Thursday 21 November 2013

HAPPY PRESENTATION DAY

Today, 21st November, is Presentation Day.  Because St Patrick's Convent School was founded by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) I thought a post about Presentation Day and the founding of the Presentation Sisters in Newfoundland would be appropriate.  The Newfoundland Convent has the distinction of being the first Presentation House outside Ireland and also the first in North America. 
 
Painting of the Presentation of Mary into the Temple.  This
painting is the work of a member of the Presentation
Community at the Motherhouse, Cathedral Square.

Just in case we may have forgotten what 'Presentation Day' actually is, I am posting an excerpt from "The Church's Year of Grace" by Pius Parsch. 
 
"Presentation of Mary
Sacred Scripture contains no text concerning the event commemorated in today's liturgy. For something of a historical background one may consult the apocryphal works, particularly the Protoevangel of St. James (ch. 4:1ff). After an angel had revealed her pregnancy, Anna is said to have vowed her future child Mary to the Lord. Soon after birth the infant was brought to the sacred precincts at which only the best of Israel's daughters were admitted. At the age of three she was transferred to the temple proper (7:2). According to legend, here she was reared like a dove and received her nourishment from the hand of an angel (8:1)."In the East, where the feast, celebrated since the eighth century, is kept as a public holiday, it bears the name, 'The Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple'. It was introduced at Rome by a Cypriotic legate to the papal court of Avignon in 1371. In 1472, Sixtus IV extended its observance to the whole Church. Abolished by Pius V, it was reintroduced some years later (1585)."
 
The following video is another of the excellent videos by my friend Ed O'Neill.  It is a very interesting video about Mother Bernard Kirwan and the founding of the Presentation Sisters in Newfoundland.  In the video, Ed interviews the late Sr Perpetua Kennedy, visits the Presentation Convent in Galway from where Mother Bernard and her little band of pioneers set out, and also visits Mother Bernard's grave in Port Kirwan, Fermeuse, on the beautiful Southern Shore of Newfoundland.  Please take the time to watch the video.  You will be glad you did!


 
 
Thanks again, Ed, for allowing me to repost your video.  And a very Happy Presentation Day to everyone.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

A GET TOGETHER!


This is an e-mail I received from Doreen Walsh Noseworthy.    Unfortunately, I can’t be there but all you lucky ladies who are able to attend should get in touch with DOREEN BY FRIDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER.  I wish I could be there and I send “hello” & “love” & “best wishes” to all my St Patrick’s friends.  Have a great time, everyone!

 
The original School, Convent Square,  & part of the 'new' Convent

Doreen's e-mail:
“Hi everyone! A few of us got together last week and thought it would be nice if we could get some of the crowd together for lunch someday soon. I know this will not include those of you who are at a great distance, but it's easier to send the email to everyone on the list.....we may be getting older, but still not too stunned (ha!).

We have decided on lunch at PAPA'S RESTAURANT, ROWAN ST., CHURCHILL SQUARE, AT NOON, ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. We have a dining area all to ourselves - The Red Room. However, I WILL NEED THE EXACT NUMBER OF THOSE ATTENDING NOT LATER THAN FRIDAY, NOV. 15TH. We have been getting a lot of requests for an event like this so we're hoping to see many of you there. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF ANYONE WHO IS NOT ON THE MAILING LIST BUT WOULD LIKE TO GO, PLEASE CONTACT THEM AND PASS ALONG THE INVITATION.

Hope this message finds all of you well. Looking forward to seeing many of you next week.

Cheers to all,

Doreen”
 
Contact Doreen at;  <dgnoseworthy@nf.sympatico.ca>

Monday 11 November 2013

"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

In 1921, the new St Patrick's Convent School opened on Deanery Avenue.  The school was dedicated to the memory of the men and boys of St Patrick's Parish who had lost their lives in WWI.  Today, as Remembrance Day dawns once again, we dedicate this post to all those who have paid the supreme sacrifice, not only in WWI, but in all the wars and conflicts that have cursed the earth ever since. 
 
 
The Plaque from  the Deanery Avenue School
 
 
This little newspaper clipping found in a very old scrapbook tells of one parishioner of St Patrick's who gave his young life in WWI. 


From a 1918 newspaper
 
Private Jack Pynn was the son of Daniel and Margaret Pynn of 329 Water Street West. Private Pynn was only 17 years old when he died of wounds on 31st October 1918, just eleven days before the Armistice was signed.  Far from his home in the shadow of St Patrick's, young Private Jack Pynn rests in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France.


 
"They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them."
(Robert Laurence Binyon)