MEMORIAL DAY , "BETTER THAN THE BEST"

The Battle of the Somme was one of the largest battles of WWI and one of the bloodiest in human history. It began on 1^st July 1916 and dragged on for almost five months, ending when Commander-in-Chief Sir Douglas Haig called off the offensive in November. Over the 141 day battle, casualties were more than one million with over 300,000 deaths. The British had advanced a paltry five miles!

Marker at Beaumont Hamel

No Canadian infantry units participated in the attack on 1^st July.  (Newfoundland was not part of Canada until 1949!) The 1^st Newfoundland Regiment, attached to a British division, was there.  On that morning the Newfoundland Regiment was cut down by German machine-gun fire as it attacked over open ground. Pte Cameron of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers witnessed the battle.  He wrote, “On came the Newfoundlanders, a great body of men, but the fire intensified and they were wiped out in front of my eyes.”

Plaque in the Museum at Ypres

After the Battle of 1st July, Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces, Sir Douglas Haig, wrote to the Newfoundland Government “I should like you to let my fellow citizens of the Empire in the oldest overseas portion of the British Realm know how well their lads have done, both Non-Commissioned Officers and Men, and how proud I, as their Corps Commander, am to have had such a Battalion under my command, and to be a comrade in arms of each and all of them.  Newfoundlanders, I salute you!  You are Better than the Best"

In the Museum at Ypres

In the 1920s the Newfoundland Government bought the ground over which the Newfoundland Regiment fought. 

Newfoundland Memorial Park, Beaumont Hamel, France

The first Memorial Day ceremony took place in downtown St John’s one year after the battle. For many years 1^st July was an official day of Remembrance in Newfoundland but now Memorial Day is very largely overshadowed by the celebration of Canada Day (more’s the pity!).

War Memorial, St John's

Get yourselves off to Bowring Park today (INVITATION OR NO INVITATION!) and sing it LOUD and sing it PROUD!

https://youtu.be/J_wzVUaKLi0

They won us the right to sing it!

HAPPY ST JOHN'S DAY

 

Window at Ryan Premises, Bonavista 

Have a look at the Coat of Arms at the top of this window and the other, early picture. The Arms were officially granted by Royal Warrant of King Charles I on 1 January 1637. Following the original grant of arms, its existence was forgotten until the 1920s when they were rediscovered after inquiries by the Imperial War Graves Commission.

The original grant was recertified by the Garter King of Arms on 18 February1925.

Finally, on 1 January 1928 they were readopted by the Government of Newfoundland.

The Latin motto, "Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei", St Matthew, chapter 6 verse 33, translates to "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God".

HAPPY ST JOHN'S DAY

STs PETER AND PAUL CHURCH, BAY BULLS

This post has only the most tenuous link to St Patrick's and, to be perfectly honest, I didn't even know there was a link until I had already begun to look into this church's history. This post is really due to a comment made by my friend Edwena on my Facebook page.  Edwena's comment peeked my interest and I went scurrying off to find out about a church that I have visited so many times since my childhood but knew so little about.  Well I found some facts that I can only describe as delicious.  Not a word I have used before in respect of information but it seems apt for some of the things I have learned about this  lovely church and town.

Bay Bulls circa 1995

Bay Bulls is one of the oldest communities in Newfoundland.  Its first appearance on a map was on Thomas Hood's map in 1592. The name Bay Bulls seems to be a bit of an enigma with several derivations being suggested.  Bishop Howley attributes the name to Jersey Fishermen who called it Bay Boulle.

In those days, the European powers were all trying to expand their territories in the New World. (It wasn't really "new".  It was there all the time but they just didn't know about it.😏).  France and England were among the greediest of the lot and many wars ensued.  Today the wars between France and England continue - on the Football pitch! 

For several hundred years, Bay Bulls suffered perhaps more than its share of attacks and invasions.  Governor David Kirke fortified the harbour in 1638. Not to be outdone by their French and English neighbours, the Dutch, under De Ruyter, raided Bay Bulls in 1655. During the Nine Years War (1688-1697) Bay Bulls was attacked twice. In 1696, the Governor of Placentia, then in French hands, attacked the settlement from the sea. In 1697 d'Iberville marched overland from Placentia and attacked Bay Bulls. That must have been quite a hike.  It took nine days!

