Saint Benedicts Academy - Benedicta Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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. . v.,-.1-up , wH mvgf ' '15 iiijjj, :jjj C Q Q21 juN1oR QAUTUMNQ 'Tis true that the trees again begin to bare their leafy branches but early autumn is a beautiful time of the year. The foliage in its deep colors of rich red, orange, and brown, captivates the eye of every nature lover. At this time the seed- lings of spring have been cultivated into full grown stalks and are ready for reaping and havesting. So we also, at this period of our high school career, were preparing ourselves for the gathering of the rich harvest of our Senior year. HISTORY-1940-l 941 Dignified Juniors! My, did we feel important! Two years had already passed under the sheltering protection of B. A. Father I-Ieyl was our retreat master this year. We will never forget how innocent and holy we felt after our aloneness with God for three days. In October, we had a weiner roast at Virginia Mae Vey's home. The girls received their class rings this year. Then for the next few days those rings were the subject of conversation. Mary Elizabeth Patterson was again elected class president for the second consecutive time. Father Wiesmann joined the Faculty. He made it possible for the students to attend Mass and re- ceive Holy Communion weekly at the Academy. According to an established cus- tom, we Juniors presented a Christmas play, WHY THE CHIMES RANG. The Student Council was organized and proved most beneficial to the student body. SENIOR QWINTERD Y D if During the winter months everything outside is cold and icy. Somehow the Senior year is sad like winter. lt lacks the lightheartedness and buoyancy of spirit of the first three years of school life. Is this due to the realization that many cherished ties must be severed by graduation? Since we had been planted and cultivated in the fertile soil of Catholic education we should be ready to fill our places in the sometime bleak, bare atmosphere of the world. HISTORY-1941-1942 Each Senior dreamed for four years the dreams of a cap and gown, of gradu- ation and, of course, of a coveted diploma. And now? These dreams are soon to become hard realities to twenty-eight Seniors. This year was pressed down and overflowing with many important activities. We elected Dolly Hahn class presi- dent to pilot us over the turbulent waves of Scniordom. Our fourth retreat was conducted by Father Walsh, C.P. Dolly Hahn was also voted president of the Stu- dent Council. A debating team was suggested and finally organized by Sr. Per- petua. The Students of the Catholic Federation had a Communion Breakfast in which we Seniors participated. VVe all had a gala time at our Hallowe'cn Mas- querade held at the Academy. Twelve Seniors will never forget their trip to Seton Hill on the occasion of the Catholic Press Conference. A Christmas entertainment was presented, with Vera Rooney acting as Santa Claus. fYou'll never forget, will you, VeraPj Then followed the distribution of gifts to the Faculty and Students. Another memorable event of this year was having our pictures taken for the year book. The Benedicta became a regular bi-weekly newspaper this year issued in true journalistic style. Sr. Louise led us successfully through the trials and ordeals of our Senior activities. Finally we tackled successfully our Senior Play. The end of it all, the much longed for day of days -GRADUATION. '

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Class Calendar FRi:sHMi3N QSPRINGQ Spring is the ti111e of all green and growing things. Nature prepares Mother earth for her spring plowing and cultivation. Violets begin to wake from their long winter's sleep. Buds begin to shoot forth from the trees and leafy boughs soon take the place of barren limbs. Busy hands plant seeds in rows by the garden wall or fence and along the garden path. What can be more fitting, then, that we, as Freshmen, should be compared to this season of the year. We, too, like the seed and soil were ready for new cultivation of mind and heart, for new growth, when we entered the portals of B. A. four years ago. Hlsrokv-1938-1939 September 7 was indeed a memorable day for us twenty-three wide-eyed Fresh- men as we took our places among the students of Saint Benedict's Academy. How the very thoughts of initiation chilled us to the bone. Being anxious to have our class' name in the limelight we organized two Clubs, the Catholic Action Club, with Mary Kunzler as president, and the Sports Club, with Grace Burkhart as president. The Science Club was organized under the sponsorship of Sr. Pauline. These clubs not only widened our knowledge but made us more active and ener- getic in attacking new things. Father Luke, O.S.B., who conducted the annual retreat at Saint Benedict's, left us feeling holier and happier. In our Hrst assembly we presented, CAMOUFLAGE