Our Lady of the Angels Academy - Angelican Yearbook (Enfield, CT)

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£Jn ke Sckooi Of w Man By Alary ' s Appointment In September 1947, the doors of O.L.A. opened to behold a group of lost and frightened Freshmen, who hailed from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. During the first few days we found ourselves in a daze until we became better acquainted with our devoted Mother Directress, loving teachers, honorable seniors, and friendly girls. Strange as it may seem, our dialects were a source of amusement to our schoolmates. We began the new school year — a year bright with the hope and promise of new knowledge and happiness, amid the strands of pious, melodic voices, and an atmosphere of aesthetic glory, before Our Lady’s Altar during the Red Mass. We felt as if we were the Apostles surrounding Our Lady at the glorious descent of the Holy Ghost. From that time we resolved to have greater devotion to the Blessed Mother taking Her as OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS, AND OUR HOPE. In Mary we found a model easy to imitate. There was nothing extraordinary in Her exterior life except its ordinariness lived extraordinarily for Jesus’ love. The first assembly of the school year was a surprise of surprises. We were to be INITIATED! The effects of the ceremony tinted our cheeks a vivid blushing pink, but we pulled through the ordeal with true sportsmanship. We then plunged into the new and tedious task of studies. Since these were new, we came upon certain difficulties, but nevertheless we always found comfort kneeliog before Mary, Our Model. The Latin words Tempus fugit” proved true of our Freshman year. Before we knew it, final examinations were upon us and brought that year to a close. Seeing the seniors preparing for Novitiate, we anxiously prayed that we too would greet the day. All was not as arduous as we thought, for Mary was always at our side to guide us. To look to both Jesus and Mary was the one lesson imprinted into our hearts this memorable year. In Mary’s Keeping The bud of our freshman year had unfolded under the warmth of our increasing love for the Blessed Mother. Since O.L.A.’s enrollment was doubled, the school too had to expand. So out garage became the victim. It was a new adventure for us ’’Sophs” to trod on the pioneer trail from one building to another. Before we knew it, Caesar’s army surrounded us with many a battle, Euclid bewildered us with intricate geometrical designs, and the dates in American History baffled us with records of our country’s progress. Before the year came to a close, however, we were on the road of conquest and success because we had on our side a more powerful force — the Blessed Mother. Great then was our joy when in May of this year our benevolent Father Paul Bartlewski presented us a beautiful statue of the Immaculate Conception. On the day of Our Lady’s arrival, we renewed our pledge of loyalty and promised to cling to Mary as to a powerful Friend and Patron. Having passed the final test once more, the major part of our adventure was completed. Ahead lay more joy and greater responsibility. Under Mary’s Training Our Junior year was a year of great rejoicing and heartfelt thanksgiving. Of rejoicing, for we have completed one half of our educational journey, and of thanksgiving, for it brought us closer to the goal which loomed ahead of us. Two new subjects were now added to our curriculum: biology with its field trips . . . research and reports . . . reflections of Divine wisdom and power; and French, with its glimpses of Paris . . . new rules and exceptions . . . and many great Saints. The feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin brought us great joy, because the Felician Sisters, our teachers and great devotees of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commemorated seventy-five years of labor and sacrifice on the American soil. A continual chorus of ”Te Deum” re-echoed throughout the three-day celebration. No sooner had the celebration subsided when our beloved Mother Directress’ Silver Jubilee embarked upon us. Twenty-five years of faithful imitation of Mary was an inspiration for us to follow our motto more devoutly, Ad Jesum per Mariam”. We resolved that charity, humility, and prayer, instilled into our hearts by our Mother Directress, be our guide toward our eternal goal. Our happiness became complete in the month of May when a portion of Paradise, a shrine, was constructed on our campus. This year certainly has been jubilant! As always, Our Blessed Mother ended another perfect year for She was our Consolation and our Refuge. For Her Time We now come to the greatest and last year in our high school life, our senior year. What a series of new experi¬ ences! Photographs, measurements for caps and gowns, yearbooks, and assemblies! We were entrusted with numerous responsibilities, and in a seemingly short time, the thick desk calendar dwindled down to but a few sheets. Testing solutions and balancing equations provoked our thinking, but the experiments proved themselves inter¬ esting. We had the opportunity to study beauty in science, literature, language, art, and prayer. We learned that every day has a basketful of riches ready to be heaped into our arms, if we only look and are ready to receive them. The princi¬ ples we have acquired at O.L.A. will be beacon lights for the unseen days ahead. Our studies did demand more attention, application, and intellectual stamina, but we carried on ever more reso¬ lutely, for when human efforts failed, we found consolation in our motto Ad Jesum per Mariam”. We laughed and shared, led and followed among the ever-widening and yet always close circles of our own student body. We are rich for the friends we have made, for the knowledge we have acquired, and for the spirit we have gained. These moments seem so much a living part of us now that it is hard to believe there was ever a September in 1947, when we said Hello” to O.L.A. We have reached that stage of our life history when, envisaged in Mary-like spirit, we stand on the threshold of a world we know little about except from books and experiences of others, but there are souls whose salvation will largely depend on the opportunity they will have of coming under our influence. We go with one wish, with one prayer: May our lives be such that our fellow men may see Mary in us, feel Mary in us, and love Mary in us.

