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Presidents Report
It was lovely to meet members of Federation at Swanwick. Last year I
indicated that, as an ex Leeds girl, being at Hinsley Hall was quite
like coming home. This year we met just twenty minutes away from my
actual home, a serendipitous thought!
The Executive continues to meet at the convent at 285, Woolton Road,
Liverpool, looked after very well by Sr. Jo Bushell who actually
took a break from her retreat in July to make sure that we were OK.
Thank you Sister Jo and all the Sisters at 285 for your continuing
hospitality!
In November we obtained the memorial bookmark for Mary Rose.
Everybody should have received one with their St Julie News.
In March I spent an enjoyable day with Southwark NDA as their guest
at the St. Julie Day celebration and AGM. There were two very
interesting speakers and an excellent lunch. Thank you Patricia and
Southwark NDA for your invitation!
We had our triennial Council Meeting in Liverpool. It has been
decided that in future these will form part of a scheduled executive
meeting with any Past President or Association President not
represented on the committee to be invited. The agenda included
items which were felt to be appropriate for such a meeting. Sr. Pat
Short arranged for outside caterers to provide an excellent buffet
lunch.
April saw me with Northampton NDA for their AGM and Annual Reunion.
Thank you Northampton for your invitation I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Last, but not least, in July I joined Manchester NDA, albeit
briefly, at their Garden Party. It was good to meet other members of
the Manchester Association.
Going around the country meeting the different members of Federation
and seeing how committed they are in supporting the work of the
Sisters through our Charities, I am reassured that despite an ageing
membership
BFNDA
will continue to thrive for many years to
come
Conference Secretary’s Report
At the end of my report for 2010 I said I hadn’t mentioned finance
because I hoped we would be solvent - and we were, the Conference
Account being in credit.
Last year, we announced that the Conference 2011 would be at
Leicester University, because we had enjoyed it as a venue in 2007.
Sadly, the final cost of holding this years Conference in Leicester
was prohibitive, so we decided to return to Swanwick, where we last
met in 2005. We appreciate the beautiful setting, the comfortable
rooms and the food. I know it is difficult to reach but I have had
only two refusals due to travel. The staff have been in touch
regularly to ensure all our needs are met. As for future venues, it
is becoming increasingly difficult to find places at a suitable
price. The increase in VAT has had an enormous effect on the daily
cost. All University venues have priced themselves out of our
market. Hinsley Hall, (available for 2012 at about £165) is the
cheapest of which I am aware. If members are prepared to pay over
£200 for the weekend please let me and the Executive know and we
will try to spread our net wider.
Thank you
Sheila Fuller would like to say a very big thank-you for all the
cards, prayers and messages of support received by Frances and
herself following Frances’s unfortunate fall on Sunday at The Hayes.
Frances now has a cast on her arm and is making slow but good
recovery. Your kind wishes have been much appreciated.
Sheila herself has had her operation and has done well, so far.
CONGRATULATIONS
AWARD WINNING TRIO
Three Notre Dame Old Girls who were in the same year at school went
to receive the MBE. What a coincidence. That must have been a very
special year group! They all left Notre Dame in 1961.
Congratulation Northampton Notre Dame Association are very proud of
you. And so are we!
Rosemary
Rice
nee Billington
for services to education in London.
Catherine
Keane
nee Goss
for services to prisoners and their families, after a career in the
Prison and Probation Services.
Pat
Percival
nee McCarthy
for services to policing in Northamptonshire as Head of Corporate
Communications.
AND TO NUMEROUS
OCTOGENARIONS FROM NORTHAMPTON
See article by
Eleanor.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
NOTRE DAME INTERNATIONAL
1. SNDs at UN.
The Sisters of Notre Dame is an accredited NGO (non governmental
organisation) at United Nations. The Congregational Representative
is Sister Jean Stoner of the Californian Province. To learn more
about this contact Sister Jean on the internet SND at UN.
2. Justice and Peace.
Sister Maura Browne of the Boston Province is the Congregational of
Justice and Peace. Contact her on Justice and Peace—Ask an SND
ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS
ACCORDING TO
CAPITATION FEES PAID
2010-2011
BATTERSEA 29
DIRECT
MEMBERS 52
LIVERPOOL 50
MANCHESTER 70
NORTHAMPTON 289
SOUTHWARK 126
Appeals Secretary’s Report
Each charity in Peru and Zimbabwe received £2,500.
2010-2011 £
Brought forward 117.50
Battersea 84.40
Direct Members 622.00
Liverpool 800.00
Manchester 1,500.00
Northampton 1,100.00
Southwark 270.00
Miscellaneous 452.30
Total
4946.30
Looking forward to another successful year!
Treasurer’s Report
Balance brought
forward 01.04.11 £7214.57
Income to date
£3598.38
Balance
10812.95
Expenditure to
date 154.13
Balance
(12.08.11) 10658.82
Representing:
Charity 4414.95
Expendable balance 6243.8
Itemised Miscellaneous
Expenditure:
Mass Offerings
£55.00
N.B.C.W. £40.00
TESLA (Website)
£120.00
Triennial Lunch
£128.00
Unpaid Chq. and
Bank Charge £11.00
St. Julie News
£475.42
Tr. To Conference
Account (costs) £202.50
Legacy to Archives
£800.00
Gifts Auditor/Fr.
Chris £50.00
Remembrance Cards
Mary Rose £131.00
Total £2012.92
Increase in Travel Costs
is due to increase in both fuel and public transport costs.
Membership Numbers
Capitation figures and membership numbers differ by £20.00/ten
members. This is due to £20.00, received in January 2011 being
credited to 2010/2011 account when it was actually capitation for
the year 2011/2012. This will also make a difference of £20.00/ten
members in the accounts for 2011/2012.
Bernie Shaw.
FERDERATION WEEKEND 2011
Having just returned from this weekend, I reflected on why I so
enjoy attending these occasions. I am an irregular visitor to
Federation weekends as I do not go every year, but when I do I come
home refreshed and contented. The Hayes Centre, this year’s venue,
set in the Derbyshire countryside, was an excellent place for us to
stay, with all the facilities we like.
Our programme was full and varied. The Friday night Quiz stretched
until Saturday afternoon because it proved to be a real brain
teaser. On Saturday morning those of us who went on the visit to
Cromford Mill found it historically enlightening and very
interesting as it is the mill built by Arkwright, and where the
original mechanical spinning machines were first introduced.
Saturday afternoon was given over to business matters, and after
evening prayer and dinner we enjoyed an entertaining talk by Derek
Darby, with illustrations and musical quotations, on the life of
Noel Coward.
A tombola and raffle was ongoing in aid of the charity funds in a
room full of laughter. See article on the next page.
Sunday
morning was equally busy. Fr. Chris Thomas celebrated Mass and Sr.
Pat Short gave us an update on the work of the Sisters in Africa and
Peru. We presented her with two cheques, one for each country, to
help this valuable work continue.
