Mount St Joseph Academy - Mount Yearbook (West Hartford, CT)

Page 106 text:

SS Juniors Many of us, having experienced our first summer jobs, breathed a sigh of relief at the opening of the school year. Numerous changes awaited our arrival, Our beloved principal, Sister lrmine, had been ap- pointed Superior at Saint Joseph College. Sister Evelyn, already dear to many of us for her untiring interest, patience and understanding, assumed the position of principal. We were sorry to learn that Father Smith, known and respected by so many 'fMounties , had been transferred to Waterbury. ln his stead we were happy to welcome Father Healy, our new chaplain. New faces on our faculty were Sister Jonathan, and the Misses Welch, Giordano and Lane. Among those missing were Sister Corita and Miss Stanislawczyk. Several new students from Cathedral High School joined our ranks. Our earnest officers were Martha Dodd, president, Jeanne Pouech, vice-president, Carol Ann Rabbett, secretary, and Jeanne Spencer, trea- urer. Our first undertaking as upperclassmen was the Junior-Freshman Halloween party. Arrayed in odd and fanciful costumes, we abandoned our dignity to enjoy games and the traditional cider and doughnuts. Foundation Day had a special meaning for us as we helped celebrate the one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Mercy. Our honored guest was His Excellency the Most Reverend Henry J. O,Brien, Archbishop of Hartford. Earlier in the day we assisted at the Pontifical High Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral, little dreaming that our beautiful mother church would soon lie in ashes.

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HI TGRY Sophomore S Upon our return to M.S.J.A., excited and suntanned. we assumed our position as upper lowersf' We acquired an air of dignity befitting our rank as sophomores. At the inauguration of our class officers in October a solemn ceremony was held for the presentation of Marian medals. The incoming officers were presented these medals, likenesses of our Spiritual Mother. by our out-going officers. Harriel King, Joan Briggs, Linda Chiaramonte and Joan Corthouts were elected president. vice-president, secretary and treasurer respectively. Our retreat was given that year by Father Timothy O,Dwyer, S.J. His devotional guidance and humorous quips on Marlon Brando were the highlights. The main social event of the year was f'Sophomore Samples in Spring Settings. Directed by Sister Natalie. our class advisor, we marched onstage. keeping step to the drumbeat, and entertained our parents with a medley of French songs and Spanish dances. lt was an amusing and interesting Parents Night. Toward the close of the school year a Senior-Sophomore party, featuring a treasure hunt, was held. We all scurried around campus searching for the intricate clues that led to the hidden prize. This was the first time that we were hostesses to a sister class. Lake Ouassapaug, the garden spot of Connecticut, was the scene of our class outing. It provided all overworked sophomores with an out- let for mixed feelings of relief and anticipation. A O' 'X M ,Q ' 4. ,A I :wif it 'x al l Q.- I ll if ',-. f ei fi , 5.557 :E 4 1:f'iii .,.-, A ' i-,I ..... . ...,,... . ,-.i- V. si -I . ...A i . Ei

Page 107 text:

HIC TCRY uniors Christmas came and with it the Mount's traditional Christmas play. a lovely tribute to the Redeemer. For the second time we were fortunate to have Father Bernier as our Retreat Master. This period of recollection aided us toward our ultimate goal. personal sanctity. Feb- ruary found many new faces in the classrooms and halls of M.S.J.A.. members of the Evaluating Committee of the State Board of Education and the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. Their verdict-the Mount was in excellent academic health. Early spring marked the departure of Father Lanouette who had replaced Father Healy during his illness. Father Lanouette found a lasting place in our hearts although his stay here was short. In April we mourned the death of Sister Valerian, noted throughout her life for the shining joy she expressed in her religious vocation. In that same month we received. at the hands of our Senior sisters, our class rings, symbols of our Catholic education. Perhaps by now the newness of our rings has worn off. but the sense of dignity and honor they instilled in us will never fade. April, too. brought us to Almost Paradise, our first formal dance-the epitome of loveliness and gaity. May heralded the awarding of our golden Senior tasscls. We were now on the eve of our last quarter toward the final goal. .1 . ef 5 jf-g':t.s tk g K if -:av v ff - . 5 . t ' A wg . l r m7E,: , , W . ,W , iw.. tam .. Hn..