St Mary of the Mount High School - St Mary Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

Page 72 text:

Temporary Convent — 1955-56 Because of the tremendous success oE the sale of bonds by St. Mary of the Mount School, the War Department was able to purchase the following pieces of war equipment: one B-17 G. Flying Fortress, four Flying Jeeps or Grasshopper Planes, seven fully equipped Land Jeeps, Life floats, thirty-five Field Ambulances, five $3,000 Hospital Units and Medical Equipment valued at $2,000. During the war years it vas deemed necessary to abandon practically all athletic activities; however, as soon as reasonably possible after the war, Father Rea re- organized the athletic program. In no time the Mount had one of the finest football teams in the diocese, if not the finest. Baseball and basketball were also resumed with hearty vigor. In 1948 Father Rea set to work to redecorate the church. It had now served for a long period of 52 years and naturally, was in need of repairs and redecorating. Father Rea and his ever cooperative congregation put forth every effort at this time to make God ' s House as beautiful as their means would permit. As one entered the church after the work was completed the first thing that attracted the eye was the clean white beauty of the main altar enhanced by the rich

Page 71 text:

Erecting A New

Page 73 text:

A Living Rosary — Culmination of a Novena Conducted by Father O ' Connell, C.S.C. red velvet reredos which hangs in graceful folds behind the altar and reaches the floor where it seems to merge with deep red carpet that covers the sanctuary floor. All statuary and the stations of the cross are now in soft beige tones rather than the former multicolors. This beige effect gives the statues a rather stone-sculptured appearance. Although the garb of the statuary is no longer in colors, there is a profuse display of vivid littirgical coloring elsewhere. Green beige tones form the background of the sanctuary. The side walls of the sanctuary were painted to a certain height in panel design, the background color of the panels being blue. The duoformed crosses and the fleur-de-lis in a radiant golden hue adorn the panels. The two stately pillars, one on each side of the main arch of the sanctuary, vere redecorated only partially. The artist, - vishing to retain something of the original exotic design of the columns, painted portions of them with swirling green bands ornamented in gold. The combination of the old and the new is very picturesque. The old wooden altar rail was replaced by one of exquisitely beautiful lesina marble. The center gates are of ornamental wrought iron.