After lunch we began our homeward journeys. I hope other members
feel as I do - how lucky I am to belong to such a great Association
that offers friendship, comfort, help and support if needed. These
weekends highlight this and to whichever Association one belongs we
are part of one big family – with the same aims and
aspirations.
Margaret Barnes.
The Joys of
Tombola
The American Poet, Walt Whitman, wrote a piece called ‘The Tale
of a Shirt.’ From this weekend 2011 we can tell ‘The Tale of
a Nightie!’
Readers will recall from their schooldays that there was always a
charity of some sort begging for financial support, and many and
varied were the methods employed by ND girls to collect the odd
florin or two. Remember ‘Black Babies’?!
At Federation fundraising continues apace including a teeming
tombola organised with efficiency and good humour by our Appeals
Secretary, Bernie Shaw, ably assisted by Ann
Astwood. At the meeting 2010 in
Leeds, one of the items given for the tombola by Catherine Byrne was
a long-sleeved winceyette nightdress, size 20, white, sprigged with
blue, and neatly folded in a cellophane package. Eleanor won it
and, having no use for it, took if back to Northampton and spent the
year trying to find it a good home. There were no takers so it went
back to Swanwick and returned to the tombola.
Jose Sear had the winning ticket this time. Lovely as it was, it
would have drowned Jose: so back it went into the tombola.
Eventually, causing much hilarity, the notorious garment was won by
Catherine Byne herself! The cosy nightie had come full circle. Back
it went to be won by a more appreciative winner. Its journey did not
end there. It was won by Mary Kendal, the Editor, just as Bernie was
shutting up shop and counting the takings.
Eleanor Howland
PS. I work in the Life Charity Shop and it was bought immediately by
an African lady who is feeling the cold!! How many charities have
benefited from this humble, unloved nightdress?
Mary Kendal
ASSOCIATION
REPORTS
Manchester
We are happy to report an increase in membership this year mainly
due to the Fallen Angels (see separate article).
Mary Goodwin had been one of the stalwarts who kept Manchester going
for many years and, after her death, her role was divided between
two members of the existing (longstanding) committee who had
soldiered on without change for many years. New members were only
ever co-opted, never elected, and we intend to inject a little more
order into our organisation in the hopes that our weary
committee might be invigorated by some new talent. Bernie Shaw
joined us a couple of years ago but we really feel the need for more
new members. So after the November Mass we intend to hold a business
meeting (in future to be our AGM).
The two Masses in May and November celebrated by Fr. Dearman
continue to be well attended. We enjoyed another visit to the Royal
Exchange to see Private Lives - a fantastic production. The
Soup and Sandwich and the Strawberry Tea were both successful,
especially as the rain managed to hold off long enough for us to
enjoy Brian McHugh’s garden.
Our new event - a Garden Party hosted by Bernie Shaw - was held in
August and was a great success despite bouts of rain and we were
delighted to welcome Mary Lewis.
We were so pleased that, in June, we could have our Mass at Dunsop
Bridge, lunch at Waddington and a visit to Whalley Abbey. Once
again, we were happy that Moira Cruise, a Direct Member, was able to
join us.
At Christmas the committee decided to treat ourselves to After-noon
Tea at the Midland Hotel, but it didn’t happen until early Spring!
We thoroughly enjoyed this very special and extravagant afternoon
and will invite all members to join us next year.
Manchester girls might be interested to hear that our ex-PE
teacher Miss Rossall is, though over 90, still visiting the ‘old
folks’ at Nazareth House (including Miss Blacklock)! Perhaps we
should have taken more interest in her lessons - they obviously
did her good!
Jean Dwyer wishes to thank everyone for their prayers and good
wishes: she is recovering well from her latest operation.
Mary
Kendal (Secretary).
Direct Members
Sheila reported that there were 52 paid up members for March
2010-March 2011. She had received a card, thanking us for our
prayers at the AGM, from Nora Dunne who had a heart attack whilst on
holiday in France. She said she was making a steady recovery.
It was confirmed that in the Spring Newsletter Direct Members were
asked for nominations for the post of Federation President Elect.
Direct members were also to be asked, if agreeable to them, to let
Sheila know their e-mail addresses and for these to be passed on to
the Website Manager. It was emphasised that at no stage would
e-mail addresses be inserted on the Federation Website.
Discussion took place about a possible rise in capitation fees and
its implication to Direct Members’ subscriptions but no decision was
made and Direct Members would be kept informed.
Sheila Fuller
Northampton
Our meetings are still well supported and Marie Tisi continues to
find interesting and entertaining speakers. We had an excellent
talk on the life of the renowned missionary, William Carey, who
lived locally and became a preacher and pioneer of the Baptist
Missionary Society World Mission, which he helped to launch. He
travelled to India to spread the word of the Gospel. He was born in
1761, and a Service to mark 250 years since his birth was held on
17th. August. A retired policeman told us how he had always wanted
to swim the Channel, but was not able to swim and had a fear of
water! He overcame these obstacles, trained very hard and finally
achieved his ambition. A light-hearted talk Music and Memories of
1950s Childhood had us guessing who the vocalists and the bands
were, and singing along if we remembered the words. The Tea Party
in September is very popular and our Christmas entertainment will
again be provided by Two’s Company, back by popular request!
Our Chaplain, Mgr. Tony McDermot, celebrated the St. Julie Mass in
May - sadly as usual, not well attended. We are indebted to him
for allowing us to use St. Aiden’s for our committee meetings.
The main event of our year was our AGM/Reunion. 152 attended and
140 apologies for absence were received. We were delighted Mary
Lewis and Sr. Greta Cini were able to be with us. Bishop Peter, a
very busy gentleman, was unable to attend and sent his good wishes.
Mgr. Tony McDermott joined us for lunch, but I should add he had
given up the wine for Lent!
Everything went very smoothly at the meeting and we then moved into
the Ballroom for a delicious lunch served by courteous and willing
staff. The room looked delightful with balloons on the tables and
flowers by St. Julie’s statue. One of the tables was taken by
members who had become, or would become, octogenarians in 2011, each
was given a balloon with “80” on it.
The management and staff at St. George’s Hall, where we hold our
reunion, are so helpful - ramps for wheelchairs, special dietary
requirements, cones at the front entrance for ladies brought by
taxis and the use of two rooms, one for the meeting and the ballroom
for lunch. From comments made, and letters and cards received,
everyone thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. We have already booked for
next year.
As I write this, it is only three weeks before we pack our bags for
the Hayes Conference Centre. Ten of us (the usual faces) will be
travelling by mini-coach from Northampton and meeting up with
Veronica Moulding and Mary Watkinson (Jose’s Sister) who travel
independently. We have tried so hard to get more members to join us
and told them what a happy weekend it is, but to no avail. We were
disappointed that the venue is not Leicester, but our journey will
be a lot shorter this year - and less expensive !
