Salve Regina University - Regina Maris Yearbook (Newport, RI)

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Godly Deeds Have Not Failed ECCLES. 44, 10 These few and simple words can never measure the height and the breadth and the depth of the spirit of mercy shining out upon our lives in the person of Mother Mary Hilda. Mother she was to us not only in the canonical definition of that term but much more so in its inherent and connotative significance. She exemplified for us courtesy, dig- nity, graciousness and compassion together with a genuine concern for our progress toward excel- lence. Integrity of character as Catholic women and integrity of scholarship as college students, these two existed as a unity in Mother ' s mind and were the measure of her desires for each one of us. Salve Regina College was her dream come true; realized in 1947 afte r many years of planning and of prayer. It was she who found in this ancient salutation to Our Lady, a salutation sounding down through the ages in the liturgy, a salutation the great saints and doctors of the Church have cher- ished; yes, it was she who found this a fitting title for this dwelling place where we are gathered to grow in wisdom and in grace. Through these nine- teen years this name has become part of us. It has added a dimension to our characters. It has caught within its many connotations the spirit of a place and of those who have actually laid down their lives that our lives might be more noble and more worthy of our Christian heritage. Thus, Mother Hilda herself has become for us an exten- sion in the fullness of meaning in two familiar words, Salve Regina. We have known Mother in the simple h appen- ings of every day, her presence at Mass, her greeting as we met her on our way to class, her kindly inquiry about some problem or her warm praise for something well done. Her door was always open to us whether we went individually or in a group. The traditions of our college years were graced by her presence and her words, the Ring Ceremony, the Christmas Party for the children, the Candlelight Procession, the Honors Convoca- tion and, of course, Commencement. Indeed she was rich in virtue, a lover of beauty and the arts, a woman endued with wisdom whose godly deeds have not failed, one who surely has left us a holy inheritance and one whose name will live from generation to generation. 15

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For One Whose Mother Mary Hilda, 1881-1966 14

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Mother Hilda had many interests. Here she chats a few moments with Reverend Vincent Dore, former president of Providence College. Then we find her at the ground breaking for Miley Hall in the October of 1963. Finally she shares the joy of the laying of the cornerstone in April, 1964.