St Sebastians School - Arrow Yearbook (Newton, MA)

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tum- uw- -wa...-4-., ...,....m, ST. SEBASTIAN CHORISTERS Rear Rfzzrx Durnun, Zock, Atkinson, Molinari, McCarthy, Dore, Sefton, Callahan, O'Shea, O'Toole, Third RUIID' McKenna, Macdonald, Carey, L. McCarty, P, McCarty, Harnedy, Powell, Benjamin, Giblin, Delay, Casey, French, Burns. Semin! Row: Weber, Allen, Gillis, Griffin, Father Keating, Gazzola, Smith, Carroll. Frou! Roux' Fenton, Mahony, Cochran, Masterson, Russell, Supple, Gilbert, Cassctly. Athridge, Abely, Dunphy, 82

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We had always appreciated The Walrus, especially after Bruce Harrigan joined the photography department, but we did not realize its true worth until The Barton Globe awarded it first prize as the best school newspaper in Class A competition. The award carried with it a prize of 3100 for Editor Roger Vorce which he did his best to donate to the School -- but all in vain. Knowing Father Beatty's penchant for keeping his own name out of The Walrus, the Monsignor and Father Flanigan conspired with the older members of the staff to add two pages to the final issue and the extra sheets were filled with eulogies of Father Beatty, one of which purported to be autobiographical, The utmost secrecy was observed and the moderator of The Walrus did not dream that anything was afoot until the journal was distributed in the Refectory. To close out the athletic year, St. Sebastian's produced one of the finest Varsity Baseball nines in its brief history. Captained by Andy McAuliffe and equipped with two top-flight twirlers in Bob McNabb and Andy himself, the team rolled to a 9 and 3 record via a schedule that could not have been any more difficult. The high point of the campaign was reached when the Red and Black achieved successive victories over Thayer, Dummer, Exeter, and B.C. High to win the mythical private school title. Our class- mates, Henry Lane and Bob Kelly, led the sluggers with averages of .400 and .390 respectively, while Billy Gibbons, Bill Brooks, Hilt Collupy and Bob Joyce were other juniors who made regular berths on the club. While not as successful as our diamond representatives, the Red and Black Tennis team won its share of victories to justify the hours of coaching received from Father Aubut. Once again we were at the threshold of the Commencement Week and we took a keener interest in the proceedings because the next time they were re-enacted we would be playing the central roles. The traditional Year's End Party was the first event and it was held on Monday evening in our own refectory. After the sumptuous repast, the movie Play Ball was shown and the various athletic awards were distributed. The following afternoon, our nine pleased the Fathers' and Sons' Day gathering by defeating B.C. High, 11-10 and that evening the Seniors held their prom at the Longwood Cricket Club. Wednesday brought the Senior Outing at the New Ocean House and, the next afternoon, Bob McNabb's Reds assured his plaque by a clean-cut 6-1 triumph over Larry McAuliffe's Blues, To provide something novel for the annual Musicale, the Walpole Glee Club and a symphony orchestra of sixty pieces under the direction of Frederic Kempf were invited to create the musical background for the reception to our graduates and both units delighted the large audience at the Bradford, Our Lady of Presentation Church, Brighton, was the scene of the Solemn Baccalaureate Mass on Friday morning and the sermon was preached by Rev. Cornelius T. Sherlock, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools. The Graduation Exercises held at the Archbishop's House that afternoon were graced by the presence of Most Reverend john J, Wright, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, and His Excellency addressed the graduates and conferred the diplomas after jack Boyle and Hugh Bradshaw had delivered the Salutatory and Valedictory orations. Solemn Benediction crowned the day and at its end we bade a sad farewell to the members of the Class of 1948 who had been so close to us in our three years on Nonantum Hill. Proud of our status as Seniors, we returned to St. Sebastian's last September 20th to begin the final lap of our course. We had heard during the summer that Monsignor Mclnnis was making the pilgrimage to Rome and hence we were not too surprised when it was Father Flanigan who celebrated the Mass of the Holy Ghost in the Chapel. Once again we listened to the rosters of the classes being read and heard the injunction of three hours study each night, only to be shocked when Father Flanigan rather calmly asserted that of course, for the Seniors, three hours work will not dog it may be four hours, or even more. After dismissal from the chapel, we reported to our top-floor classrooms to find that we had been divided into two groups, Senior A, which was based in the old Senior classroom, and Senior B, which had its headquarters in a newly- partitioned section of the former Chemistry Lab lecture hall. For the most part, each section had its own program, although we were to come together for classes in Religion, .-I 81