On St John's Day, 24 June 1762, Admiral deTernay landed 700 men at Bay Bulls.  They then marched on St John's.  In 1796, the French attempted to storm St John's.  Finding St John's too well defended, the French turned instead to Bay Bulls, which they attacked and burned.  This 1796 invasion was the last on Bay Bulls. 

The early residents of Bay Bulls must have been brave and resilient because, despite it all, they persevered. They, and their descendants, have made their community the beautiful and important place that it is today.

If you are like me, you have often seen the Catholic Church in Bay Bulls. Also, if you are like me, you know a few scraps of information about this church and its extraordinary gateposts.  However, you don't know as much as you should know.  Well, I have been doing some digging (not literally) and I have found some wonderful facts about the Church of Sts Peter and Paul.

Vicar Apostolic James O'Donel, later Bishop O'Donel, built the first church in Bay Bulls sometime before 1796. Later that year the church was destroyed by the French but it was rebuilt that same year. In 1831 Dean Patrick Cleary erected a church on the present site.  Then in 1890, the lovely church we see today was erected by Dean Nicholas Roche on the site of the 1831 church. 

Sts Peter and Paul Church is interesting  inside and out.  The inside architecture is unique.  While it has been updated to comply with the changes brought about by Vatican II, it still retains some pre-Council features.  In 1931 the parish installed a Casavant Organ. John O'Brien, Chairperson of the Finance Committee, tells me that the Church's Bell Tower contains nine bells, one huge bell and eight smaller chime bells. 

Interior view of Parish Church, circa 1995

The crucifix at the back of the church has its own special tale to tell.  I came across its picture while scrolling through the parish Facebook page and I am, to say the least, just blown away by its story. (That's another first for me. I have never, ever used that expression before!) This crucifix dates back to at least 1796 and it was in the chapel built by James O'Donel. When the French invaded Bay Bulls in 1796, they burned the church.  Some quick thinking person saved the crucifix by taking it to the woods to keep it safe from the marauding French.

Crucifix secreted in the woods in 1796

The crucifix has been on this site for almost 200 years. Having previously been in the 1831 church, the crucifix was  transferred to the present church when it opened in 1890.  It was lovingly placed at the back of the church where it remains, still cared for and treasured.

Now to those wonderful and unusual gateposts!  Their story begins with Fr Patrick O'Brien who was Parish Priest from 1924 to 1940.  

Patrick O'Brien was born at Bay Bulls in November 1859.  He was educated at his local parish schools and at St Bonaventure's College, St John's. He qualified as a teacher and spent about six years teaching in various places in Newfoundland.  In 1886 O'Brien began preparation for the priesthood and, on 24 June 1890, he was ordained a priest in All Hallows College Chapel, Dublin, Ireland.  He returned to Newfoundland shortly after. In 1924 Fr O'Brien was appointed Parish Priest of Sts Peter and Paul Parish, Bay Bulls.

Unique gateposts of the Catholic Church at Bay Bulls

Fr O'Brien decided to utilize four old cannons which were left over from the turbulent days of French/English hostilities.  He had them upended and used as gateposts at the entrance to the church grounds.  Two of the cannons, the smaller ones, were French, the larger ones  English. The larger cannons bear the cypher of King George III of England who reigned from 1760-1820.  

Sir Michael Patrick Cashin, businessman, politician and, briefly, Prime Minister of Newfoundland, was the local M H A. He was a Southern Shore Man, born and bred. Salvaging material from shipwrecks, of which there were plenty in the waters off Newfoundland, was the responsibility of Government officials, know as Wreck Commissioners.  At one time in his career, Cashin held just such a position. He actually earned the sobriquet of "King of the Wrecks". The Wreck Commissioners had agreements with local fishermen to save the cargoes and the spoils were split among the fishermen, owners and underwriters and, of course, the Wreck Commissioner. 

Bay Bulls and the Church as seen from the water,
circa 1995

A ship sailing from France to Quebec was wrecked off the Southern Shore. Four statues were salvaged from the ship.  The statues depicted were Saints Patrick, Peter, Paul and Therese.  Wreck Commissioner Cashin gifted the statues to Fr O'Brien. Fr O'Brien had the retrieved statues installed atop the cannon gateposts.  And there they sit to this very day!  Now, I ask you, are these facts delicious or not?

