w e N ^ Volume 7, No. 2
Extending the Mission of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and College into the 21st Century www.ursulinesmsj.org/alumnae
Fall 2011
Mount Saint Joseph gym 50 years old
Gym provided a place for fun and magical moments
In 1961, Mount Saint Joseph Academy added something no school would think of doing without today – a gymnasium. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, alumnae discussed some of their favorite memories of the gym, including slumber parties and roller skating. “I remember going to the gym to ‘register’ the day I arrived as a boarder,” said Mary Costello A’66. “I remember attending plays in the gym – both MSJ plays and also ones put on by visitors. I remember PE classes and roller skating. Graduation is another memory, I remember going up on the stage and getting my diploma. But there are two events that stand out. “The first is my senior class trip. The only weekend available was the weekend of the music recital and Sister Francesca decided that the voice students could not go away then. We had a slumber party in the gym. All the day students were invited to spend the night and most of us stayed up most of the night.” The other memorable event was spread out over a few evenings, Costello said. “When the Mass changes were ready to be implemented after Vatican II, everyone at the Mount assembled in the gym and Monsignor Thompson led us through just what would be happening. We practiced! He also gave explanations about the changes.” Stephanie Warren A’73 said she always considered the Mount her second home, even though she only lived about 3 miles away. “The gym was one of my favorite spaces during high school. I’ve always enjoyed athletics, particularly basketball, and during my Academy years we had very competitive intramural basketball teams,” she said. “Since the day students didn’t eat lunch in the dining hall with the borders, I took mine each day and went to the gym. I’d practice my shooting and dribbling
along with eating my lunch. It was quiet and peaceful and provided good physical activity each day. I liked to use the upstairs above the gym stage as a hiding place when I needed to be alone, too. It was a comforting place to be.” She also remembers every Honor Society induction ceremony held in the gym. “I was so proud for my family to share this event with me at the end of my freshman year and each subsequent year,” Warren said. “It was always a moving moment when the lights would be turned off and our candles lit while we sang, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by Rodgers and Hammerstein.” Ann Jenkins Caspar A’62 was among the first graduating class to use the gym, but she said most of her memories came when she was a young sister in the Continued on page 6
Please join us for the Alumnae Memorial Mass on Nov. 5 The annual Alumnae Memorial Mass is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. at the Mount Saint Joseph Motherhouse Chapel. The presider will be Msgr. Bernard Powers. This Mass is celebrated in remembrance of all deceased classmates, faculty, family and friends of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Junior College. Mass will be followed by dinner with the Ursuline Sisters. Please let us know of any alumnae who passed away in the past 12 months. An updated memorial list will be posted on our website (ursulinesmsj.org). Please RSVP for the Mass/dinner by Oct. 28. Contact Marian Bennett at 270-229-2006 or e-mail alumnae.msj@maplemount.org.
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