St Marys High School - Blue Mantle Yearbook (Milford, MA)

Page 16 text:

Because of the death of Rev. Jeremiah A, Riordan, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish, which occurred on January first, plans for the -Golden Jubilee observance of Sr, Mary St. Jerome’s entering the sisterhood were curtailed to a certain extent. Sister Mary St, Jerome entered the sisterhood from Saint Jerome’s parish in Holyoke, the mother church. She derived her name from that church and entered the Mother House of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Springfield on March twelfth, 1891. During her fifty years of toil and sacrifice as a parochial school teacher, Sister Mary St. Jerome has been missioned at Springfield, Webster, Pittsfield, Westfield, Newport, R»I. and Milford, where she has spent twenty eight years. Here in Milford, she has endeared herself to all who have come in contact with her, and has carved herself a niche in the life of Saint Mary’s parish, impossible for another to fill. John Holmes ’41 To Sister Mary St. Jerome On the celebration of her Golden Jubilee March 19,1941 Fifty years thou hast journeyed on the way Serving thy Spouse, the Lord of Heaven. Fifty years have passed since that joyous day When to Him, thou wert in rapture giver! Thee His, He thine by unsullied truth Still closer this day has united thee both Faithful bride of Heaven. Fifty years ago this day, the candles gleam ed As clad in white thy vows thou made. Fifty years of thy life the Lord hast reamed As thou passed from youth to age’s shade. Still thy robe is pure and white And thy lamp is trimmed and bright Faithful bride of Heaven. Fifty years in divine service thou hast spent Teaching youth the golden rule of life Fifty years and thy spirit is not bent Placidly you move, undisturbed by strife Self-effacing thou hast ever been Calmly serving God and men Faithful bride of Heaven. John Holmes f

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The highest vocation any woman may aspire to is the serving of God in the holy religious state under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was the first woman to dedicate herself entirely to ministering to the Holy Trinity, with Whom she is so closely affiliated, i Although the religious li fo either active or comtemplative is a life of joyful self-immolation and ecstatic union with God, the arduous labor attached to it, is so tremendous that seldom does a nun attain her golden jubilee, the fiftieth anniversary of her consecration to God. Thrice blessed therefore is the hand-maid the Lord rewards with a happy old-age, crowned with the virtues of half a cen¬ tury of faithful labor in His household. On March nineteenth, the Feast of St. Joseph, Sr, Mary St. Jerome attained her fiftieth anniversary as a Sister of Saint Joseph. The jubilee celebration opened with a High Mass celebrat¬ ed by Reverend Thomas P« Kelly followed by an informal reception at the Convent. Throughout the day, open house was conducted during which many hundreds of parishioners of St. Mary’s Parish called to extend their personal felicitations to the beloved nun. During the afternoon Sister Mary St. Jerome received in the Convent parlor amid many lovely bouquets presented by friends from Milford and former parishes where she had laboured. Among her many gifts were a large gold crucifix, suitably inscribed, from Rev. John F. Sullivan,acting pastor of St. Mary’s parish; a congratulatory message from the Rev. Mother John Berchmans of the Mother House, and the Blessing of His Holiness, Pius Xll, Supreme Head of the Catholic Church on earth.

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Hail 0 St. Gary’s Haill Hail to thee-- Our loyal hearts will faithful and true e ' er be. Our love for you v ill remain all life through. Hail, dear St. Gary ' s, Hail, Hail to you. with deep affection and fond recollection wow our hearts we pledge thee And with our praise a sweet song do we raise Hail dear St. Lary ' s Hail to you! Now our pennant waving here, we nobly stand Dear St. Ifary ' s, we your true and valiant band To thy standard we will cling Pride and glory to thee brin-r Alma hater dear to thee Let us forever be-- To thy standard we will cling Pride and glory to thee bring Aina Later dear to thee Let us forever be--- Sing out the cheer, loud and clear, Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah ! St. Lary ' s, St. Mary ! s--Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Alma Later, praise to thee Lay our prayer forever be From hearts true and filled with love Look on her, 0 God above!