St Marys Academy - Blue Star Yearbook (Austin, TX)

Text from Pages 1 - 78 of the 1948 volume:

UvUVlUlUUUU Back Entrance HERITAGE A few crowded days are yet to be spent before we are ready to walk up the long aisle proudly clad in the white that is always symbolic of graduation. In a short while, our diplo- mas held reverently, we shall depart from school for many other ways of life. The time we have spent here can be compared to the swift flight of birds, that after they have rested, spread eager wings and soar into the sky. We have paused here in our flight toward maturity, and now the time is at hand when we must scatter before the elements of chance and change. When we have gone and our laughing voices have been swallowed up by the stillness that is peculiar to deserted schools, ghosts of us will keep watch here all through the summer. In fall, new faces, young faces, bright with dreams, will quickly fill the places we left vacant. Too many of us who graduate will lay aside our school days in the dusty closet of forgotten memories, and will forget to remember that long after our names have ceased to echo through these halls, some part of us still lives on here. We have become part of a vast group of girls----------girls who have graduated from the schools of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Our heritage, the ideals which our school attempts to inculcate, the standards which are given as measures, the traditions, the demands made upon us by our school, did not come into being with the first St. Mary’s Academy established here in Austin almost seventy-five years ago. The origin of these ideals, the conception of our heritage, took place in a chapel of the Good Shepherd Sisters, Le Mans, France, on the vigil of Our Lady of the Snows, a day in August over a century ago. There four girls, girls each sharing the same dream, banded together to form the religious congregation of the Sis- ters of the Holy Cross. Today over ten thousand girls have dressed in the black of Holy Cross, and these courageous women are still perpetuating in the hearts of countless girls the dreams shared by four young novices so long ago. Our school then, is much more than graceful buildings set on a plot of ground and being administered by a group of Sisters. It is a dream become tangible, a dream dreamed especially for us before we were born, a dream whose realization for us is a clear indication of the presence of God’s hand. Too often we measure our school by materialistic standards; we judge its worth by its physical framework alone and completely exclude consideration of its soul. Ideals and heritage make a school; without them it becomes just another building, existing, but not living. These years are the green years of our lives, but even now, caught and held as we are in the breath-taking and heart-breaking business of becoming adults, there are times when a sudden silence overtakes us. We are all too sharply aware of the steady footsteps of Time; we sense the impending change that maturity is certain to bring into our lives; we long wist- fully for the secure and happy days of childhood. In moments like these a keen sense of realization breaks over us, and we see our school for what it truly is: alma mater, foster- mother, a tender protector of all that is cherished by mankind. We then begin to appreciate the gifts that our school has to offer to all who will take them. Appreciation of beauty, love of truth, a desire for a Mary-like life: these are the priceless treasures which our school can give to us. And years after we are gone she will continue to give them to the girls who follow in our paths, for she is a generous mother, our alma mater. We leave soon, not only with our diplomas in hand, but also with this worthy heritage in our hearts. The years will mellow it,and before long the ideals we harvested here will take such firm root in us that no change which the world can bring will be able to make us different from what we are today: Saint Mary's girls standing on the threshold of a new tomorrow and at the same time clinging in spirit to the ideals, standards, and dreams of an ageless yesterday. Catharine Wolters The death of Sister Mary Ada, C.S.C., last August, marked the close of a long and fruitful chapter in the history of Saint Mary’s Academy, Austin, Texas. For more than sixty years Sister Ada had been associa- ted with the academy as teacher, librarian, and prefect. During her years there she saw the old academy built and watched its progress; before she died she saw the new property purchased and plans drawn up for construction of a new school. Sister Ada was sent to Saint Mary’s in Austin on mission after one year of novitiate at the motherhouse in Indiana and she never went on another mission. When physical disabilities pre- vented her from carrying her share of the active teaching, she poured forth all her efforts in praying for the welfare of the school, its students, and its teachers. Numerous alumnae never think of Saint Mary’s with- out thinking of Sister Ada; she was indeed a vital part of the school. It is to her then that we, the