This should enable you to identify the four canonized saints of Bay Bulls on your next visit. As you stand facing the church, the Saint at the top of the first cannon is St Patrick holding the shamrock.  Moving on to the next and larger cannon, we have St Peter holding the keys. St Paul gazes out from the top of the next cannon. He is holding the sword.  Finally, St Therese of Lisieux is ensconced, very appropriately, on the French cannon.

The Canonized Saints, and visitors

Like so many of our other Parish Churches, Sts Peter and Paul came under threat from the debacle that lost so many of our beloved churches.  The people of Bay Bulls showed they had inherited the same resilience and determination as their forebears. They worked hard together and, fortunately, they were able to save their beloved Parish Church. Follow the work of the Parish of Sts Peter and Paul at https://www.facebook.com/PeterPaulParish/.

I know this post is longish but I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed discovering those great facts.  I send my thanks to my good friend, Edwena, for the impetus that got me going on this and to John O'Brien who supplied me with so much information about his parish church. 

Oh, I almost forgot - that link to our St Patrick's?  At one time young Fr Patrick O'Brien was a curate at St Patrick's!  I did tell you it was a tenuous link 😀.

Ode to Newfoundland sung by the Choir of the Basilica Cathedral of St. J...

"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

A RECORD FRIENDSHIP?

I have had some lovely photos from Joan Fogarty.  Joan has been one of the most supportive followers of St Patrick's School Blog and once again, I thank you, Joan.  Joan and her school friends have remained friends since Kindergarten and regularly meet up several times a year. Is this a record friendship? 

On 4th December, Joan hosted an afternoon tea for the 'girls' and she has kindly shared these photos with us. 

Christmas Afternoon Tea

The Faithful Friends

I am happy to say that Joan has also given names.

Mary Bulger Corcoran, Rosemary Ashley Healy, Betty Fitzgerald Pye, Judy Fitzgerald Squires, Brenda Casey Grouchy, Kathleen Dobbin Benson, Patricia Connolly Leonard, Joan Connolly Alston, Eleanor Sears Vatcher, Joan Reynolds Fogarty

Thank you, Joan. I am sorry it has taken so long for me to get this posted. The jury is still out on the problem being the computer or the computer operator!

May it be a joyous Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year for you lovely ladies.

HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY

As this is Presentation Day, I thought I would re-post this very first post I did on the school Blog.  

HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY, EVERYONE.

 THE LADY WITH THE LANTERN

Honora Nagle (known as Nano) was born in 1718 in Ballygriffin, near Mallow, County Cork. She was descended from a Norman Baron who founded an Irish Augustinian priory. Her father, Garret, was a wealthy landowner. Her mother, Ann, was from a prominent Tipperary family and a relative of the famous parliamentarian, Edmund Burke. In Ireland at that time, Penal Laws, designed to keep Catholics poor, uneducated, and oppressed, made it unlawful to open a Catholic School or to travel abroad for an education. Despite the Penal Laws, the Nagles had managed to keep most of their wealth and, through family connections, were able to send, discretely, Nano and her sister Ann to Paris. Here they received a thorough Catholic education. They also enjoyed the gaiety of life in Parisian Society! Early one morning Nano and Ann were in a cab, returning from a Ball in that great city. They came upon a group of poor people huddled outside a church door, waiting to attend early Mass before going to their work. Nano compared her own privileged lifestyle to these poor people. The scene so disturbed her that she decided to do something to help the poor.

In 1746, Garret Nagle died and Nano and Ann returned to Ireland to live with their mother in Dublin, where there was widespread poverty. One day Nano was looking for a piece of valuable Parisian silk, which Ann told her she had sold and given the money to the poor. Nano was profoundly touched by this and years later, said that it was this that had decided her vocation. She returned to Paris with the intention of consecrating her life to God in a cloistered order where she could pray for the poor. However, her very perceptive Jesuit Confessor advised her to return to Ireland and work for the poor and deprived in her homeland.

She went back to Cork and lived with her brother, Joseph. In Cork, she rented a mud cabin in Cove Lane and, in secret, set up her first school for the poor. Her aim was to provide these poorest of the poor with a sound religious education as well as an all round education that would help them to make their way in life. Nano had received a substantial inheritance from her Uncle Joseph and she used this to finance her charitable work. When her money ran out, she became a beggar for her beloved poor. Her charitable work did not stop at providing schools for the poor. She went out to them in the hovels and alleyways of Cork bringing them as much help and succour as she could. After her long days in the schoolroom, night would often overtake her as, with her lantern, she made her way home through the dark.

