanita and I am wondering if any of you have any information on "MISS" Lee?  I remember a Miss Howard who married a man named Lee but I am not sure if she continued teaching at St Patrick's after her marriage.  So any scrap of information you can contribute would be very welcome. 

Miss Howard (Mrs Lee) is on the right of this photo, which was taken in 2010.  Could this be Wanita's "MISS" Lee?

Wanita's e-mail:

"Your blog is wicked and I have to get back and spend some time on it. There is always more new (old) information on it.

I am wondering if you might be able to help me with this. Do you or any of your readers remember a Miss Lee who taught 1957-1959. Would anyone know if she is still alive or if she married or where to find her? Or what her first name was?

Any information on her would be greatly appreciated.

Let me know if you can help with this request?

Thanks girls,

Wanita"

 

I leave this with all of you St Patrick's Girls out there and I hope someone will come up with some information for Wanita.  Thanks everyone.