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

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The ceiling of the church was painted in a gray-blue, and the ceiling ribs in ivory. The underside of the arches high above the pews were painted in alternate red and blue panels with gold dual formed cross ornamentation. Both the colors and the symbols used in the redecorating process have liturgical significance— blue typifies heavenly wisdom; red is symbolical of love and green of hope. The spiritual significance of the fleur-de-lis is that of purity while the cross symbolizes sacrifice. Although far from well at this time Father Rea devoted much time and careful thought to this vast project. The conferences regarding the work were very fatigu- ing to him, but with characteristic fervor and determination he saw the work to its successful completion. At this time and on many other occasions, Father Rea expressed his gratitude to his mo assistants, Father Sabinash and Father Cost, for their priestly zeal and their generous willingness in assuming responsibilities. Father Sabinash ' s sudden and untimely death on January 1, 1949 was a shock to both priests and people. Three weeks later on January 27, 1949, Reverend Martin Connolly was assigned to replace Father Sabinash. In no time Father Connolly won the hearts of both the young and the old. Father Rea ' s physical condition, which was never too good, began to worsen and Bishop John Dearden, wishing to relieve him of the weighty responsibilities of such an active parish, appointed Father Thomas Sullivan as pastor of St. Mary of the Mount and named Father Rea pastor emeritus. Feeling that he required medical care and not wishing to be a burden to anyone. Father Rea took up residence at the Maguire Home for a while. Later he was moved to Beaver Falls Hospital where he is now under the tender and watchful care of the good Sisters of Charity. That God may grant his all the blessings and graces merited by his priestly life, is the fervent prayer of the priests and the people of St. Mary of the Mount. Catholics on the Mount are accustomed to living by two symbols — the Golden Triangle that is their city and the Golden Cross that is their Church. The glittering lights of our downtown, the City of Man, could easily become the more glamorous and fascinating spec tacle. But we have among us one, who by his priestly zeal and Chnstlike demeanor, is doing everything in his power to keep us safe in the City of God — our pastor. Reverend Thomas A. Sullivan. He is the son of the late Thomas A. and Margaret Nixon Sullivan and is one of six children. Father was born in Pittsburgh on July 1, 1902. His personal odyssey, during his half century of life, includes elementary schooling at St. Rosalia ' s paro- chial school, preparatory and college training at Duquesne University, and his prep-

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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.

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aration for the priesthood at St. Vincent ' s Seminary. He was ordained by Bishop Hugh C. Boyle on June 16, 1929. His first assignment was to Holy Rosary Church in Homewood where he spent seventeen fruitful years in the vineyard of Christ. Before coming to St. Mary of the Mount, Father also served as pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Dimbar from 1946 to 1948, and of St. Michael ' s Chinch in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania from 1948 until his appointment as pastor of St. Mary of the Mount in June, 1952. The tremendous responsibility of caring for some seven thousand souls fell to Father Sullivan and his assistant, Father Martin Connolly, as Father Her- bert Cost was at this time transferred from St. Mary of the Mount to St. Laying the Cornerstone for the New High School and Convent — April, 1956