We are fortunate to have a hard working President and Committee,
plus lots of loyal and generous members. What would we do without
them? Mary March (Secretary)
Liverpool
Prior to the AGM last year Hope University invited us to celebrate
Mass in the newly restored chapel. When we accepted the invitation
we were not to know that this would be a special occasion to
remember Mary Rose who had recently died. She was very much loved
by members of the Liverpool NDA and the Federation. May she rest in
peace! As our Chaplain, Fr. Hannah, was unwell Father Smale CSSR
from Bishop Eton very kindly said the Mass.
Members gathered at Notre Dame Convent, 266, Woolton Road for a very
enjoyable Strawberry Tea on 3rd. July.
It is on
occasions like this that members raise funds for the charities by
means of a ‘bring and buy’ and raffle. Our Sisters in Peru
and Zimbabwe are most appreciative of your generosity in raising
funds for ministries often undertaken amidst great hardship.
During the year I heard from Father Peter Hannah that, as he had
recently become responsible for three parishes and was suffering
from ill health, he would no longer be able to fulfil the role of
Association Chaplain. With the acute shortage of priests it may
prove difficult to find a replacement.
Liverpool NDA was well represented at the Federation Conference held
at Hinsley Hall, Leeds last September. We here in Liverpool were
indebted to Catherine Burns, the Conference Secretary, for arranging
transport there and back in a comfortable executive coach. Thank
you, Catherine.
Father Kevin Kelly, who is chaplain to the Sisters at 266 very
kindly said Mass for deceased members at our annual November Mass of
Remembrance on 6th November. Once again the liturgy was greatly
enhanced by the careful preparation by the Sister Sacristan and the
music input provided by Mike Anderson, Joan’s talented son. Many of
his compositions can be found the modern hymn books used in our
parishes. We were very pleased to welcome Margaret Bradbury from
Northampton who was on holiday in Lancashire at the time.
The
Christmas Party held in December was the happy occasion when the
Committee has an opportunity to provide a celebration for the
members as a way of saying thank you for all the support
given throughout the year. A good time was had by all.
Our membership has increased from 41 to 51 over the past year. This
is a very welcome sign. You may recall Sheila Fuller speaking to us
at the 2010 AGM about the closure of the Sheffield Association due
to the difficulty in finding members who were willing and free to
take office. They are now direct members. This situation could very
well arise here in Liverpool. At the moment we are looking for a
Secretary and a Treasurer. Kath Byron has done a mammoth job as
Executive Secretary when Mary Rose was President, and has served as
Liverpool NDA Secretary here in Liverpool over many years. Margaret
Kershaw has also been treasurer for many years. Both Kath and
Margaret would like to hand over the reins to others. I now suggest
you talk to one another and seriously consider helping Liverpool NDA
by volunteering to fulfil the role of secretary or
treasurer.
Sr. Patricia Short
Southwark
This is my first
report as President of the SNDA and I must start by thanking the
many people who have helped to ensure that SNDA continues to
function throughout the year. We are most fortunate in being able
to hold our AGM in the school and I would like to express sincere
thanks to Sr. Anne Marie, Angelo and all the staff who help to make
St. Julie Day such a success. We were pleased to welcome Fr
Rudolph who celebrated Mass, Geraldine Hine who joined us again this
year to play the piano during Mass and Mary Lewis, President of
BFNDA.
The last year has
been interesting and we have enjoyed various opportunities to get
together. In addition to looking after the Theatre Group, Paula
Watson has coordinated our participation in the Westminster
Cathedral Quiz Nights and I am pleased to say that the SNDA was well
represented at the event.
SNDA was also well
represented at the BFNDA Conference in Leeds. Quite apart from the
important business that was discussed, the Conference provides an
excellent opportunity for us to meet and enjoy the company of the
members of other Associations,
Marie Tisi did a great job in providing an excellent quiz on
Saturday evening that was very well attended and enjoyed by all
involved.
In November our Mass for deceased members was followed by a meal in
the Amigo Hall. The event was hailed as a success by all of those
who attended and it has led to further thoughts on how we might use
these facilities on other occasions.
At the SNDA AGM in
2010 it was decided that we should establish a bursary prize to be
awarded to a senior pupil to assist in their continuing education. I
am delighted to tell you that we have made our first award and Pat
York (Treasurer) and I were thrilled to have been asked to attend
the Prize Giving Evening last December. It was a lovely evening.
The enthusiasm of the girls and the support and care they exhibited
towards each other was so pleasing to witness. Our Bursary Prize
went to Kasia Viggor who has asked me to thank SNDA for their
support and generosity - she intended spending the money on books
needed for her sixth form studies. Sister Anne Marie has kindly
offered the school as a venue for our committee meetings and the
committee members were most thankful in accepting this offer. It
does make a difference - and we hope that we will be able to
strengthen our contact and relationship with the school in the years
ahead. There have been a number of contacts recently received from
the girls who are more recent leavers and who have expressed an
interest in learning more about SNDA. We must hope that we will be
able to encourage contact and membership of the Association.
SNDA made contributions totalling £1,280 to a number of charities
through the year including those charities supported by
Federation. SNDA continues to enjoy the efforts of a hardworking
and forward looking committee and we shall strive to ensure that the
year ahead is a busy and enjoyable
one. Patricia White
Battersea
We are still managing to hold two meetings a year for Battersea in
spite of losing the facilities offered for a long time at St. Mary’s
RC in Battersea. The meeting in October for any Old Notre Damian at
Edge Hill still goes on. For the AGM meeting in April / May we tried
the Sacred Heart Church for three years. However the very low
number, of one member and four committee members, the last time we
held it there caused a ‘rethink’, especially since the member could
not attend anymore due to physical frailty - an increasing problem
with members.
This year, Mary Meads, our Finance officer, managed to persuade the
Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Joseph opposite our
old school, to allow us to use a room in the priest’s house for the
AGM, to be held in May.
A few years ago, Mary Meads and I joined a group of old girls from
Southwark Notre Dame on a trip to Namur. We admired the plaques in
the chapel at the St Julie Billiart Centre and decided there had to
be one for B.O.N.D. The sister of one of our members, Barbara
Frawley, now deceased, had bequeathed the sum of £2,000 to us. We
decided that this would be an excellent use for some of it and would
commemorate the gift in a positive way.
Mary set about contacting someone at Namur to get the name and
number of the sculptor used by Southwark. With a smattering of
French from here, and English from France, Mary managed to explain
our needs. After some discussion at the next reunion we decided on
wording for the plaque. We wanted to include St Mary’s, the primary
school run by the sisters of the Notre Dame Battersea Convent, which
many of us attended and got their permission to do so.
A group of us, five or six, will go to Namur this year to see the
plaque put up on the wall of the chapel and celebrate it with a Mass
in honour of all past pupils.
