Academy of the Holy Names - JM Yearbook (Albany, NY)

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Golden Bliss Of Prayers by Mary Murray OnNovember 21, 22, and 23, A.H. N. became quiet. Quite unnaturally we were women wrapped in silence. The reason was that our retreat, golden bliss of alonement with God, was taking place under Father Adrian Brennan O.F.M. Conv. On the first day,'Father set the tone with an inspiring talk, Friend- ship between Christ and Me. We realized Christ's love for us and ul- timately began to question our gener- osity in return. That morning Father helped us greatly by imparting to us through, Wanting People to Like Me a code for Christian living, generosity, hu- mility, self-understanding, patience, charity and meekness. The talk on Devotion to Mary pointed out the importance of loving and praying to our Blessed Mother since she is the mother of God. Theclosing conference was Treatment of Parents and Superi- ors. The important fact brought home was that we will always owe obedience to someone since we are constantly under God. lmbued with the spirit of retreat, we started the second day with a vital topic: Problems of Dating. During this conference we determined to o- bey the laws of the Church concerning dating primarily to help in our quest for eternal happiness. That afternoon Father's confer- ence dealt with Prayer. We learned that God as Our Loving Father answers our prayers only when they're for our own good. The gift of speech, a subject dear to our hearts, was the last con- ference. Father told us to appreciate our voice and not to misuse it! On the final day of retreat Father offered a Mass for the girls' inten- tions thus closing Retreatf At the breakfast the general con- sensus of opinion was that this retreat was the best ever made. May the futuref prove that we are right. May Jesus and Mary help us reap the fruits of this retreat. Sodality Receives New Members W The thirteenth of De- cember was an important date for many eager so- dalists. ln an impressive ceremony the candidates for the Sodalityk of Our Lady: Maur e e n Colan- gione, Margaret Christ- off, Linda Cox, Carol De Marco, Mary Rose Hen- zel, Louise Krasevic, Helen Matthews, Susan Phillips, Patricia Rooney, Judy Rundel, Carol Sman- ia, and Rosemary Schnurr, were received into the Sodality by Father Edgar Holden, O.F.M. Conv. The sponsors for the new sodalists were: Mary Anne Britt, Mary Alice Conners, Patricia Fisher, Mary Glavin, by Helen Matthews Lillian Goe r g e n, Mary Theresa Higgins, Maureen Maloy, Mary Beth Nolan, Sandra .No- wak, Mary Margaret Ric- c a r di, - Mary Turner, Patricia Vogel. ' At the reception in the chapel Mary Pat Lyons' read the names 'of the aspirants while Father presented them with the, symbolic medals of the Sodality. , After the ceremony each new Sodalist left chapel with joy and grati- tude for her privilege of being called to a life de- voted to Mary, her Mother. But she knew that now she must live up to her new duties, and so t with a determined spirit, she returned to class ready to promote the greater glory of God through the accomplish- ment of each daily duty. One of the first actions the new Sodalists had to offer to Jesus through Mary was a party held in their honor. The keynote of this little surprise get- together was simplicity. Cokes, cookies, potato chips , chatter, song, laughter, all helped happy hearts share their joy with their classmates. But this is only one more example of the thrill of life with Jesus and Mary at A.H.N.

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Ring Symbolizes Our Pledge Anne Sheila Bayly joyfully receives her ring while Father Edgar Holden, O.F. M., Conv., assisted by Marcia Rapp and Mary Alice Conners, gives his bless- ing. by Maureen Wydrakowski Withthis ring, l pledge my loyalty to, l give my love to and l place my trust in, my beloved Alma Mater-Holy Names. This thought ofallegiance was unspokenbut present in the hearts of every A.H.N. Senior on the night of November 16, when each received her band, of gold encrested with the in- signia andthe motto Semper Fidelis. The loyalty is shown in the glow which radiates from their eyes as they cascade down the aisles in white organdy and pink satin. Loyalty-fi- delity to an A.H.N.er plays the most important. part in daily activity. ln accordance with this virtue, for such it is, on this night of nights the word loyalty and its meaning takes form in the hearts of all. Love and charity also play a part in our school drama. This charity and love are evident in the smiles of warmth and confidence given out to friends, teachers and parents by all seniors just before the curtain is called on this act in which we receive the cherished symbol of accomplish- ment -- our school ring. In our A.H.N. we have most ' defi- nitely placed our trust. Now we fully realize that A.H.N. was placing her trust in us hoping that in carrying her symbol with us through the years, we would give her assurance that we are worthy of that trust. And so the rings were given, and received with ready thanks, from Father Edgar Holden, our chaplain. Father gave'an inspiring talk on rings --their origin and their meaning. Rosemary Cummins, Senior class president, expressed our sentiments of gratitude very graciously in a beau- tiful speech directed to all those who had made this night possible. To all those who had given us the opportunity to be here on this night to receive A.H.N.'s symbol of loyalty, love and trust we said, Thank you. Rewards Cf Charity by Margaret Halpin OnArmistice Day the juniors took children from St. Cather-ine's Infant Home out for the day, first to watch the parade, then downtown for lunch. This was quite exciting for them, since it was the first parade for many of them. lt was particularly a special day for Kelly, who was experiencing his first outing. Kelly is five years old, and a polio victim, and therefore isn't as fortunate as the others when it comes time to going places. The light in Kelly's eyes reflected the joy in the Juniors' hearts.

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Welcome To The King by Mary Anne Britt Retreat closed at a very appro- priate time this year, the beginning of Advent. This was the perfect time to put the many resolutions made at Retreat into practice. The true spirit of Christmas be- came a living part of each girl's life, both spiritually and materially. This new zeal which the Retreat had im- parted helped everyone to realize that Christmas is Christ's Birthday. lt is not merely the giving and the receiving of gifts but truly the giving and receiv- ing of the tiny Babe in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It was up to each girl to prepare her heart for the Prince of Peace. From the very first day of Advent a change could be seen in the school. The classrooms and the altar of Our Lady in Chapel were graced with Ad- vent wreaths to remind each one of the blessedness of this season. Every girl began to live these weeks with Mary, eagerly awaiting the birth of her Di- vine Son. The tasks which were un- dertaken at this time were done for the love of the Infant King Who would soon reign in the hearts of men. The joy in the hearts of AHN'ers must have found its echo in the lives of many of Christ's poor whom they helped during this season. Gifts, food, and clothing were collected and dis- tributed to institutions and needy fam- ilies. Their Christmas preparations took on new meaning when they thought of the happiness their efforts would bring into the lives of those less for- tunate than they. On December sixteenth, as school closed, each Academy girl promised that she would spend the remaining time- before Christmas in union with Christ. Finally, at Christmas Mass, Christ was welcomed into joyful and grateful hearts as the long awaited Guest for Whom all these preparations had been lovingly made. Because of their gen- erosity Christ in turn gave Himself to His children, on this the Birthday of a King.