Elms College - Elmata Yearbook (Chicopee, MA)

Page 22 text:

•Skf fjr REV. THOMAS F. DEVINE Education Wm HI » Father ' s character shows many different facets. The underlying spark beneath them all comes from the joy he has at having a firm hold on the way to happiness. A soft, half chuckling tone weaves its way through his speech letting some of this same joyousness spill over in expression. In his more pensive moods one senses his keen delight at weighing thoughts. Each new idea gathered from his musings brings note of happy discovery to his face. Eyes alight, the mouth twitches quickly upward in lines of pleased satisfaction. This thoughtful sensitivity finds great beauty in all the little things: trees bowed gracefully to autumn wind, the relaxed sound of hearty laughter, the pleasantness of a pulsating rhythm. If one has seen his gaunt figure bowed, the laughter lines fled from round his mouth, as he makes the stations of the Cross,- one knows that he is seeing with Christ all the emptiness of the multitude crying out its need. He turns then and brings them Christ by the teaching of his actions.

Page 21 text:

w, There is not an adage to describe him. His very being defies any combination of words in any language to do him justice. From the moment that he enters (with hand to fore- head in a characteristic gesture known only to us who have seen it) until the final bell and Well, that ' s the way it goes, the class takes on an air of interest and awareness that attests his thorough knowledge of the subject at hand. His notes, meticulous and exact hint of the preparation which goes into every class and every other thing he does for us. Because he shows us so much care we truly call him Father.

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REV. VINCENT O ' CONNOR Sociology Father ' s keen glancing eye looks analytically at warped humanity and by the strength of his own soul ' s straightness relieves its wretchedness. The gentleness of his warm smile and his easy going speech release the chains of worry and of fear, giving soothing, strengthening peace a chance to enter in. There in this peacefulness, Father plants a seed of love to bring hope and joy giving life to the weary soul. Nourished and fed on Christ, Father reaches out to fill the lonely emptiness of hungry, barren souls crying out for life. He walks through the multitudes with Christ seeing the desperateness of their needs and the secret anguish of their hearts. Because he leaves a touch of Truth, of Love, behind, men ' s lives are happier for seeing Christ through him. He teaches us to cultivate a pulsating sensitivity to the needs and loneliness of our fellow men. Having seen this need he leads us to the feet of Christ that we may be nourished and grow strong. Waxing strong he sends us forth to feed others by our strength.