Our thanks to you for all the work you do on behalf on the
Federation. Unfortunately, with Facebook and Friends
Reunited, many past pupils, from a school that has closed,
choose to have their own reunions. B.O.N.D. will continue as long as
possible but there will one day come a time when we shall take up
the kind offer of Southwark and amalgamate with them, unless new
blood from younger past members keeps us going. God Bless you all.
Mary Davey (President)
The Cry of the Poor
Sr. Therese Hartley, home from Peru, and Sr. Marie Gallagher, home
from Zimbabwe, should be standing here in my place but as both are
suffering from ill health they are unable to be with us.
As I prepared this
report the words of the psalmist were uppermost in my mind “The
Lord hears the cry of the poor, blessed be the Lord.” Yes, the
Lord hears the cry of the poor through our ears. Our Lord’s final
words to his disciples were to mission them to the ends of the world
to proclaim the good news and a promise to be with them always to
the end of the world. If people are suffering from lack of water,
food, shelter, medical care and a means to develop as a person it is
difficult for them to hear the good news that God loves them. Our
Sisters struggle to proclaim the good news in five African countries
and three countries in Latin America. You want to know how they go
about this work in Peru and Lima.
Lima is one of
the biggest financial centres of Latin America with a strong economy
based on manufacturing, export and tourism. The six Sisters of
Notre Dame live in two separate locations on the outskirts of Lima
in the pueblos jovenes (young towns). These are like shanty towns
where the poor from the mountainous regions settle in search of some
means of livelihood. It is in districts such as these that the
Jesuits have set up schools known as Fe y Alegria, (Faith and Joy)
for the poor. The Jesuits build the schools, recruit the teachers,
both religious and lay, and the government pays the salaries which
are a fraction of teachers’ salaries in Britain. Our Sisters teach
in one of these schools and with the funds they receive help the
parents provide the uniform, which is obligatory, books, stationery,
and a mid-day snack. The first such school in Peru opened in 1966
and five years ago there were as many as 64 urban schools and 97
rural schools in the country.
South of Lima in an area where there was a recent earthquake, a
Peruvian SND, a qualified psychologist, works alongside women in
helping to build community.
In Tambogrande, an area the size of Wales, five Sisters minister to
the poor - teaching in the schools and working in the health
centre. In 1996 Manhattan Minerals, a Canadian mining Company, had
gained government approval for an open pit gold mine in
Tambogrande. This new venture would have required the relocation of
half the residents and caused widespread contamination of soil and
ground water in an agricultural area noted for its fruit orchards.
There was a strong non-violent protest which resulted in the whole
mining project being abandoned. The protesters were strongly
supported by the Catholic Church. Among those helping in the
protest was Sister Madeleine Tagliavini from the Southwark
Association
At Tambogrande the Sisters, under the guidance of Sr. Juana Rivera,
run a House of Hospitality for pregnant mothers. Although the
mothers receive treatment at the Health Centre the mother and her
unborn child are often at risk if they attempt to make the long and
hazardous return journey home through a mountainous area. The
mother, and perhaps the father, and younger children are made
welcome at the Hospitality House until it is safe for them to return
home with the latest member of the family.
Sister Pat Sullivan, the Moderator of the Birkdale Community spent
two months in Peru. Before setting off, she worked hard to acquire a
little
Spanish but once there realised that communication was greatly
enhanced by means of sign language. Today she looks back on that
visit as a great blessing. The food was monotonous and
accommodation basic but there was a deep sense of sharing. She
worked alongside the Sisters who were training local women to be
catechists and travelled in very ancient cars to support them in
their villages.
Today Sister looks back on that time in Peru as a very special
blessing. An American husband and wife had a similar experience when
they spent a week as volunteers alongside our Sisters in Peru. On
their return home they also spoke of their experience as a great
blessing. This is what they had to say: “Our personal mission was
to give our time, our talents and our resources. What we learned
was that the desire to serve God must come from the heart. The
Sisters taught us this lesson probably without even knowing that we
were learning from their quiet example.”
When Julie founded
the Congregation, well over two hundred years ago, she did not want
the Sisters to be confined to one diocese. She had a world-wide
vision of service to the poor in the most abandoned. She died in
1816 and 34 years later the first group of SND missionaries set sail
for America. Five years later they headed for the shores of
Britain. Before the end of the nineteenth century the Belgian
Sisters were in Congo and in 1899 British Sisters set off for a
small country known then as Rhodesia, present day Zimbabwe.
Although it was
some years ago I actually visited Zimbabwe which at that time was
known as Southern Rhodesia. The Unilateral Declaration of
Independence from the U.K. had been signed on
11th
November 1965 by the administration of Ian Smith whose Rhodesian
Front Party opposed the black majority in the, then, British colony.
It was a turbulent time. The Church was attacked, Bishop Lamont was
under house arrest before he was deported and one of our Sisters was
also deported because of their service to the black and coloured
population. By 1980 white minority supremacy ended and Robert Mugabe
became Prime Minister. His early years looked promising. By 1987 he
assumed the new office of President. At that time 46% of arable land
was owned by 6,000 commercial and white farmers, less than 1% of the
population. Zimbabwe, a very fertile and productive country, was
known as the breadbasket of Africa, but with the destruction of the
farms run by white settlers there was widespread shortage of food.
In 2005, 10,000 urban poor were left homeless. It is against this
background that our Sisters persevere in their ministry to the
poor.
Here in Britain we
have been faced with rising costs especially in the case of gas and
electricity and basic food. Before we feel too sorry for ourselves
let us give a thought to the people in Zimbabwe. This country is the
world’s worst fastest-shrinking economy outside a war zone.
Unemployment is 70% and inflation is 1,200%. I’m not an economist
but that sounds drastic.
There are only five Sisters in Zimbabwe, two are in Braeside, Harare
and three in Manningdale, Bulawayo. They train co-workers to carry
out Julie’s mission to the poor in the most abandoned places and
Braeside and Manningdale certainly come into that category. The
Sisters teach in the school in Braeside. Teachers receive a basic
salary but all the equipment has to be provided by the parents who
are so poor that it is a struggle to let children attend school. 11th
November 1965 by the administration of Ian Smith whose Rhodesian
Front Party opposed the black majority in the, then, British colony.
It was a turbulent time. The Church was attacked, Bishop Lamont was
under house arrest before he was deported and one of our Sisters was
also deported because of their service to the black and coloured
population. By 1980 white minority supremacy ended and Robert Mugabe
became Prime Minister. His early years looked promising. By 1987 he
assumed the new office of President. At that time 46% of arable land
was owned by 6,000 commercial and white farmers, less than 1% of the
population. Zimbabwe, a very fertile and productive country, was
known as the breadbasket of Africa, but with the destruction of the
farms run by white settlers there was widespread shortage of food.
In 2005, 10,000 urban poor were left homeless. It is against this
background that our Sisters persevere in their ministry to the
poor.
