Remembering Sister Mary David, O.P. ⢠Record number of alumnae ...
Remembering Sister Mary David, O.P. ⢠Record number of alumnae ...
Remembering Sister Mary David, O.P. ⢠Record number of alumnae ...
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Letter from <strong>Sister</strong><br />
St. Cecilia Academy Principal <strong>Sister</strong> <strong>Mary</strong> Thomas, O.P., at the 148th St. Cecilia Academy commencement ceremony in May.<br />
August 2009<br />
Dear Alumnae, Friends, and Families,<br />
These words are etched on glass panels beside doors<br />
leading into the Heritage Room at the St. Cecilia<br />
Motherhouse:<br />
“A glorious history to remember<br />
and to recount, a great history<br />
still to be accomplished.”<br />
— Pope John Paul II<br />
post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Vita Consecrata<br />
How fitting that phrase captures the spirit <strong>of</strong> St. Cecilia<br />
Academy at this time in her history. This edition <strong>of</strong><br />
HarpStrings uses the theme <strong>of</strong> “looking back, looking<br />
forward” to capture the richness <strong>of</strong> our 150-year tradition and<br />
the vibrancy <strong>of</strong> its experience as we look to the future.<br />
Looking back through the many chapters <strong>of</strong> St. Cecilia’s<br />
history was a favorite theme during our Alumnae Weekend<br />
June 12th - 13th. <strong>Record</strong> <strong>number</strong>s came to the luncheon on<br />
Saturday, and ten classes gathered on and <strong>of</strong>f campus at other<br />
times during the weekend to enjoy memories and friendships<br />
forged long ago in the halls <strong>of</strong> St. Cecilia. As I gave a tour to a<br />
group <strong>of</strong> 1984 <strong>alumnae</strong> and listened to their stories, I realized<br />
that some things never change about St. Cecilia girls (for<br />
which I am grateful!) and many <strong>of</strong> the traditions live on in<br />
the halls <strong>of</strong> St. Cecilia today.<br />
‘Living on’ is a great way to describe our on-going experience<br />
at St. Cecilia today. As we look forward to beginning our<br />
150th year <strong>of</strong> educating young women, we see many new<br />
exciting chapters ahead. We have welcomed 82 new families<br />
to the school in the fall to help write the chapter <strong>of</strong> the<br />
2009-10 school year. We have opened with a ribbon cutting<br />
ceremony on a new soccer field and track. We also expanded<br />
our dual enrollment program with Aquinas College to allow<br />
students to earn credit at Aquinas College for selected courses<br />
taken at St. Cecilia Academy. The school year will culminate<br />
with the kick-<strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> our 150th celebration at the May<br />
Crowning.<br />
Looking back and looking forward: both give glorious views<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Cecilian tradition. One view is 150 years old and filled<br />
with great events to be remembered. The other view has<br />
untold chapters, filled with the potential <strong>of</strong> the thousands <strong>of</strong><br />
young women yet to add their story to the pages <strong>of</strong> St.<br />
Cecilia’s history. I am proud to help write a few <strong>of</strong> these lines.<br />
Blessings for this school year,<br />
Sr. <strong>Mary</strong> Thomas, O.P.<br />
Principal<br />
2 HARPSTRINGS www.stcecilia.edu
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