St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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We l , Fl oi - .A- ,,, Q L 153. X i , V , kr, V, hs- , ,..t . 7 f' X '5 Y .Htl the service of God. Bernard's one desire was to live the life of a monk hidden from the world in his monastery and Eugenio, that of a priest serving in a little parish. But because both did not aspire in their humility after earthly honors, God drew them out of their retirement, even against their wish, into the world and its troubled state, that the King- dom of God might be extended on earth. All that was said in praise of St. Bernard applies just as aptly to our Holy Father- peacemaker unrivalled in history, unsurpassed as pastor, preacher, writer, reformer, pacificator, medi- ator, arbiter, diplomatist, and statesman. The out-stretched arms of our Holy Father blesses not only those possessed of the true faith, but all men of every race, color, and creed. The year 1776 saw the birth of a new na- tion conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Seven hundred years before this memorable date saw the birth of a child who would be- come the Light of the l2th Century and the valiant defender of the dignity of all men and of the rights conferred on him by God. Eight hundred years after the birth of St. Bernard, Eugenio Pacelli was born, 1876. ln our Holy-Father, Pope Pius Xll, St. Ber- nard lives again for us in our 20th century, for these two great figures have so much in com- mon as to be almost identical in many ways. Like the signers of our Declaration of Inde- pendence, both of them were not of the peo- ple whose rights and liberties they cham- pioned. Both of their mothers were intensely religious and God early became a reality in the lives of their little sons Although the Lord of Fontaines and Filippo Pacelli were devout Catholics both desired their sons to follow in their profession which promised a very suc cessful career But Bernard and Eugenio after prayerful consideration cast aside all hopes of a brilliant career to give themselves entirely to

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The year I776 not only saw the independ- ence of our nation proclaimed, but also the birth of a religious congregation, that of our teaching faculty, the Sisters of the Presenta- tion ofthe Blessed Virgin Mary. It was the courageous act of the fifty-five delegates at the Second Continental Congress, who signed the Declaration of Independence, which brought about our independence. But the establishing of this religious order was the work of one heroic young woman, Nano Nagle, who has been likened to the Hebrew prophetess Deborah who helped free her peo- ple the Israelites After finishing her education in France Nano entered into the gay society life of Paris and the court of Louis XV But Nano In her quiet moments listened to the gentle voice of God speaking within her the voice which urged her to break with this selfish life of end less pleasure and to return to her own people so cruelly persecuted for their Catholic faith Alone and at a great risk not only to her own person but that of her family Nano now returned to Ireland gathered some thirty poor eg- I 'Y' I... 3, 5'- MA 0.39, 7 O s children In a rented room Although the in terests of their Immortal souls came first they were also taught to read write and to work with their hands Nano also fed clothed and visited their homes at night instructing the older members of the family and helping them in every possible way Soon other heroic women lolned Nano so that in a few months over 300 children were berng taken care of both spiritually and physically in rented rooms scattered about the town As the number of these schools steadily in creased Nano was advised to consider the forming of a religious community which would continue her work after her death In spite of Penal Laws which forbade such communities Nano in that memorable year when we took such a decisive step also did likewise in the opening of the first convent of the Sisters of the Presentation Nano did not live to see her work spread not only throughout Ireland but to England Newfoundland Australia India and to the United States The first Presentation Sisters came to Fitchburg in 1886 Today they form the teaching faculty not only of our high school but also of four grammar schools and Regina Coell College on the Motherhouse grounds Well might Ruth Mack Joseph Hickey Patricia Maloney Richard Jameson Elizabeth Enwrlght remnmsce on their experiences in kindergarten and primary grades at Holy Family and compare their school rooms with those of the beautiful new school lust completed on the Motherhouse property on South Street l Q I ' Vx 1 Y . K ' L , rv.. I I I I I 1 1 ' I - 1 1 Pl 955 , n ' - , '25 - l ,Fi 'I'-5 . . . I .X . as ' l 'T y ..-W . - . l 1' . . X. ,T . - M. . ,, V' . F' 'wlf l . ' - T., Qt ' ,T-s ' J, . . . . . . 1'- . jf I X. , . . ff- ' H - ' - 1 , , , 1s L Q Q , -fr , . 1- . . 1 . , .. , Q I . . - A f - fx 1 1 1 1 , , - - '-11:15 gg - so hs' . ' , fix ,N A S' - 1' 'Q ,qt . . 1. ' 21 14 . I 14 u..xA..s. A I-fflf , l , I , . l uv--1-2 , , A, ,b . . . . luv.: ,tu ' s .Q 1 1 1 T.: 7 In ' . . . . . . .W I ix H .J ... .f , - - 1 Y ' I 4' . . .-- f . 5 Q Y H 5 I I . - . .' - , A f.. o -.ns . .