Here in Britain we
have been faced with rising costs especially in the case of gas and
electricity and basic food. Before we feel too sorry for ourselves
let us give a thought to the people in Zimbabwe. This country is the
world’s worst fastest-shrinking economy outside a war zone.
Unemployment is 70% and inflation is 1,200%. I’m not an economist
but that sounds drastic.
There are only
five Sisters in Zimbabwe, two are in Braeside, Harare and three in
Manningdale, Bulawayo. They train co-workers to carry out Julie’s
mission to the poor in the most abandoned places and Braeside and
Manningdale certainly come into that category. The Sisters teach in
the school in Braeside. Teachers receive a basic salary but all the
equipment has to be provided by the parents who are so poor that it
is a struggle to let the child attend school.
In many cases a small child will need to work in order to earn a
pittance for essential food. The children who do not attend school
are taught by women who are trained to do so by our Sisters.
In Mbara there are many AIDS orphans who attend the Tariro Yedu
Project which was started by Sr. Elizabeth, a Zimbabwean Sister, who
is a trained social worker. Sister persuades the youngsters to
attend a class in a small room attached to St Peter’s church. About
23 children, aged 6 -13, gather in the small space as they learn to
read and master simple crafts like knitting. Instead of searching
through trash bins for food they are given a simple meal of sadza, a
maize food, and vegetables. Many of these children have not been
documented with birth certificates. Legal documents are required for
citizenship which then affords certain expected privileges. The
intention of the Sisters and their co-workers who run this project
is to send them to school and in order to do this they must be able
to provide the necessary fees. They are in a position to do so
thanks to the funding from the Federation.
With around 1 in 10 of the population living with HIV Zimbabwe is
experiencing on of the world’s harshest AIDS epidemics in the
world. In a country with such a tense political and social climate
it has been difficult to respond to the crisis. Mugabe has been
widely criticised by the international community and thus it becomes
increasingly isolated both politically and economically. Here in
Britain we worry about becoming an aged population but in Zimbabwe
the median age is jut 18.9 and average life expectancy at birth is
39 years. One of the biggest tragedies facing children is this AIDS
epidemic. Sisters care for young children who may have to take on
the role of head of the household as both parents have died of AIDS.
Sister Margaret Middleton, an American Sister and a registered
nurse, went to Zimbabwe on a three months visit to Zimbabwe. She
returned to the States for a short time but remembering the plight
of the people suffering from the HIV/AIDS epidemic she was soon back
in Zimbabwe to establish a smooth functioning home-based care team
for the chronically ill in Braeside. She noted that there was an
urgent need for patient education and basic care.
I would like to end on a positive note. When I asked Sister Marie
Gallagher, a former student of Leeds, what she missed most about
life in Zimbabwe her immediate answer was “Oh the people and
especially the children. Although they suffered great hardships
their faces radiated joy.”
We have eight Zimbabwean sisters. Sister Melta who recently attended
a formation programme in Dublin is now back in Manningdale where the
novitiate is established, and is ready to nurture new life in the
Congregation. Much of the work in Peru is undertaken by Peruvian
Sisters. We pray that the pioneering work of the British Sisters in
both Zimbabwe and Peru will continue to flourish in the form of new
life.
“The good God is so very good we sing, the good God is so very
good”.
NBCW REPORT
I attended the November 2010 and the February 2011 meetings but
unfortunately was unable to attend the AGM in June.
At last year’s AGM it was decided that the committees should be put
into abeyance, with the Convenors standing down until the Strategic
Plan Working Party recommendations had been received and approved by
the Board. The main activity at both these two meetings was
discussion concerning the priorities for the future committees.
The recommendations of Strategic Plan Working Party on committees
were presented to members at the February 2011 meeting of the NBCW.
During the course of this meeting several Convenors agreed to resume
their roles. The Strategic Plan also called for the reorganisation
of Diocesan Link structures. The reorganisation is not yet complete
but progress has been made and it is hoped that the new structures
will be introduced over the coming year.
Following calls by members for a study day on the topic of Vatican
II, arrangements have been made to hold this on 8th. October at the
CAFOD building, Romero House. If the study day format proves popular
the holding of other similar events will be considered.
This year the Board is saying goodbye to the Episcopal link,
Archbishop Kelly, who, due to pressure of work, has decided to
relinquish this role. Bishop William Kenny, Auxiliary Bishop of
Birmingham has kindly agreed to take on this role as Liaison Bishop.
According to the Presidents report to the AGM the NBCW has a new
website. Several officers are being trained to manage it. It is
intended that there will be a new Newsletter published every two
months which will aim to provide up to date information concerning
members news and views.
As the committees have been in abeyance reports as such have been
limited. What follows is a précis of those sent out prior to the AGM
in June.
Education Committee
This continued to take part on a government consultation on Personal
Social and Health Education (PSHE). They spoke to head teachers,
teachers, ancillary staff, governors, Ofsted inspectors, parents and
children from both primary and secondary schools. Coupled with
copies of syllabi from local schools obtained by Board members, the
committee had a broad picture of provision across the country. Their
response was a comprehensive one.
Social Responsibility Working Group
Following the February 2011 meeting when the remit for this group
was agreed, the group has convened in March.
The remit for the group is:
1. Violence
against women: a)Domestic Abuse b)Trafificking and Sexual
Exploitation
2.
Women and
Poverty: (including asylum seekers and refugees)
3.
Women and the
Criminal Justice system
Two subgroups Domestic Abuse and Trafficking are groups where work
is ongoing.
Domestic Abuse
Meetings have been arranged at diocesan level to promote the Boards
booklet ‘Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse’. Last November
the Bishops Conference Domestic Abuse Working Group launched the
CEDAR website. (www.cedar.uk.net) CEDAR provides
resources such as materials for training days, liturgies, stickers
etc.
Trafficking:
The group has been working with More Than Gold, the
ecumenical group, which is preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Prayers for the victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation have
been prepared to become part of the liturgies and other material to
be posted on the MTG website to alert parishes and others to the
danger for women.
Women and Poverty:
this subgroup has proposed a project, agreed by the Executive, to
produce a ‘toolkit for lobbying on issues around women’s poverty at
parliamentary and local levels.
Much of this working group’s time is spent on responding to
Government consultation documents and signing petitions. - including
‘Breaking the Cycle’, ‘Strengthening Women’s Voices’ and the Reform
of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
Bioethics and Healthcare Committee
This committee continued to monitor government and national
consultations and comment, when asked to do so, on draft papers from
the Bishops Conference. They responded on behalf of the Board to the
Nuffield Council on Bioethics consultation on organ donation. They
are also monitoring the progress of the Public Bodies Bill through
the House of Lords and have argued that the Human Fertilisation and
Embryology Authority be retained as a separate agency.
They also keep a watching brief on developments in the euthanasia
debate.
