Elms College - Elmata Yearbook (Chicopee, MA)

Page 12 text:

£cce SaathdoA ' YYlaqnuA To put Bishop Weldon into words, to describe the man of our year, is to picture a modern missionary bearing Christ to men on State Street; a man with an age-old vision and a warm breeze of manner that extends to the four corners of his diocese and far beyond. A servant as well as a leader, a man as well as a bishop, he finds joy in life and in God. As president of the college, Bishop Weldon has given it a selfless share of his multi-divided time and interest. Between conferences and callers, the bishop has been a welcome visitor here since, in the spring of our freshman year, we shared together the experiences of verdant newcomers to the Elms. Since then, he has been with us at many of the traditional ceremonies, the parties, and the concerts that have brought us joy upon joy. Jishop first with our chaplains close behind. In a casual three-corner confer- ence President Weldon, Student Body President Helen Nee and Senior Class President Patricia Byrnes discuss an amusing aspect of affairs of state. Student and executive administrators meeting in- formally learn to respect each other ' s views on Elms ' government.

Page 11 text:

(Dsuluoaiwti Because you were a freshman here in 1949, as were we, the respect and affection with which we dedicate this Elmata to you are not chilled by any thought that you are withdrawn from us or unknown to us. We feel that you are not only the President of our college and our friend, but also a member of the Class of 1953. In the course of the four years we have spent here, you have walked beside us — learning to love the majesty that stone and steel have built here, deeply aware that without the spirit that dwells here and those whose lives are dedi- cated to watching over it there would be only futility in the beauty. Though a portion of our hearts may remain behind, we must leave now to travel into the future; you alone of 1953 will continue as before. In presenting you this, the record of our memories, we feel free to make one request of you: we ask only that you care gently for the hands that have held us, that you keep glowing for those who come after, the joy we have found here. 7

Page 13 text:

Dm (plaaui TLoLIa This year the presence of our Bishop and his words have added to our appreciation of ceremonies already made more beautiful by a glow of senior sentimentality. After the Mass of the Holy Ghost in September, he gave us a thought for many a semester: that these years of our college career are not mere preparation for life, but a most important part of life itself. In our mood of memories will be the sunny Jubilee Mass with Bishop Weldon officiating, sharing honors with two brother bishops, but seem- ing somehow, more than they, to feel the significance of the day. Cap and Gown Sunday, the real beginning of our year, began with his blessing; as we graduate, his gift to us on Baccalaureate Sunday and Graduation Day is more permanent than posies, more constant than a watch. He sends with the class of 1953 his benediction of joy. Guard of honor reception-lines the hall Bishop Weldon leafs through paste-preserved memories in his personal scrapbook. Veronica Butry- mowicz and Ann Sandberg share custody of the news- paper clippings and pictures that we cherish as our souvenirs.