Mount Saint Mary Academy - Mountain Chimes Yearbook (Plainfield, NJ)

Page 16 text:

Second Mount Saint Mary's. Unbelievably, in October, l9l 3, a larger and more majestic Mount St. Mary's was com- pleted. Our Lady continued to watch over her dear ones, and the succeeding years showed growth and advancement. Today the Academy is one of the finest and most representative among schools for Catholic education. lts doors are open to all. lts reputation for art, music and culture is well known, and the graduates, inspired by Christian principles and by their affiliations with all movements of the Catholic church, bring honor to their Alma Mater. i2

Page 15 text:

Our Lady remained standing with dauntless courage over the charred ruins. March 2, 1911. Re' 'B The year for the first graduation arrived, but before the time of commencement all was changed. On the night of March second, 1911, a devastating fire leveled the interior structure to the ground and left only the walls standing. Not a life was lost that night, for a valiant band of Sisters stood at their posts in the cold of the winter. Undaunted and with superhuman courage, the Sisters secured several houses in the City of Plainfield, and continued the daily instructions so that there would be no interruption of classes. Thus Academy diplomas and College degrees could be conferred upon their loyal and deserving students The Sisters had accepted with beautiful resignation the loss of their Motherhouse and Academy. While they suffered keenly from this sudden tragedy, the spirit and courage to rebuild was instilled by Our Lady, who remained standing with dauntless courage over the charred threshold.

Page 17 text:

With the encouragement and approbation of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Walsh, D.D., LL.D., the Community further ex- panded by the purchase of the estate of Mr. George J. Gould, in Lakewood, New Jersey. This was the foresight and wisdom of Mother Mary Cecelia and Mother Mary Catherine and the undertaking commands our greatest admira- tion. As a result of this purchase, Mount St. Mary's College became the new Georgian Court College. lt is an ideal College for the student wishing home life and at the same time desiring the benefits of a Catholic College environment. This College has the highest accreditation and is affiliated with the Catholic University of America and Fordham University. The Most Reverend William A. Griffin, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Trenton, is the President Ex-Officio of the College. His profound wisdom has guided the College in all high-minded endeavors, and under his leadership, the spiri- tual and intellectual life of Georgian Court College has flourished. Sister Marie Anna, the residing President of the College, Sister Mary Giovanni, Dean, and the Sister Faculty possess that religious humility and brave fearlessness which has characterized the Sisters of Mercy through their years of educational progress. As we review the strenuous up-hill struggle, that now marks the Seventy- fifth Anniversary, we see that each year had its precious attainments. Provi- dentially, the Community of the Sisters of Mercy was blessed with strong, noble women as leaders, who placed each new project in education in the guilding Hand of the Divine Teacher. GEORGIAN COURT COLLEGE