CAFOD
The content
of this report can be found on the CAFOD website.
www.cafod.org.uk
A PRAYER
Everyone will remember the annual school retreats we all enjoyed. I
have one significant memory from my second form retreat when I was
thirteen. I can’t remember anything about the retreat itself or the
priest. However I still say the prayer he taught us and would like
to share it with you.
My crucified Jesus, I kiss the wounds on your Sacred Head
With sorrow, deep and true.
May every thought
I have this day be an act of love for you.
My crucified Jesus, I kiss the wounds on your sacred shoulders
With sorrow deep and true.
May every cross I bear
this day be an act of love for you.
My crucified Jesus, I kiss the wounds on your sacred hands
With sorrow deep and true.
May every touch of my hands
this day be an act of love for you.
My crucified Jesus, I kiss the wounds on your sacred feet
With sorrow deep and true.
May every step I take
this day be an act of love for you.
My crucified Jesus, I kiss the wounds in your sacred side
With sorrow deep and true.
May every beat of my heart
this day be an act of love for you.
This can be a meditation or daily prayer. I say it after Communion.
I hope it will touch your life the way it has mine.
Leslie Freeman (Godber) Notre Dame Leeds 1957-1964
.
EIGHTY - NOT OUT!
Those among our readers who have been teachers or, at some time,
have been in charge of, say, Girl Guides or a youth Club surely
recognise that each group seemed to have its own unique flavour.
September’s new class presented a quite different quality from the
pupils who left in July. Why should this be? Was it by mere chance
that there was a larger proportion than usual of those inclined to
perversity or budding academics or dull mouse-like girls or forceful
high-spirited leaders?
This year my class of 1942, celebrating our 80th. Birthdays, have
deliberated long on this phenomenon. With a few exceptions, we were
‘Scholarship Girls’ from local State Schools. Can anyone come up
with the answer? We pride ourselves, as a year group, on being
particularly loyal to Alma Mater with no fewer than nineteen paid up
members of our Association. We know we were a marked crowd at
school. One Sister after another told us so in no uncertain terms.
We wonder to which Saint our young teachers prayed as they came
along those polished corridors to tackle this brood of wild horses.
Is our loyalty due to the influence of some particularly charismatic
sisters? No you cannot tick that box! Every Notre Dame pupil was
brilliantly taught and cherished by every sister. Perhaps joining
Sister Gabrielle of St. John’s Old Girls’ Musical Society kept us
together.
Could it be that we have responded to a succession of able and
devoted Officers of our Northampton Association? One gives thanks
for the likes of Joy, Norah, Marjorie Peatman and Veronica, worthily
followed by Jose Sear and Mary March. They have been our President
and Secretary for longer than even they can remember and you wont
find a better anywhere.
Or is it - and we think this is the answer - because we were
war-time pupils? During those years, we really were in it
together. There was the rationing of food and clothing; blackouts;
writing on every square inch of paper in your exercise books,
including the covers; making room for the evacuees; knitting
balaclavas for the troops; sandbags in the cloakrooms and ’Don’t
forget your gas-masks’! They say adversity makes people band
together and heightens awareness. We have these shared memories, a
bit like the dear old boys in the British Legion, but not of course
to be compared with theirs. And perhaps the healthy wartime food of
our formative years has something to do with the fact that so many
of us are still sound in wind and limb - praise be! Mention the
winter of 1947 to the Class of 1942 and the response will be a loud
groan. Rationing was stricter than ever; coal stocks had run out;
you had to dig your way out through the snow in the morning and
trudge in your wellies to school for week, not just an odd day or
two! School did not close. Those gentle nuns had a core of steel.
The heating system broke down so our vast classroom, with its
ill-fitting sash windows was provided with a little Valour stove
which puttered out black smoke rather than heat. So - more
affliction to bind us together despite our suffering being somewhat
relieved by Sr. Agnes permitting us to wear a cardigan over our
dresses for the duration.
So, well done,
Year of 1942! But you ain’t seen nothing yet folks. Wait ’til next
year when Josie Sear
(nee Lack) counts
up the octogenarians from her year of 1943. Theirs must surely be
some sort of a
record. Eleanor
70 YEARS ON!!! 1940-1945
This report was unfortunately omitted from the last edition.
In September 1940 (a lifetime ago) we commenced our secondary
education at Notre Dame High School in Mount Pleasant. We all seem
to have enjoyed our time at ND but before we knew it we had finished
and were let loose on to an unsuspecting world.
We went on to become nuns, teachers, a doctor, secretaries, civil
servants and Lord knows what else. Five years ago a group of us got
together to celebrate 65 years since we lift school.
Yesterday 2nd. June 2010 there were seven who met together to
celebrate 70 years since we first met. Joan Anderson (nee
Judge) invited us to her house once again and we enjoyed a beautiful
buffet, wine and talk (and talk and talk).
Those present were Joan Judge, Pauline Cassidy, Joan Mc.Cann,
Margaret Doyle, Norah Power, Doreen Yates and Letty Lynch with
apologies from Ursula Carroll, Joan Barry, Sabina Mulhearn, Sr.
Ronnie Nugent, and Sr. Margaret Randall who were so disappointed at
not being able to come. Never mind I’m
sure they’ll make the 75th!!!
MOVEMENT FOR A BETTER WORLD
Whilst on leave from Papua New Guinea, as a Daughter of Wisdom, I
had the joy of attending a Manchester Notre Dame garden party. My
cousin, Veronica Miles invited me to attend. Much to my surprise, I
met quite a few from my years there, Mary asked me to write about my
experience of the Movement for a Better World.
Do you remember having a Better World Retreat at school, many years
ago? I had the privilege of working as a member of this Movement for
17 years: 10 years at national level in Papua New Guinea and 7 at
International level. It really put the world and its many cultures
in my heart, changed the way I understood ‘church’ and ‘kingdom’ and
I developed a love for seeing reality with the eyes of Christ.
The Movement for a Better World was begun after the 2nd
World War by Fr. Riccardo Lombardi SJ. He was devastated by the
destruction created by human beings and wanted to play his part to
re build unity among peoples. The Movement is a small group of
people in many parts of the world that create movement. It is not
its intention to gather many members but rather a nucleus that would
enable others to start to build unity be it school, parish, diocese,
society etc and then leave it to the group to continue.
In Papua New
Guinea we have six dioceses following the long term diocesan renewal
begun by MBW thirty years ago but now in the hands of the diocesan
teams. I am proud to have been instrumental in those early years and
to see what a vibrant church we have
today. Sr.
Marie Turner DW
That retreat was the only one I now clearly remember! M.K.
