Salve Regina University - Regina Maris Yearbook (Newport, RI)

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A few short weeks later we adjourned for our summer vacation, but life at the college went on. Salve Regina was honored by a visit from the Apostolic Delegate, Most Rev- erend Amleto G. Cicognani in July. During the same month, Dr. Roy J. Deferarri, Secre- tary General of Catholic University, officially inspected the buildings and the campus, for the college had become affiliated with the University. Sophomore Highlights We returned as Sophomores in September, 1948, with the sadistic intention of making our little sisters ' lives miserable during Freshman Week. Mission accomplished, we discarded our Simon Legree roles and attempt- ed to make life a pleasant dream instead of a nightmare for the Frosh. To prove to them that we were really jolly good fellows at heart, we gave a tea, a party, and an amateur talent show; we serenaded them, and we even spoke kindly to them! Orientation Week was climaxed by Mercy Day. We celebrated two very special events on September 24 — the first anniversary of the college and the first visit of our new Bishop. His Excellency Most Reverend Bishop Mc- Vinney, DD. No movie star ever captured our hearts as Bishop McVinney did. No ad- jectives could describe the complete humanity and spirituality that is his. Although he called us his treasures, we knew that it was we who had found a treasure. Almost before we realized it, November 6 had arrived, and we donned our dancing shoes for Neptune ' s Folly, our first semi-formal. The first joint glee club concert with Provi- dence College was the outstanding musical note of December. In January, the Queen ' s Choristers took to the air waves over the local Newport radio station, and Ebb Tide joined the Rhode Is- land Intercollegiate Press Association. Saint Valentine ' s Day found us guests at a party and talent show given in our honor by the Freshmen. S. R. C. was elected to the Vice- Presidency of the New England chapter of N. F. C. C. S. in March, and the debating branch of I. R. C. won its first intercollegiate debate from Providence College. Moonlight Masque, the Sophomore formal, brought the semester to a gay, glamorous de- nouement. It was a dance to satisfy the most blase prom trotter — dancing on the ter- race under the stars to the smooth music of Stan Moore, a charming queen, and a grand march down the marble staircase. The final strains of Goodnight. Sweetheart broke the spell, but the memory has lingered on. Junior Jaunts The academic event of the Junior Year was the Honors Convocation at which tribute Reverend Doctor Dillon presides at first investiture. Patricia Dooley receives academic cap and gown. Twelve

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Left to right: Frances McGuiness, Barbara O Rourke. Bishop McVinney, Joan Danis, Jane Murphy, Lucy Roberts. different type of gown began to break out. Looming on the horizon was the night of nights — our first formal. April 30 . . . the Court Cotillion ... so many things to re- member about our first prom — so many won- derful things. We whirled through the dance on an enchanting carousel and Franny Mc- Guiness captured the magic ring. A lovelier queen than Franny never graced the pages of a history, and no royal ball ever surpassed our cotillion in sheer beauty and happiness. In May, John H. Greene, President of the Sons of the Revolution in Newport, presented the state and federal flags to the college on behalf of Senator Theodore F. Greene: and, Mayor Pardee gave a large graphic map of London to the Dean. On May 9, we honored Our Lady, and on May 16, we honored our parents. On World Sodality Day, we paid humble tribute and gave heartfelt thanks to the Queen of our college. At the Parents ' Tea we had our first opportunity to introduce our families to the faculty and our friends. The Queen ' s Choristers and Verse Choir displayed their respective talents, and after tea in the formal dining room, Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament was celebrated in the chapel. Bishop extends hand of welcome to Jane Sullivan. Eleven

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was paid to the highest ranking students who, by virtue of their distinction, were awarded fourrageres. Bishop McVinney, celebrating his twenty-fifth jubilee, was the honored guest at the convocation. Although we looked with longing eyes at the blue and white shoulder braids, the majority of us were preoccupied with mental images of the blue of our sapphire college rings. From September to January we anx- iously regarded our fingers instead of our waistlines. That ring finger simply could not lose or gain any weight! We were as nerv- ous at the Ring Ceremony as candidates for Ph.D ' s. Dressed in collegiate garb, we de- scended the Grand Staircase to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance . When Mother Mary Hilda, R.S.M. slipped the rings on each of our hands, we felt that we were truly aca- demians — at long last we had merited the symbol of higher education. Whenever we look at our rings of blue, that ceremony is recalled to us in all its beauty and impressive- ness. Our ring recalls more than sentimental reminiscences, however, it stands for a way of life — a Catholic way of life which is as much a part of us as breathing. The misty enchantment of the Ring Ceremony was car- ried over into the Sapphire Ball. We chose no queen at this dance, for it was everyone ' s shining hour. As we stepped through the huge symbolic ring in the Great Hall, we had the tingly sensation that you feel when the bells ring in the new year. There were no chimes or whistles, but an intangible some- thing told us that we had entered a new phase of life. February proved to be a very busy month, for it also brought us our first invitation to a formal Valentine Dance at the Naval Acad- emy Preparatory School. The world-famed Pilgrim Virgin Statue visited the college at the end of the month bringing with it its promise of spiritual and temporal favors to those who heed the Fatima message. The Regina Players staged their first pub- lic production, Letters to Lucerne, at Bay- view Academy on April 30. They trod the boards with the aplomb of youthful {Cather- ine Cornells, and proved that our praise of them was justifiable. Mercy Hall was the scene of the Junior Prom — our final dance of the year. Classes ended, the academic year was officially closed with the annual procession to the Sacred Heart Shrine. Senior Daze It was with mingled feelings that we re- turned for our last year at college. We were glad to be Seniors, and we were excited over the prospect of graduation, and yet . . . Mayor Edmund Pardee presents map of London to Sister Mary James, R.S.M. Mary A. Quinn. Prances Bridgeman. Thirteen