With the start of the new year which marks the 150th year of our presence in North America, From the Archives will each month try to highlight items from that same month which appeared in earlier years. Beginning with January we see that our sisters were involved in a variety of things and changes were in the offing:
From the Chronicle of Sacred Heart Convent, Buffalo
The year 1932 was an eventful one at Sacred Heart Academy, Eggertsville. The first incident worthy of note was the assembling at our academy, Sunday January 31, of almost 1000 college and high school students of Western New York for a Sodality Rally. Rev. Fathers Lord and Barrett, both of the Society of Jesus, were present. The day proved an inspiration for all Sodalists.
The New Year of 1933 was ushered in most beautifully and solemnly. Rt. Rev. Bishop Turner announced that the Most Blessed Sacrament was to be publicly exposed in all churches and chapels throughout the diocese of Buffalo, January 8, to honor in a special manner the Holy Name of Jesus and to plead for divine assistance for the needy and distressed families.
From the Chronicle of St. Vincent, Columbus, 1939-1940
The New Year brought to the Saint Vincent Community a new Mother, dear Mother Assumpta, who came to us all the way from the land of the setting sun. She was new for a few minutes, perhaps, or for a few hours; but in a week or so she was being carried along by the current of institutional life, as though she had been with us for years. Things went on, as things in a fifty-year-old system are likely to do, in the same old traditional way. Forty-seven Sisters and two hundred children kept Mother so active that no one remembered that she had not been with us for a long, long time. Mother brought with her a great amount of enthusiasm for her work, and up to the present moment none of the California sheen has worn off.
From the Chronicle of S. Gertrude Lacki, Boomer, WV
1/7/1989—Eucharist at St. Anthony shrine, Boomer, 5:30 p.m. with the Folk Group which consists of adults and children. St. Anthony Shrine is next to my residence. Before the Eucharist begins we practice for about 20-30 minutes. On each Wednesday from 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. or beyond, our group gets together to not only practice for the coming week, but to plan the seasonal times in the Church year. We view what to do a real and important ministry and for this reason our group takes their role seriously.
From the Chronicle of Rosary Hall, Amherst, NY
1/2/96--The weather forecast predicts a severe winter for this 1996. Truly snow and ice have already worked much havoc on Rosary Hall. The arctic winds have beaten on the French doors and loose windows. The pipes boom and knock their complaints. The walls have new cracks. The paint is flaking and the icicles pulling on the blue tiled roof have caused new leaks.
But this mansion convent has its beauty and tremendous sense of history. We are grateful for the years spent here. We will be moving out and turning this property over to . . . the college's collection of buildings. "God will provide."