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History and Physics, As we surveyed the ranks of our membership, we noted the absence of a few of last year's juniors and the presence of three new faces, Duke Demeo, Ed Fitzgerald and joe McCarthy. One by one the same members of the Faculty made their appearance on the scene and from the Greek students we learned that they were to have a layman for their course, Mr. john Walsh, an alumnus of Boston College. Schola brevis was the order of that first day, and that permitted us to make an inspection of the changes that had been made in the gym during the summer. The newly-painted lobby greeted us first but that made no impact upon us compared to the thrill we received when we looked upon the new floor in the cage. Accustomed to the earthy, peat floor of previous years, we could hardly believe that this beautiful maple surface could change the aspect of the gym so radically. Of course the whole interior had been cleaned and painted and that added to the overpowering effect also. We noted right away that the floor surface had been marked for both Basketball and Tennis and we liked the permanent stage at the farther end of the hall. With proprietary pride, Father Keating appeared to explain technical details, answer questions and give us a personally conducted tour that enabled us to appreciate that we now had the finest gymnasium in the state. Within a few days, Monsignor returned from his trip to Europe and was accorded a grand ovation when he made his first appearance in the refectory. When dinner ended, he reviewed the highlights of the pilgrimage for us and we were delighted to hear that the Holy Father had conferred his blessing on the School. Later, each student received a rosary blessed by the Pope and all of us were thrilled to own such a precious gift. By this time, the academic and athletic programs were in full swing, and we had learned that report cards would be issued for every twenty days of class work and that we Seniors would have our Physics Lab periods on alternate Saturdays. Class elec- tions were held early in the fall and the Green Machine swept Big Tom into the presidency once again and Bob Murphy was chosen Vice-President. To represent a militant minority, Al Hughes was voted in as Secretary, and Billy Gibbons led the can- didates for the ofiice of Treasurer. Each afternoon the Football squads worked out on the gridiron under their respec- tive coaches and we noted that Mr. Vin Murphy had an assistant mentor in Mr, Frank Coyle who devoted his attention to the linemen. The Varsity fielded practically an entire Senior team and that added to our interest as we followed the School eleven through a poor season that was not productive of a single triumph, Before the season opened, we were shocked to learn of the tragic death of Bob Murphy's father and we expressed our sympathy by attending the funeral Mass in a body. Bob's insistence on playing for St. Sebastian's the next day evoked our admiration and those of us, who knew his dad well, felt that he would want it that way. On Saturday, October 2nd, the third annual Parents' and Friends' Day was held on the Hill and was marked by a contest with Hopkins Country Day of New Haven which ended in a defeat for the Red and Black at the hands of an older and more experienced team. Afterwards, a pleasant gathering took place in the refectory where refreshments were served and an invitation was extended to all our guests to visit the newly re-furbished gym. The following day, the C.Y.O. parade was held in Boston and the St. Sebastian student body, Wearing distinctive arm bands, marched with the private school groups and was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by the Headmaster from the reviewing stand, To reward our 6116 showing in the parade, we were given a holiday the following day. A night game with Hudson High gave us a 6-6 tie in the face of a driving rainstorm that caused an anxious mother to call the School to inquire whether the contest was being held indoors or outdoors. Meanwhile, Father Keating's gridders were having more luck than the Varsity and Bob Zock had been crowned Tennis Champion. The 1948 Arrow appeared one day after dinner and was read avidly and thoroughly enjoyed. Much to our surprise, 1-I 83 1-1