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Zealously fulfilling each daily task no matter how tiring, Perseverance such as Pauline’s is a quality well worth desiring. Carol is a major key and her heart is really roomy, She is a sweet lass who is never gloomy. Like the sound of a lilting melody is Irene’s laughing smile, Wherever this happy girl goes, her sunny laugh lingers a while. A serene disposition ever so calm and mild, Marks Anastasia as Our Lady’s smiling and patient child. A generous friendship in Mary Beth every student knows, To all she comes with love, to all with charm she glows. The C key of charity heaven’s gate to Ruth will open, Her many acts of kindness and good deeds form a melody of joy unbroken. Genial courtesy is Jean Marie’s simple creed, A lesson in manners she will seldom need. Carol M. loves to speak of her pen pals in many lands, With all these friends she has a veritable league of nations at her command. jean Ann’s gift for elocution is foremost in her mind, Her type of entertainment spreads joy to all mankind. Sweetly and clearly Alice’s voice rings out, She is truly a songbird we are glad to have about. When dark and ominous clouds over others loom, Shirley’s sympathetic ways dispense all pressing gloom. Like a rhythmic hum floating through the breeze, Patricia’s soft voice gives a charm that will ever please. With a keen interest in all her lessons and books, Dolores is really as studious as she looks. Lucretia is alert and always on her toes, When it’s English reproduction, her lesson she always knows. A faculty for spreading great joy Rena does possess, Her happy attitude will be instrumental for her success. Betsy is an intelligent girl with an inventive imagination, Her skill at dramatics wins great admiration. Virginia is ever fond to please one and all, Her many acts of kindness we shall fondly recall. Mary Louise is light of heart and likes to make a good pal, In art typing her nimble fingers do excell. Elizabeth M. is a patient worker and a faithful friend, She is a lover of silence who works faithfully to the end. Norma is always amiably disposed and admired by all, She is as charitable as she is tall. Florence displays her lady-like manners the livelong day, And many smiles she diffuses on her way. Interests of others are ever in Pat D’s mind, When others are happy, Pat feels fine.

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(oi CHritutc ic 3 c%r m4 O Mary, Mother of God, A tribute to my Mother, Who in humbly-hidden silver tears Has sown the seed of my youthful years. O Mary, Spouse of St. Joseph, A tribute to my Father, Who has taken up labor’s task without ease And blessed the home with the charm and certainty to please. You taught my infant lips to pray, To love God’s holy word each day, To walk in wisdom’s pleasant way, And from Mary’s side never sway. Like the flaming candle, you stand vigil of the Will of God Burning brightly through life’s long night Mary, God’s Mother, well your heart knows, She is All Grace; you are Her rose. $ Lady Mary, Who leadest my parents by unknown ways, Give them gifts, I know not how to ask. Bless thou their efforts in every task. cJo QFalk er Your spirit led me to work for Jesus Christ With every deed and breath You’ve encouraged me to live a holy life And have Mary and Joseph at my death. Oh, dear Father! round your hallowed name Such blissful memories today do spring. May Mary lead you to the Source of fame And grant choice blessings in everything. if a 77 e