An Old Newspaper Cutting - Manchester
One of the features of the Notre Dame High School Speech Day was the
singing of the National Anthem which opened the proceedings. Sung by
the whole school, led by the choirs, it would have been impressive
in any event, but it was made more so by the fact that all the
verses were sung and one harmonised……..It is sometimes held that the
English National Anthem is a rather trite piece of music, and others
have been suggested to take its place, notably Elgar’s ‘Land of Hope
and Glory.’ I wish those critics had heard the harmonised version; I
think they might have changed their tune.
REUNIONS – COLLEGE YEARS 1960 - 63
Since summer 1993 our year, the first of the three year students,
has had an annual reunion - due to one person, Pat Storey, nee
Wiseman. It began like this: After leaving college I entered the
Poor Clare convent in Liverpool, (over the wall from Bishop Eton)
and after twenty-five years I transferred to the Poor Clare house in
Arundel, West Sussex until 1992. When I celebrated my Silver Jubilee
in 1990 a number of college friends were there to celebrate with me,
including Sr. Marie Cecilia. We enjoyed meeting up so much that Sr.
Marie Cecilia suggested we should do it more often.
Pat Storey, a wonderful organiser, worked hard and long to contact
everyone in our year. A reunion was arranged for the summer of 1993
with a good turn out - a wonderfully happy day. Although in some
cases recognition was not instant, after chatting for a while the
face of the girl who had been in college shone through.
Our annual reunions take place in different venues, with two in
London. Lately, we have followed the same pattern – Mass offered for
us in the Cathedral by Bishop Malone, lunch, then we repair to
Sister Anthony's studio to enjoy her generous hospitality whilst we
chat, look at photos, share requests for prayers and eat some more.
Our grateful thanks to Sister.
Pat initiated a small annual newsletter with contributors being
invited, persuaded, or having an arm twisted, to write articles for
it. After Pat “retired” from organising the reunion and newsletter
others carried on. Thanks to Ann O'Brien (nee Bevan); Marie
Boardman, (Woods); Dorothy Trayner, our Treasurer and now, Julie
Redmond.
September, 2010, marked fifty years since we began at college, so we
had a special reunion and for those who could manage it was a two
day affair - the first and main day being the important one.
We liaised with Sarah Rodgers of John Moore's University and were
allowed to have Mass in the Sisters former chapel, now the Moot
Room, where we convened on February 2nd
this year. After Mass Sarah gave us a tour of the building and we
tried to recognise old haunts. Afterwards we walked around the
corner to the restaurant, 60 Hope Street, where we had booked an
upstairs room for a delicious meal. Freda Davis, (Lythgoe), wrote a
brilliant poem to mark the event. A large group of us decamped to
the Liner hotel for an evening of more chat and laughter,
photographs and food.
Everyone was delighted to see so many colleagues: some had not been
able to attend for several years and others had never attended a
reunion. Some came from N. Ireland, Eire, France, and one, Vanna,
flew into Liverpool from France very late that evening to join us
for the second day. Next morning eleven of us set out to “do the
town”, starting with an interesting open-deck bus tour of the city.
They were very happy days.
Reunions have been greatly enriching, developing bonds of shared
experience and enabling us to forge friendships. We have been there
to support and help each other knowing that when extra prayers are
needed, we can call on a large bank of friends.
Julie Redmond
Julie’s mother Hilda Crake was at Mount Pleasant 1925-27
(President), her Aunt Zita Crake a few years earlier at the same
time as Sr. Clare Julie, and her sister Clare Redmond (died 1998)
attended Notre Dame Wigan.
How about putting an article or two in St. Julie News!!! Can we see
the poem?
Leeds Notre Dame After 50 Years
Late in 2009 I was contacted via a variety of media concerning a
planned reunion of Leeds Notre Dame girls. Mary Farrell (formerly
Lyons) now living in San Diego California felt that as 2010 marked
50 years since her particular age group left Notre Dame it would be
nice to meet up with as many as possible from that era. By the time
I got involved, a web site had been set up and the list of
interested past pupils was growing. The list included names of quite
a few who, though not of that year, shared a year with them in the
Sixth Form. Mary built up a web site containing old snapshots,
obituaries, reminiscences etc. contributed by various old girls.
We met at the Queens Hotel Leeds on Saturday 10th
July 2011 at 10 o’
clock. This hotel, dominating City Square, was in existence back in
the 1950s and well known by all of us who travelled to school by
train. From there we walked to the bus stop for the No 1 bus to
Headingley- still No 1 after all these years. We boarded the bus,
many of us using our bus passes (Plus la change………!)
and alighted at the stop opposite St. Marks Ave. The only difference
between then and 50 years ago was that Kingston Terrace is
unrecognisable.
We were met by the principal of what is now Notre Dame Sixth Form
College, Dr Tony Adlard. He gave a brief talk about what has
happened to the school in the last fifty years and the gradual
metamorphosis from Notre Dame Collegiate School to Notre Dame Sixth
Form College. We then had Mass in the Chapel. The Chapel is shared
between the College and Leeds University Catholic Chaplaincy. We had
difficulty recognising the rooms en route but as soon as we ascended
the steps to the chapel the years rolled away! Happily the chapel
has not changed much, apart from a little re- ordering to bring it
in line with liturgical changes. The Mass was said by a local
priest. We were unable to get access to the organ but Notre Dame
girls have no problem singing unaccompanied. We sang the
‘Holiday
Hymn’
with great gusto at the end and did I observe just the odd
glistening eye as we filed out?
.Tony
Adlard gave us a short guided tour of the college. I was delighted
to see that the Notre Dame badge is still in evidence even if most
of the buildings have been changed beyond recognition. Mary Farrell
commissioned a drawing by a student at the College and this shows
the chapel and part of the old convent buildings and some of the
original statues. This sadly is all that is recognisable.
We returned to the Queens Hotel by bus and the racket made by all
those chattering women far exceeded any noise we ever made in our
heyday. Someone would surely have complained to the Sisters!
Over forty people attended the buffet lunch and we had plenty of
time to chat and meet up with former class mates; many of whom we
hadn’t
seen in fifty years. There were two religious among us Sr. Rosemary
O’
Callaghan SND and Sr. Mary Davey, also several ex pupils from
overseas including two from Canada, three from the USA one from
Switzerland and several from the Irish Republic. The
‘speeches’
were hilarious and included an excuse written by the daughter of
Bridget Hanna (Hanahoe) explaining why her mother hadn’t
done her homework.
We parted company with memories rekindled and promises to keep in
touch.
Sadly, one thing is certain, there won’t
be a hundredth! Thank you Mary Farrell for making this possible Snapshots
are still available (September 2011)
to view at
www.farrell-family.org/ndcsreunion
Mary Lewis
Can we see the letter?
Here
Come the Fallen Angels.
The members of our group - the Fallen Angels - were all born
in 1946/7 and started at Notre Dame Manchester in 1958. After
school we followed ‘life’s broad ways’ and lost touch. Some of us
went further than others: Jean Cain lives in Cornwall; Pat Goodall
and Pat Durkin are in Canada; and Marie Mooney spends half the year
in Spain.