present students, dedicate this page, with the hope that her generous solicitude will purchase abundant blessings for all •who love the Saint Mary’s she loved. DEDICATION We consider it a great honor to dedicate this first edition of THE BLUE STAR to his Excellency, The Most Reverend Louis J. Reicher, D.D., LL.D., first bishop of the newly created diocese of Austin, Under Bishop Reicher's competent guidance, we are confident that the new diocese will flourish both spiritually and materially; and since the progress of our school is so closely linked with that of the diocese, we wish to ex- press our appreciation for such an outstanding leader. It is with the hope that the student body of Saint Mary’s Academy may always remain worthy of such a friend as His Excellency that we dedicate THE BLUE STAR to Bishop Reicher. May Our Lady, of whom THE BLUE STAR is symbolic, bless his work in the diocese of Austin. Most Reverend Louis J. Reicher, D.D., LL.D., Bishop of Austin Secretary-Treasurer Alice Sternnadle Vice-President Mary Owen President. Mildred Dougherty Sodality, 44-48 Glee Club, 44-48 Student Council, 47-48 Dramatic Club, 44-45 Library Committe Chairman, 47-48 Year Book Staff, 47-48 Barbara Blanton: Glee Club, 47-48 Austin, Texas Year Book Staff, 47-48 Hallie Jean Budnick: Austin, Texas Sodality, 44-48 Glee Club, 44-48 Student Council, 45-46 Class President 45-46 Catholic Literature Com- mittee Chairman, 46-47 Sacred Heart Committee Chairman, 47-48 Agnes Bushong: Sodality, 44-48 Austin, Texas Glee Club, 44-48 Student Council, 46-47 Class Vice-President, 46-47 Year Book Staff, 47-48 Laura Delgado: Sodality 44-48 Tampico, Mexico Vice-President, 47-48 Glee Club, 44-48, Student Council, 46-47 Eucharistic Com- mittee Chairman, 46-47 Library Committee Chairman, 45-46 Lupe Delgado: Sodality, 44-48 Lampasas, Texas Glee Club, 44-45 Dramatic Club, 44-45 Maria Flores: Sodality, 44-46, 47-48 Glee Club 44-46, 47-48 Class Secretary, 44-45 Dramatic Club 45-46 Year Book Staff Sodality, 44-48 Glee Club, 44-45 Dramatic Club, 46-47 Social Life Committee Chairman, 47-48 Year Book Staff, 47-48 Mildred Dougherty: Sodality, 44-48 Austin, Texas Glee Club, 45- 48 Student Council 46- 48 Treasurer, 46- 47 Class President 47- 48 Year Book Staff Beulah Hopkins: Sodality 46-48 Rockport, Texas Student Council 47-48 Building and Grounds Committee Chairman, 47-48 Year Book Staff, 47-48 r Sodality, 44-48 Glee Club, 44-48, President, 47-48 Class Vice President, 45-46 Class Secretary-Treasurer, 46-47 Dramatic Club, 44-45 Mary Owen: Sodality, 45-48 Burnet, Texas Glee Club, 45-47 Student Council, 47-48 Building and Grounds Chair- man, 46-47 Year Book Staff, 47-48 Francis Petrick: Sodality, 45-48 Burnet, Texas Glee Club, 45-48 Student Council, 46-48 Secretary, 46-47 Vice-President, 47-48 Year Book Staff, 47-48 Alice Sternnadle: Austin, Texas Sodality, 45-48 Glee Club, 45-48 Bettye Jean Valdes: Austin, Texas Class Secretary- Treasurer, 47-48 Sodality 46-48, President, 47-48 Glee Club, 44-48 Student Council, 45-48 Class President, 46-47 Assembly Committee Chairman, 45-46 Eucharist Committee Chairman, 46-47 Catharine Wolters: Sodality, 47-48 Houston, Texas Student Council 46-48, President, 47-48 Social Studies Club President, 47-48 Year Book Staff,47-48 ili1 ll v Vice-President..........................Helen Sternnadle President................... Charlene Swenson Vice-President...................Dorothy Beck Gloria Johnson Louise Matthews Lucille Valdez Secretary-Treasurer............Stella Moreno President................Mary Ann McNamara Vice-President, Gretchen Berkey .V 4? !;! i V AiVs rv‘-r ' ‘.'v T Secretary-Treasurer.............Mary Rubarth President......................Gwen Carpenter Vice-President. .Maria Conception de La Garza OFFICERS Sponsor Sister M. Lucy President Catharine Wolters Vice-President Francis Petrick Secretary Genevieve Joseph T reasurer Marlene Joseph The Student Council of Saint Mary's Academy not only coordinates all student activities but also gives the students an excellent opportunity to apply the principles of self-government. The Council functions through home room organizations and faculty-appointed committees and is composed of Student Council officers, class officers, chairmen of the various com- mittees, and officer s of school loyalty, to interest students in school affairs and school govern- ment, and to help each individual girl realize the importance of her role in the student life at Saint Mary's. Francis Petrick Beulah Hopkins Mary Owen Mary Anne Marek Bettye Jean Valdes Joanne Wasoff Mildred Dougherty Elaine Attal Catharine Wolters Mary Ann McNamara Gretchen Berkey Maria de la Garza Gwen Carpenter Charlene Swenson Helen Sternnadle Genevieve Joseph Marlene Joseph Sodality Council Sponsor-Sister Elisa Maria Hallie Jean Budnick Carol Kleypas Dorothy Beck Shirley Mueller Virginia Martin Laura Delgado Bettye Jean Valdes Amparo Rios Amparo Trevino Lucille Valdez The Sodality of Our Lady at Saint Mary's Academy is one of the most active groups on the campus. It functions through committees, and it is governed by the Sodality Council, which is comprised