To give her schools more permanency, Nano brought some Irish Ursulines from France to teach in Cork. For various reasons, this was not a success and, though Nano never lost her love for the Ursulines and continued to help them financially, she began to think of setting up her own congregation of religious sisters. This congregation came into being on 24th December 1775. Nano’s preferred title was ‘The Sisters of Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’. After Nano’s death, and with Papal approval, the name was changed to the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, (P B V M), by which they are still known today. Although Nano and her little group received the religious habit on 24th June 1776, it was not until 1800 that the Sisters first wore religious dress in public. Nano, the congregation’s first superior, chose the name of Sister Saint John of God but, under prevailing Penal Laws, she was known officially as Miss Nagle.

The Latin words on the Nagle Coat of Arms roughly translated as ‘Deeds Not Words’ and Nano certainly lived by this motto! As well as long hours in prayer, Nano engaged in every work that would alleviate the misery of the poor. However, regarding the work, she told her Sisters “We must prefer the schools to all others”. So it was that Nano Nagle blazed the trail and inspired great educators such as Edmund Ignatius Rice and Catherine McAuley who followed in her footsteps. In 1782, a Relief Bill allowed Catholics, for the first time since 1695, to open their own schools. Of course, this had conditions but it did go some way to realizing Nano’s dream when her secret schools could at last operate openly.

In 1769, Nano had written to a friend, “If I could be of any service in saving souls in any part of the globe, I would willingly do all in my power”. True to her missionary vision, the Presentation Sisters, beginning in 1833, spread to every continent. Nano Nagle died, aged 65, on 26th April 1784. Today, all over the world, her spiritual daughters, the Presentation Sisters, continue the work of their holy foundress. Nor is she forgotten in her native Ireland! In 2005, an Irish newspaper poll voted Nano Nagle the greatest Irish woman of all time. In 2002, in a similar poll, she had been voted greatest Irish person of all time.

Links to this post:  THE FIRST PRESENTATION CONVENT OUTSIDE IRELAND

CAN YOU HELP?

"We have loved them in life; let us not abandon them until we have conducted them, by our prayers, into the house of the Lord." (St Ambrose)

Queen of Angels, pray for them

It will soon be November, the month which the Church dedicates to the Holy Souls. If you are a regular reader of this Blog, you will know that, in the right-hand column, we remember our departed St Patrick's friends and relatives.  Of course, I don't know everybody, so I depend on you to help me with this.  Therefore, as November approaches, I ask you to have another look at the names on the list.  If you know of any St Patrick's person, teacher or pupil, who has been omitted, please let me know so that we can remember them too.  Just send names, maiden and married, and the date of death if you know it, to mcallistersmith@gmail.com.  I will add them to the list so that we can, in this small gesture, love and honor our departed school friends and teachers. 

1967/68 GRADE 3 CLASS REUNION

If ever there is an award for the school with the most loyal and the most fun-loving graduates, I think St Patrick's Convent Schools will definitely be top contender!  Christine Rossiter Butler and Teri Healey Evans have sent me news of their annual schoolfriends' get together. On 14 October 2022, the group met again for some reminiscing, fun, and laughter.

Teri said:  "Today I had the pleasure of getting together with some of my St. Patrick's Girls School classmates.  Unfortunately, some couldn't attend and there are some who we couldn't reach or sadly had passed away. Here is our grade 3 class and today's photo. 4 of the ladies surprised us by wearing a replica of our School uniform! Lol. So nice every year to get together and reminisce and have a few (well a lot) of laughs!  St. Patrick's Girls are the best!"  

Christine and Teri have also sent some great pictures.  Here are the photos and Christine has kindly given us names.

Christine and Terri with their Grade 3 Class, 1967/68
(Teacher is Mrs Coady)

14 October 2022

Back: Ann Norris Lastiwaka, Judy Kavanagh Morgan, Debbie Barron Anderson, Donna Simmonds Brown, Ann O'Driscoll, Joanne Green Gillespie, Janice Fagan, Christine Rossiter Butler

Middle: Cathy Handrigan Vincent, Teri Healey Evans

Front: Mary Harris Squires, Donna Constantine Walsh, Charlene Whelan Pike, Karen Mugford Fitzgerald, Ellen Stone Wright

 Ellen, Karen, Charlene, Donna (Any knees showing?)