to the student body, and it predicted the future dramatic ability of the Seniors of '42, Sister lgnatia, our home room teacher, introduced us to high-school life. Tears dim our eyes even now when we recall the day we buried Qwith ceremonial rightsj the little tadpoleP?? How well we re- member our Midget Orchestra directer by Sr. Mary Grace and the recitals con- ducted by Dr. Raticus. The latter were most enjoyable treats. Mercedes Klier, as class president, led us successfully to the harbor of our Freshman endeavors. SOPHOINIORE fSUMMER, Glorious Summer! We, as fruits and fiowers, merged from buds to strong and healthy plants with our roots fixed firmly in the ground of acquired knowledge and virtue. We held our heads high and we kept the stalks that supported them very straight. We eagerly awaited for our Junior Year. F HISTORY-l 939-l 940 Upon returning to school in September we girls, now Sophomores, decided to promote the Sports Club with more vigor than we had the preceding year. The reason? We wanted more activities outside the regular routine of school work. We initiated the Freshies and provided a fine entertainment for the occasion. We were the guests of Ruth Marie Hahn. She proved a very charming hostess, and so we all had a very enjoyable time, lunching, dancing, and playing games. As a class we visited the newly opened Buhl Planetarium, where we marveled at the wonders of the sky. A tour was also made of the museum to increase our knowl- edge of birds: but history, art, and scientific and biological objects proved more interesting. Father Hannon conducted our second retreat which all of us appre- ciated. Mary Elizabeth Patterson as president and Sr. Hildegarde as reporting teacher helped us to arrive at the door of Juniordom with vim and zest.

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4-.fvhfah-N-Na.-4-0-a I 9 4 2 V::: :::: -::: Vitctl Statistics of '52 Seated comfortably in a large stratoliner en route to San Diego, I leaned back and began to turn over the pages of sweet memories. It has been quite 'sometime since I graduated from St. Benedict Academy, yes, every bit of ten years. Suddenly, my day dreaming was interrupted by a soft, low voice asking me if I cared for a glass of water. Looking up, I was surprised to see none other than my old class- mate, Mary Foerster, my Air Hostess. It was quite a surprise to meet her again after all these years. Through Mary I learned that Mary Heyl, who had superior literary ability in High School, is a well known Journalist and that Helen Old is now a dramatic teacher. Upon arriving in Chicago, a group of newspaper reporters surrounded me. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that one of them was Dolly Hahn. She greeted me whole-heartedly and asked me if I would like to accompany her to the opera to see Tannhauser, co-starring Alma Halleran and La Vern Maire. After the opera I was invited to the mayor's home for dinner. I was greeted graciously by the Mayor's wife, Irma Hein. She related to me her visit with Rita Haffner and Ruth Mueller, both professors at the Catholic University. After dinner we strolled down Main Street and Irma pointed out to me a large depart- ment store, displaying the names, Eisenreich 8c Ubinger, Inc. The next day I boarded the plane for San Diego. Upon arriving at my destina- tion I was greeted by my old friend, Mercedes Klier, now a laboratory technician. That evening we discussed old times and old friends. Mercedes, taking me to a window of her guest room, pointed out to me the large, bright lights across the street displaying the names of Mary Grace Bickert now a famous actress. I was very thrilled to see her performance that night. From Mercedes I also learned that Eileen Gallagher owned a large funeral parlor and that Rose Coll fSr. Mary- Hsel. and Vera Rooney QSr. M. Virginiaj were doing missionary work in New CXICO. After enjoying my visit at San Diego, I started my journey homeward. I stopped off at Pittsburgh to see two dear friends of mine, Grace Burkhart, wife of the famous scientist, Mr. Van Dyke, and Margaret O'Hara, wife of Dr. O'I.eay. Upon my arrival in New York, I met Mrs. Van Deusan, the former Margaret Beck. She and her husband, the much esteemed mayor of New York, toured me through their fair city. We visited the well known Bellevue Hospital to surprise our former classmates, Rosemary Schanz and Lydia Agosti, both important mem- bers of the hospital staff. ' That afternoon I had tea with Mary Elizabeth Patterson, the authoress of the month's best seller Rebuilding Our Social Structure. Later in the day Mary Elizabeth and l encountered Mary Catherine Koester whom we discovered to be the owner of an exclusive shop of America's newest styles. We learned through Mary Catherine that Margaret Iloos, Rita Mae Pfarrdresher, and Rosemary Toth were private secretaries of the President of Rockefeller Institute. I