of Sodality officers and chairmen of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady’s, Social Life, Eucharistic, Apostolic and Catholic Literature Committees. The aim of the Sodality is stated in its motto, Ad Jesumper Mariam, and each Sodalist is conscientious in her efforts to attain this most desirable goal. Aside from providing ample opportunity for its members to advance spiritually, the Sodality is responsible for much of the social activity at Saint Mary’s. This year, under the capable guidance of Sister Elisa Maria, the Sodality of Our Lady carried out a program that was designed to fulfill all the spiritual needs and many of the social demands of its members. The Glee Club of Saint Mary's has'long been one of the outstanding school or ganizations. Under the direction of Sister Mary Assumpta, students who are interested in developing their musical abilitiesor indoing choralwork have an opportunity to give expression to their talents and realize these ambitions. Throughout the year the club provides music for mapy of the student programs and the annual Glee Club recital is an eagerly awaited event on the calendar of school activities. Students At Work The library of Saint Mary's has always been a center for study and research. There students have the latest magazines, the finest in con- temporary Catholic literature, and a complete selection of the classics at their disposal. Sister Mary Ruth Dolores has been capably fulfilling the duties of librarian for several years, and it is due to her untiring efforts that the library is what it is today: a place of quiet where stu- dents working on themes, research projects and the like, are just as well supplied with material as the students who are reading merely for personal pleasure and enjoyment. Y E A R B O O K S T A F F 1 9 4 8 Sponsor. . .Sister Editor....................Francis Petrick Assistant Editor.......Mary Anne Marek Business Manager..................Marlene Joseph Literary Editor........Catharine Wolters Art Editor.........................Joanne Wasoff Assistant Art Editor................Maria Flores Activity Editor........Mildred Dougherty M. Lucy Assistant Activity Editor. . .Beulah Hopkins Class Editor..........................Mary Owen Assistant Class Editor........Elaine Attal Photography Editor..........Carol Kleypas Assistant Photography. . . . Virginia Martin Editor Advertising Editor.........Dolores Dillon Assistant Advertising. . .Genevieve Joseph Editor Members of Advertising Committee Dean Bernhard Agnes Bushong Bettye Jean Valdes Mary Ann McNamara FEBRUARY FORMAL PLACE: K.ofC. HALL TIME: 8 o’clock ORCHESTRA: STYLISTS DANCES BLUE ROOM FORMAL PLACE: St. Mary’s Patio TIME: 8 o’clock ORCHESTRA: STYLISTS Miss Saint Mary’s For several years it has been the custom of students of Saint Mary’s Academy to choose that girl from the senior class who, they believe, best embodies all the qualities o f an ideal Saint Mary’s girl. This year Bettye Jean Valdes was selected by the student body as the most typical Saint Mary’s girl. Presentation of Bettye Jean as Miss Saint Mary s of 1948, was made at the Junior-Senior Prom, held at the Knights of Co- lumbus Hall, on April 16, 1948, by Catharine Wolters, President of the Student Council. ST. MARY’S ACADEMY AND THE YARING’S CALLING ALL GIRLS CLUB PRESENT “THE NIFTY SHOP” Words and Music by Otis M. Carrington Cast of Characters: Madame Lazare, Proprietor of “The Nifty Shop” Mrs. Goldore, A. Customer--------------------- Bess Goldore ( „ , . T . _ , ) Her Daughters--------------- Jackie Goldore ( Olga, Chore Girl (late from Sweden) ------- Rosemary ( Janet ( French Maids------------------------ - - Francis Petrick • - Mildred Dougherty ( Mary Anne Marek ( Hallie Jean Budnick Mary Ann McNamara ( Dean Bernhard ( Jessie May Flautt Barbara Blanton Laura Delgado Dorothy Beck Lorel Christianson Mary Rubarth WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS Water Ballet SQUARE DANCE SENIOR RECITAL CLASS AFTERNOON PATRONS American Taxi Majestic Cleaners Austin Baking Co. A. J. Maloney and Co. Belding Florist McNamara Bakery V. C. Bushong and Co. Margarets Beauty Salon Cabaniss Furniture Co. Martins Gifts Capital National Bank J. P. Nash Carpenter Paper Co. Dr. Pepper Dr. Cherico Prescription Laboratory Cities Service Station J. R. Reed Connelly’s Florist Rios Brother, Tailors Cook Funeral Home Sammies Dacy’s Shoe Store Schoonerville Alex Ferris Shaeffers, Religious Articles George Ferris Texan Hotel Fleets Garage Texas Public Service Dr. L. B. Flynn University Studios Francene Shop H. H. Voss Company Helen’s Dr. Vossburg Hirsh Drug Stores Wells Service Station Humble Service Station Zale Jewelry Joseph Man’s Shop Mr. and Mrs. Wolfred Attal Karotkin’s Furniture Store Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Maloney Mr. and Mrs. S. Mueller Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Petrick We of the staff wish to express our deepest appreciation to our faculty, our students, our patrons, our photographer, Mears Studio,and our publisher, The Steck Co., for working with us to- ward our goal, the success of THE BLUE STAR.