Terri imparted a bit of typical 'Convent School' wisdom.  She said that the uniformed ladies knelt down to demonstrate how the Sisters would measure the length of the uniforms.  If, when kneeling, the hem didn't touch the floor, then the uniform was judged to be too short! 😲 

At the get together, they all laughed a lot over that bit of nostalgia, but I don't suppose anyone laughed much when the Nuns were actually doing the measuring! 

Did you notice the little touch that added authenticity to the uniforms and to what it was like to go to St Patrick's Convent Schools?  That blue ribbon and medal pinned to each uniform?  That was the norm every May.  A blue ribbon and medal in honour of Our Lady in the month of May and a red ribbon and medal or Sacred Heart Badge in honour of the Sacred Heart in the month of June.  Well done for thinking of the ribbons ladies.  It was a beautiful touch!

And another bit of authenticity is the 'Presentation Clutch'! The girls in uniform all have their hands clasped just as we did when we were in school. (Have a scroll through this site and you will see the same thing in all the old school pictures.)  In my days at St Patrick's, we referred to this hand clasping as the 'Presentation Clutch'.  It's so nice that you remembered. 

In Christine's email, she said that she looks forward to this gathering every year and that she hopes to continue for a long time!  Oh, Christine, I am with you on that and hope to be posting your contributions for many years to come. As Teri said, "ST PATRICK'S GIRLS ARE THE BEST!"

👉👉A little P S.  I just heard a whisper that the uniforms were made by Donna Constantine Walsh.  Excellent job, Donna.

SHAME ON YOU!

This is just a thought but were you wanting to close some Churches anyway? Did you see this abuse scandal as a good way of getting rid of some Parishes and letting the blame fall, not on the so called "Shepherds", but on the disgusting priests and Brothers who have caused so much pain and distress to so many? Just wondering?

Anyway, SHAME ON THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST JOHN'S FOR NOT DOING MORE TO HELP THE PARISHES THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE GREAT SACRIFICES TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN.

SHAME ON YOU!

SHAME ON YOU WHO CAN HIDE BEHIND THE COST OF COMPENSATION AS AN EXCUSE TO CLOSE PARISHES THAT YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF ANYWAY.

SHAME ON YOU!

SHAME ON YOU!

MAY GOD FORGIVE YOU!

189 YEARS AGO

Today, 21 September, is the feast of St Matthew. It was on this day in 1883 that the brig, 'Ariel', under command of Captain William Staunton, sailed into St John's harbour with four Irish ladies, and the Bishop of Newfoundland, Michael Anthony Fleming, on board. The four Irish ladies were Presentation Sisters who had volunteered to accompany the Bishop from their convent in Galway. Sisters M Bernard Kirwan, M Xaverius Lynch, M Xavier Molony, and M Magdalen O'Shaughnessy, would go on to establish in St John's the first Presentation House in North America, in fact, the first outside Ireland.  Sr Bernard Kirwan, who was the Superior, was therefore the foundress of the Presentation Sisters in North America.

We, as graduates of St Patrick's Convent Schools, owe our education, and much else, to these four brave and selfless Irish Nuns who left their homes for a distant land 189 years ago.

LINDA'S PICTURES

I have had some very interesting pictures from Linda Withers.  They will take you back more than a few years! 

56 year old kindergarten uniform &
50 year old gym t-shirt

School clothes from 50+ years ago

The green tunic is Linda's 56 year old Kindergarten Uniform.  It is size xx small (how sweet is that💖).  The blue one is a gym t-shirt and it is a mere 50 years old!  It is size medium.

St Patrick's Convent School Pin

Linda surprised herself when she found her old School Pin and she kindly shared a picture of that with us too.

Linda's School Pin on her Gym T-shirt

Linda, I am very grateful to you for sharing your lovely mementos and memories with us. Anything else you would care to share, including anecdotes or stories about your schooldays, would be very welcome.  Thank you, Linda.  

JOAN AND FRIENDS

I am so happy to see that Joan Reynolds Fogarty and her amazing group of school friends are still getting together.  These ladies have been friends since Kindergarten and on 25 May they met for lunch at The Rooms.  Bless you, ladies, and keep on celebrating friendship.  It really is a precious gift.

