Mount St John Academy - Veritas Yearbook (Gladstone, NJ)

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Working well into the evening to prepare the throne for thel Queen ' of the Autumn Leaves dance. The Student Council, a small, but energetic organization, guided by Sr. ' Adolfa, C. S. JB., our principal, and comprising members selected from each class has for its aim the furthering of general academic spirit and is an effort to incorporate the students into the administration of school af- fairs. One of its most important activities this year was the Au tumn Leaves Dance and the crowning of the Queen who was elected from among her schoolmates. The honor . f went to Roberta Skelly, '56, who is shown in the above pictures. Here Queen Roberta receivesa bouquet 0 from her court and a sincere congratulations from schoolmates on her newly won honor. ll 6 ll 0 Il n U I Father Jude conducted the crowning ceremony. Faithful Student Council members decorate for their big social event of the year. Dramatic Club A rebirth in our schedule, the Dramatic Club re- appeared this year after slipping out of last year's list of activities, and enjoyed a membership of nearly the enrollment of the whole school. At the firstmeetings nominating and voting were accomplished, from which process President, Vice President, Secretary, Trea- furer, and Program Manager were chosen. .lohanne Peroni. Roberta Skelly, Madeline Oppel, Mary Robin- son, and Helen Ike held the respective offices. One primary chore completed and thoughts turned to the future, namely, the Spring production of the pas- sion play, Thy Will Be Done, to be given in March. Aside from rehearsals, the regular meetings paraded on in a gala of skits, monologues, pantomines, singing solos and duets, give for the purpose of coloring the meetings with entertainment. Fun making of this nature served a purpose, for many members timid of appearing before a group and sharing their talents, summoned from with- in a store of poise, which, brought to light, was not for- gotten soon. Planning, entertaining and practicing in an orga- nized group provided necessary enthusiasm for dra- matics - a proof that the club will always be a welcome activity for the future years.

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E A . V5 'ff A- i EH' :5 ' af E' -Y i 3

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Father Jude Cahillane, O.S.B., signs the Sophomores with ashes, reminding them: Dust thou art-and into Dust thou shalt return. Lent ln the Middle of February the Church's great retreat started, and each student received the blessed ashes on her forehead, symbol of the pen- ance and seriousness of those forty days. Each had her own personal fast and struggle to undergo in order to rise triumphant, vivified, with the risen Christ. As a help to keep us united to our Leader as He fearlessly approached His impending passion, the entire school followed Him around the Stations of the Cross every Friday afternoon. Lenten decora- tions in the classes, and brief reminders by faculty and Chaplain kept the idea alive in us. Very appropriately, Sr. Adolfa and the members of the Dramatic Club worked tirelessly to perfect their Passion Play to be given on Palm Sunday, despite such obstacles as the blizzard of '56, offering their efforts with the redeeming action of Christ which they were depicting. Meanwhile, the Glee Club prepared corresponding Lenten hymns in keeping with the spirit of the play. Toward the end of Lent, through Sr. Juliana and Father Jude of the Religion Department, Missals according to the new rite for Holy Week were pro- cured for the entire student body, and the beautiful ceremonies of the holiest time of the year were explained. All were urged to attend these services either in their parishes or in the Academy Chapel. The last three Lenten days in school were further sanctified by a Vocation Triduum including a talk, Holy Hour and Mass. On Wednesday, after the Mass, students gathered in the Music Room for a brief but memorable Assembly, and, with Easter greetings being exchanged by all, left at noon for their vacation. Sr. Juliana explains the Holy Season to the Freshmen, lightening the subject a little with the cartoons of I Love Lent? ! ! 60