Academy of the Holy Angels - Echoes Yearbook (Fort Lee, NJ)

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ir- 5 Eenoias 'V f 9 2 s ,W gzgzfa Last.: u ,,, , , ,sa .Y 'S .-.I . gl, .cg .U 1 B D 4 4 0 D 411411114411unuunlh -'fEi 4 , -' 1 V - .-agar it YQQEWL ummm nnnwxx ww f i .r' f- - To Venerable Sister Mary Theophista For whatsoever thou shalt do Unto the least of men, Shall, multiplied an hundredfold, Be given to thee again. These words, serene, prophetic, Were uttered by the Lord, The One Whom, all your whole life through, Alone you have adored. The One before Whom, on that day Long past, you humbly kneltg For Whom within your noble heart, Sweet love and homage felt. ' To Him you freely gave your life, With all its joys, its woes, And of the noble deeds since done, 'T is He alone Who knows. 'T is many years since on yourself His heavy Cross you tookg And many were the trials you For His sweet sake did brook. You've struggled bravely, nobly, Without a pause or stop, Unless to aid another soul Who longed to reach the top. And every soul you've aided Will but prove to be a gem In your bright crown of gloryg In your sparkling diadem. And every deed you have performed- Each was a noble one- Has added yet another stone, More brilliant than the sun. For what you've done upon this earth Has won respect and love, But how can our poor love compare With that of Christ above? One way alone to us is known Our gratitude to show, We pray dear Jesus e'er on you His choicest gifts bestow. 63 GRACE M. CHRIST, '28

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s f' s Q EcHoEs a rf D 1.9.2. s fi 2, '5 cr, 9 I ll ll ., , .. 55. :it -.g A!x ,5 xxxx .,,.x 1 XXVXKXYAKXQ ivan Holy Angels Welcomes Venerable Sister Superior M. Corona Upon our return to school last September, we were grieved to hear that Venerable Sister Mary Jerome who, for six years, had been Superior at Holy Angels, had been called away. It was not long, however, before we found that, though we had lost one friend, we had been given another-one who would do her utmost for our happiness. Venerable Sister Corona, who came to fill the place left vacant by Sister jerome's removal to Baltimore, made us feel that our interests were hers by visiting us on the opening day of school. That little act alone made us feel at home with her, and before very long, Sister had endeared herself to each of usg and we experienced a sense of gratitude that we had been given a kind mother, a constant friend, and a gentle advisor. The time already spent here has proven to be one of work and endeavor for others-a constant seeking to give to each one that which would make her happy. Her warm sympathy and deep interest in our every enterprise nurtured the love so early implanted in our hearts. We regret most sincerely that we have had but one brief year of her friendship and guidance, but we know that the affection which she so spontaneously inspired in us has not, like the ivy of Jonas, sprung up over night but to wither and die the next day under the seering rays of ingratitude and forgetfulness. We envy those who follow us and who are to continue for some time under her guidance. To them we bequeath a true love, a lasting respect, and a warm friendship for our Venerable Sister Superior, to whom we bid farewell with much regret. But across the far miles that may separate. us we shall often come in spirit, and from the depths of our hearts we shall ever breathe a fervent God bless you, always, dear Sister Corona. -ELBANOR HENNESSY, '28 62

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q :jg 15 5 Ji' . - 1 -qi? A Q EcHoEs 4 125? ,Egg s 1.9.2. s it , W 1 xf, 2 s r, 9 1 W :nfl lllllllllllll -f n .V r Golden jubilee of Venerable Sister Mary Theophista, S.S.N.D. They who instruct others unto justice shall shine as stars for all eternity. It is our happy privilege to have our graduation from Holy Angels coincide with the Golden jubilee of its beloved Directress-Venerable Sister Mary Theophista. More than fifty years have sped by since first she heard the Voice of God calling her to lay aside the things of this world and take up His holy Cross in the cloistered sanctuary of the religious life. Willingly she consented, knowing that the sacrifice made for His dear sake would bring ample recompense for the renunciation of parents, relatives, and friends, and of all the prized and dearlyfloved possessions of her former life. However, willing though she was, it was not without difficulties that she followed the call, for the breaking of home ties is never easy, but the knowledge of the reward, exceeding great, stored away for her in eternity, gave her strength and courage to hearken to the Voice of God. This year marks the Golden Jubilee of her Religious Profession. As she looks back over the fifty years that have passed since the day on which she irrevocably pledged herself as the Spouse of Christ, and especially over the fortyffour years spent here in our loved school, where she has done so much to continue the splendid work begun by Venerable Sister Nonna, she can but feel that her great sacrifice has not been in vain, for in her capable hands and under her wise management the Institute of Holy Angels has grown and flourished. In retrospect, she will see the many classes of students that have been graduated and gone forth from the school with its principles instilled deep in their minds and with love for the school and its Directress deep in their hearts. If she looks about her, at present, she will see the many students who are still under her care and guidance, all of whom respect and love her. And considering all this, her Jubilee will become a time of gladness and of rejoicing that she has faithfully and worthily fulilled the Will of God. It has not all been an easy task, of course. As Thomas a Kempis says: It is no small thing to dwell in a religious community or congregation, and to live there without com' plaint and therein to remain faithful even unto death. There were many hardships to be borne, many difficulties to be overcome. It was a task for a strong character who would not allow herself to be easily overwhelmed by the difficulties confronting her. For such a task, no one was better qualified than Sister Theophista. The very worst of the difficulties were overcomeg the most severe hardships were borne with the humble heart of one who knew that We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God. But all these difficulties and hardships pale into insignificance when compared with the success in which all her efforts have culminated. The Venerable Foundress of the school, who is still deeply interested in it despite her four score years and seven, must, indeed, feel that its management is in the hands of one who is most worthy of the work. For it was through Sister Theophista's untiring zeal and energy that one of her dearest 64