THE BEAUTIFUL ST PATRICK'S SCHOOL FRIENDS

Thanks, Joan, for the picture and for keeping in touch.  Please keep us up to date with your group.  Stay safe.

ST PATRICK'S CHURCH

http://stpatrickschurch.ca/2.0/news/

HAVE A LOOK AT THE LATEST NEWS FROM ST PATRICK'S PARISH. 

READ AND WEEP

OUR BELOVED ST PATRICK'S CHURCH, 1992

 May 14/15, 2022

Dear Parishioners of St. Patrick’s and St. John Bosco Parishes:

As you are aware, the Basilica Heritage Foundation in partnership with St. Bonaventure’s School and Forum are planning to bid to re-purchase the Basilica Block. If this bid is successful, the Basilica will continue to operate as a parish and as the cathedral for our Archdiocese. We are grateful and relieved that the Basilica may be preserved as a place of worship, especially for the people of the central region of St. John’s. This, however, leaves several questions about the future of our parishes.

On June 2^nd, the bids for all churches in the St. John’s area are due and will be evaluated by the Trustees. Following this, we expect to know which churches have been purchased and which have not. Currently, we are not aware of anyone pursuing to bid on St. Patrick’s church. Since St. John Bosco is not up for sale, it will not be immediately affected by the results of June 2^nd; however, a decision will have to be reached at some point regarding its future as a parish.

From the results of our parish survey and parishioner feedback we have not yet seen sufficient financial commitment to consider a bid to preserve St. Patrick’s in addition to the Basilica. In our parish letter of March 26^th/27^th we also communicated the Archbishop’s points for consideration in this matter, which include:

• It would seem one parish would be sufficient for the central region of St. John’s.
• The Basilica seems to be the preferred home for this amalgamated parish.
• The Archbishop would not stand in the way of any individual parish that wished to proceed with a separate bid to repurchase their parish church, but financial viability and the availability of clergy to staff the parish would need to be considered.
• To bid on a church, an interested parish group would have to either form a separate corporation or make its bid through the Archdiocese’s new holding corporation.

While there are significant reasons in favour of keeping only the Basilica for the central region of St. John’s, if a group of dedicated parishioners wish to preserve St. Patrick’s, they are free to try to do so, keeping the above considerations in mind.

We expect that if St. Patrick’s remains unpurchased by June 2^nd, we may continue to use it as our parish church until some final arrangement of ownership is reached. However, this requires that we meet our ongoing financial costs (e.g. heat, light, insurance, salaries etc.). We encourage all of you to continue to generously support the upkeep of our parish. All your contributions go towards the usual weekly costs of the parish operation. We have been running a deficit each month since January and our parish accounts are getting very low; however, we are planning to begin a fund-raising effort to help meet these operating costs. St. John Bosco has been much closer to meeting its operating costs.

As we await the results of June 2^nd, we will try to continue as a parish, and we thank you for your ongoing support. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to any of the members of our Parish Council, Finance Committee, or to our parish priest. To speak with any of us, please either approach one of us in church or leave a message at the parish office and we will get back to you.

Sincerely yours,

The Parish Council and Finance Committees of St. Patrick’s and St. John Bosco Parishes

(Rex Anthony, Jim Armstrong, Katrina McAlister, Allison Myler, Patricia Norman, Brenda Sheir, Kelly Skinner, Patricia Walsh-Warren, David Warford, Liam Warren)

with Fr. James Fleming

SCHOOL SOUVENIRS

Teri Healey Evans is sharing some lovely school souvenirs with us.  They are little cards which were given to her late sister, Cindy, and kept by their mother.  Teri came across them in a book belonging to her mother and thought we would like  to see them.  She and I both thought these might encourage others to share any such tokens on our School Blog.  We think there are plenty of them still out there.  I know that I have at least one tucked away somewhere.  I am going to have a look for it and post it when I find it.  Come on, all you St Patrick's Convent School grads, please turn out your souvenir boxes and see what you can find to share with us all. 

Front and back of Cindy's card from Miss Walsh

Front and back of card given to Cindy by Miss Rogers

Thanks Teri.  These are really nice and, anything else you come across would be welcome too.  Keep in touch.📚👩🏼‍🎓👨🏼‍🎓

👉👉 BEFORE YOU GO, HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR BELOVED ST PATRICK'S PARISH. THINGS AREN'T LOOKING GOOD.😭

http://stpatrickschurch.ca/2.0/news/