St Marys High School - Veritas Yearbook (Rutherford, NJ)

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SENIORS

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A MESSAGE FROM FATHER TICHLER T. MARY'S High School is dedicated to the cause of Catholic Education. The Catholic Church aims not merely at teaching youths to know, but at teaching them to do. It is conduct, it is character, it is life, in the best analysis that counts. True learning and real education consists in the building up of the whole man, and in that up-building the structure of the moral edifice must have an infinite preponderance and care. In other words, a man is a composite being, he is made up of several elements, his soul is endowed with many faculties, and that education alone is true and complete which considers every element of that being. Education must apply itself to the whole man-to every capacity. It must bring out and develop every power and faculty that is in that man, but it will stress what is most important in that whole man, and the Catholic Church does not profess to be wiser than jesus Christ, its founder, when it asks Him, in regard to the relative value of the things of life, What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? The first and fundamental principle of Christian fCatholicj Education is the exist- ence of a personal God and the immortality of the human soul. If God exists and if the soul which He has created be immortal, then there arises at once an unending relation- ship between the soul and its Creator. That relationship is primary and fundamental. It explains man's origin and destiny, and gives to him his true place in the universe in which he lives. To ignore that relationship, which is the most important fact in man's existence, is not merely to be guilty of a monumental blunder, but to be unscientific as well. If God exists, He has rights, if man is created, he has duties. If God has spoken and revealed His law, embodying in that law His lights and man's duties, is not that the fundamental knowledge to impart? And if the sincere observance of that law be the passport to happiness throughout eternity, shall not a true education have as its first aim so to influence man's life, so to form his character, that the Creator's will, and not his own pleasure or caprice shall determine his conduct? Religion, then, must be an essential part of education. It must be the centre about which all other subjects are grouped and the spirit by which they are permeated. The study of Nature with no mention of Natures God, or of human legislation without its Divine Law and authority is at best a one-sided education. The training of both soul and mind, then, is the aim and purpose of Catholic Education. Such is the aim and purpose of St. Mary's High School. To build a bridge to span a mighty river, to harness Niagara's might to give light and heat, to link, by rails of steel, our Country's Coasts, these are but a few of the many great achievements that have merited for Science the praise and gratitude of man. But to train the mind and soul to righteousness, to mold a character that God and man will ever be true, to shape a destiny that will find its completion in the happiness of Eternity, this is the sublime, the holy cause of true education, and this is the sacred cause to which St. Mary's High School and its Faculty is dedicated. r Under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mother Mary, as Seat of Wisdom, we humbly pray that we may ever be enlightened, inspired and enabled to impart to all the students ever committed to our care all the noble ideals and attainments found in the Higher Catholic Education. 12

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CLASS HISTORY B, the Class of '34, began our High School career, four short years ago in the Grammar School Building. At that time we were schooled in two classrooms and with two teachers making up the faculty, Sister Hyacinth our principal, who is with us still and Sister Gabriella who has left us. ' In our Freshman Year we had an enrollment of twenty-live. Out of that original class, only sixteen remain to graduate. The Corona, our school paper, also had its humble beginnings, and we can easily say grew up with us. The boys' and girls' basketball teams were fully equipped and ready to play real basketball. Plans for the erection of the new High School were under way and campaigns for raising funds were held. Our Second Year we were forced to spend in the same building. Another class- room was added and a new teacher, Sister Teresa Marie. 'With the organization of a baseball team we had proof enough that many sports would slowly be introduced into our midst. I Our Junior Year could rightly be called our happiest year. A beautfiul new building awaited us, fully equipped. All it needed were occupants which were not few. The teaching staff too, was increased from three to six. One of the most memorable events of that year was the solemn dedication of the New High School, on November 5th, by his Excellency, Bishop Walsh. Football took a firm hold, a very successful season was played, considering the size and experience of our team. The winning of the trophy, for being able to complete the finals in the Catholic Basketball Tournament was an important event. We undertook a big task during our Third Year, and that was the honor of having the first junior Prom, held june 9th, Our Prom was a huge success. Our Fourth and last year brought with it many new changes. We were superior to the other students. Another teacher was added to the faculty, besides Mr. Downey, our elocution teacher. Many students who were with us in our Junior Year left us, but a new Senior, Dennis Shea, joined us. The Student Council was formed, composed mostly of Seniors. Under the direct supervision of Mr. Downey a Debating Club and Dramatic Society were formed. We took part in two debates, the first our own, in which the negative won through the strong rebuttal of jack Farley, and the second, in which the Seniors debated with the juniors and in which the juniors, upholding the negative, won. This is our last undertaking, where we have all worked together for the last time before separating and passing onward on the road to success-the privilege and honor of making a success of the first Year Book of the School. We have with success risen both socially and athletically. Our four years of High School have been victorious and to each and every one of us individually they will remain a cherished memory. HELEN ROHAN 14