College of New Rochelle - Annales Yearbook (New Rochelle, NY)

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Teddy Roosevelt was President; the Gibson girl was the rage. The name Wright had become familiar to all America with the launching of the first airplane at Kittyhawk. Edison had perfected the phonograph. Women did not have the vote and New York State did not have a Catholic college for women. The latter fact concerned Mother Irene for her ideals embraced the higher education of women. Already over five thousand girls have profitted from the realization of her ideals. Guided by her spirit, they have found in New Rochelle the opportunity for the achievement of their noblest goals and, as a result, have reached maturity. Thus, the fruition of years of work may be seen in each graduate of the college who bears the mark of the education fostered by this untiring woman who labored for Christ. The graduate of New Rochelle in fulfillment of Mother Irene’s pledge is “a woman of culture, of efficiency, and of power, a woman capable of upholding the noblest ideals of the home and of the Church and possessed of the training that shall make her an efficient worker in society and in the professional world.” But even more important, she is a woman of charity, a woman imbued with the spirit of Mother Irene Gill, be- loved foundress and devoted mother.

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T HAS BEEN SAID that all great men leave a shadow on earth. If this is true, then the shadow of Mother Irene Gill is found in the College of New Ro- chelle. And yet, it is not merely a shadow as we know it or envision it, lying over Brescia, Maura, Science and the other buildings on campus, for these are merely the shells which encase the spirit of our foundress. The sha- dow is the spirit of love and charity which is C.N.R.’s to give. For, Mother Irene’s spirit is with us today as she would wish it to be. And Mother Irene — she too is with us. For as she once said: “You are my children. I love and pray for you.” The foundress of New Rochelle was born in Gal- way, Ireland, but came to America as a child of eight years, entering the Ursuline convent at East Morrisania when she was eighteen. Her first assignment was as a teacher in Saint Teresa’s school on Henry Street in New York City, where she later became superior. She sought a better location for the school eventually moving it to Park Avenue. But satisfaction was not yet hers, and so she ventured to Westchester County via trolley car and found herself in the thriving village of New Rochelle which boasted a population of eight thousand. Here Mother saw an estate recently gutted by fire, and in the ruins, the soft spoken Ursuline saw a castle.

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Honored Guests. Jubilee celebration A jubilee is meant to be celebrated. On the weekend of October 10, the College, with the help of the seniors, wel- comed dignitaries, distinguished educators and alumnae from all parts of the nation to participate in ceremonies designed to formally honor the occasion. In impressive formation, all proceeded to the chapel for the celebration of Solemn Pontifical Mass. Climax of activities was the con- vocation itself- — the address by Rev. Robert J. Gannon, S.J., and the acclaim paid to eight alumnae who, in the center of campus, surrounded by the familiar buildings of “gothic gray” received citations and Jubilee medals, trib- utes to their outstanding services to the Church, the com- munity, and the college. Agimus tibi gratias.