On a quiet day in October 2008 Pat Goodall sent an email, via
Friends Reunited, to Judith White and that was the beginning!
Judith was already in regular contact with Marie Slater and Maureen
Smith, and Pat with Rosemary O’Donoghue and Pat Durkin - from then
on it was a case of finding out who knew who, and of joining
together the links that connected the Fallen Angels.
Many of you will know that the altar from our school chapel is now
in the bar at the Fallen Angels Restaurant in Rochdale, from which
we got our name. Last year Sue Broadbent, Kath O’ Donnell, and
Judith White went to The Royal Toby (next to The Fallen Angels) for
lunch and decided to sneak down the stairs of the restaurant and
have a little look at the altar: a wedding party was there and they
mistook them for guests and invited them to have a drink at the
altar/bar.
We are in daily email contact (there can be as many as 200 on a
really busy day - especially if a theme develops and the puns are
flying backwards and forwards, and many of us now meet regularly at
Weatherspoons Manchester or at the All in One Garden Centre
Rochdale. A few of us go to Tai Chi at the Civic Centre, Heywood,
we had a trip to Chester to see Maureen Lynch and we went to see
The King’ Speech. In future we plan to see Iolanthe and the
Ghost, and organise trips to York, Blackpool and Llandudno.
Last year Judith’s sister, Freda, invited us to her church - St.
Mary’s Failsworth - for the Notre Dame Mass and we joined the
Association. We have discovered that, despite our many differences,
we have strong common bonds, and our shared past has provided the
foundation for our group making it easy for us to share, not only
the burdens of our trials and tribulations, but also the joys of our
many blessings. Fallen Angels has become very important to us all.
Pat Goodall may be our founder but Rosemary is our (self-appointed)
Queen; she claims land and lineage from Ireland! She will not let us
use single word replies such as ’absolutely’, she insists on the
correct use of ‘practise’ and ‘practice’ and has banned the word
’chortle’ from our e-mails simply because she does not like the
sound of it - she is imperious but endearingly funny and loveable.
We have many amusing and naughty tales to tell of our school days:
Mary Fewings was responsible for the record player with no plug
powered by pushing bare wires into the socket (how did she know how
to do that?) Mrs Lewis was not amused and, of course, confiscated
the record player. In retrospect, we must have been a trial to our
teachers at times, but some of the lessons we learned have stood us
in good stead throughout life.
When we started at Notre Dame Sister Mary was our headmistress, and
Sue Broadbent remembers her saying this: “Wherever you go in
life, girls, you will always have each other because you are
children of Notre Dame.” Little did we know how right she would
be.
“One motto bright shall e’re unite children of Notre Dame.”
Even this article was a joint venture which was then written up by
Judith Maher.
NOTRE DAME CANDLEMAS REUNION 2ND. FEBRUARY 2011
On this special feast day former staff and students of Notre Dame
Mount Pleasant were invited by Liverpool Hope University to a
reunion at the former Mount Pleasant Training College and High
School, now part of the John Moores University.
We entered the building through the former Convent entrance and
walked up the beautiful staircase to the chapel, where over 150
former students met with their colleagues - some of whom they had
not seen for many years. After chatting for a while, we split up
into groups to tour the building which has greatly changed. St.
Philip’s Hall, where we had our PE lessons, is now a very impressive
lecture hall. One group, who had also attended the High School
during the war, went to investigate the cellars where they sheltered
during the air raids and the front entrance where Sr. Veronica stood
after school making sure that every girl left school suitably
dressed, always wearing our hats, and gloves before leaving
We then made our way across Mount Pleasant to the very modern John
Moores Arts and Design Academy, where we had a buffet lunch. In the
Crypt Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral Mass was celebrated by
Bishop Malone (a former Notre Dame Chaplain). Before Mass Bishop
Malone blessed the commemorative candles. The readers and
Eucharistic Ministers were former Mount Pleasant Staff and students
and the very fine singing was accompanied by Dr. Ian Sharpe, former
Head of Music at Hope. Everyone received a candle.
After Mass there was a tour of the Crypt Museum followed by tea and
biscuits in the Crypt Concert Room. The perfect end to a very
enjoyable Day! Margaret Kershaw
Liverpool
REQUIESTCANT IN PACEM
EILLEEN CARTLEDGE (Nee
GREENE) aged 95
Eileen was born in a small town just outside Dublin in 1915 and
moved with her family to Sheffield in 1920. On leaving school she
joined the accounts department of the Co-operative Society before
moving to join the John Lewis Partnership in Cole Brothers,
Sheffield where she became Credit Account Controller until her
retirement. She married Len in 1939 but had been a widow since
1982. Eileen was an active Committee Member with the Sheffield
Association and frequently joined the group attending Federation
Meetings. Her Requiem Mass at St. Vincent’s, where she had married
and attended regularly, was well attended by her nieces and
nephews and many parishioners.
Sheila Fuller.
MARY FREEMAN
(Nee NOLAN) Aged 83
Mary was born in Northamptonshire but moved with her family to Leeds
where she attended the NDNS. She worked for the Post-Office until
1953 when she married John and moved to Sheffield. Mary had been in
a nursing home for some years but her Requiem Mass was held in her
former parish church and she will be much mourned by her three
children and their families.
Sheila Fuller
CATHERINE RIDDELL
A long time Direct Member, known as Kitty Morris at school,
Catherine died in January 2010. She attended Sheffield NDHS from
1947-1953, travelling from her home in Barnsley. After school she
entered a convent for a short time, but later on we learn that she
joined the police force in Peterborough and married Alex, a fellow
police officer in 1960. They remained in Peterborough, and had a
family of two boys and three girls. While raising her family, Kitty
started to write short stories, many of which were published,
several appearing in Woman’s Realm, Bella and many other magazines.
After Alex’s death in 1997, her writing declined and she never
managed to finish her novel about religious sisters in Africa.
During the last few years of her life she was virtually housebound
filling her time with knitting, and designing and making greeting
cards. Kitty was a large lady with a big heart and had a very close
family, many of whom have lived close by or with her. Kitty was
obviously much loved and will be sorely missed by her children,
grandchildren and great
grandchild.
Sheila Fuller.
JULIE LANE
(Nee
NIELSON) Northampton 1941-2010
Beloved mother of Grant and true friend of Barbara Walker, nee
Page. Remembering all the love and laughter we shared with
Julie.
Barbara
Walker
MARY DALTON
(Nee CHOWDRY)
Mary was secretary of Southwark Notre Dame School for forty years
and was very helpful to the Association. She died 17th. February
2010
Editorial
First let me apologise to Rene Haycock nee Farnworth for omitting to
give her the credit for writing the article Penfriends in the
last St. Julie News. I am so grateful to all contributors and should
not omit their names. I do appreciate the willingness of members to
take the time to write for this publication when approached.
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