St Marys High School - Vale Yearbook (Clarksburg, WV)

Page 88 text:

Sllllllllllll With sincere love and withjoyous hearts we hail your presence here, dear clergy, parents, teachers, and friends of the class of nineteen fifty- four. We know only too well, the gratitude that is your due for those of you who have reared usg for those of you who have taught usg and for those of you who have given us the Bread of Life to fortify us on our earthly jour- ney, and to make us a little more worthy of the promises ofChrist. Therefore, we greet you and we welcome you. You, as well as we, have eagerly looked forward to this night with the greatest anticipation, but the grief of parting mingles with the joy of achievement--we are graduating, To us, graduation means leaving be- hind our dear Alma Mater with all the memories, the guidance, the teach- ing, and the principles in stilled by the untiring efforts of our beloved Priests and Sisters. It likewise means years of study, of mental develop- ment and growth, of preparation for the future, and of the joyous hours of fun and frolic shared at our games, dances, parties, recitals, clubs, and the Senior Play. These are all the things that have become a part of us and as we stand poised on the pinnacle of graduation, we, the seniors of the class of fifty-four, see before us a world in which we may either attain success and the recognition of our talents or the bitter sting of fail- ure and rebuke. Yes, we foresee the many trials and tribulations with which we shall be faced, but we are not afraid, for we shall walk through the storm of life firmly and bravely clutching God's hand tightly. It is evident that somewhere along the way we shall come in contact with evil and unjust men, but let us never fear, for sotoo shall we come in contact with men who acquire success honestly and rightfully. Let us then strive to reach the goal towards which our motto Let us go on untoperfection directs us. When all these memories of our joys and sorrows shared are far away let us remember that once our earthly goal is completed, as God has willed, we shall again be united, only this time eternally, never more to part. Therefore, in times of trial and temptation-- I..et's be brave when the laughter dies And the tears come into our troubled eyes. L.et's cling to the faith and the old belief When the skies grow gray with the clouds of grief. Let's heed the sorrow and hurt and pain And wait till the laughter comes again. Let's be brave when the trials come And our hearts are sad, and our lips are dumb, l..et's strengthen ourselves in the times of test By whispering softly, God knows best. Yet after the dark shall the sun arise, So let's be brave, when the laughter dies. Rose Marie Marra, Salutatorian

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Page 89 text:

Vlllllllllllllll In a few days thirty-seven boys and girls will walk up the center aisle of the Immaculate Conception Church. We will walk up as Seniors of Saint Mary's High School, but we will return as thirty-seven graduates, thirty-seven alumnae of Cath- olic Education. For twelve long years we have joyously awaited our commencement day. At times everyone of us has felt that it would never come. But now that the goal we so earnestly strove for is almost ours we experience a strange mixture of emotions. We rejoice and are lighthearted because at last we have come to that milestone on the road of life to which these words of Saint Paul are very apropos: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have be- comeaman, Iput away the things of a child. But also in our hearts is some sorrow mingled with a little anxiety because we are leaving the security of an old life for the uncertainty and doubt of a new one. I think we are fighting the same mental battle that the sailors of the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria must have fought before they set sail from Portugal. They were eager for the New World and the riches it promised them, but fearful of leaving the protection oftheir familiar homeland for the dangers and hardships of the open sea. But, after God, they placed their trust in their captain, and he led them to a glorious land and undying fame, Our glorious land is heaven and our undying fame, sainthood. Our guide is our Catholic Religion, taught and lived by Jesus Christ, and revealed to us by the workings of the Holy Ghost in our Catholic Education System. Our Catholic Education has pro- vided us with a Christian plan of life, the map we are to use on our voyage through life. This precious knowledge has come to us through the untiring efforts, sacrifices, and prayers of our belovedpriests, sisters, and parents. We will remain eternally grateful. Fellow classmates, the future is in our hands. The world we are entering is now in a critical position. If we heed the lessons we have been taught these past twelve years it is in our power to change the world. We can return this bal1 to the Baby Jesus before it destroys itself. Our elders are Placing their faith in us. Let us prove to them that we consider their confidence a sacred trust. Mary Ann Malfregeot, Valedictorian