N &
i ~ 5
1939
1951
PRESIDENTS - HONORARY
Mother M. Mercedes McHale
Mother M. Ricarda Cavan
Sister M. Loretta McGill
Sister Maria Teresa Corrigan
Sister M. Pierre Desmond
Sister M. Gonzaga Kehoe
PRESIDENTS - ACTIVE
Reliving the day
of the dedication
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article - reproduced only in part -
exactly 60 years ago today. It was written upon the dedication of the
Sisters of Mercy Mother House and School, later known as College
Misericordia.)
‘The passing of all but 50 years in local Catholic educational effort
was fittingly marked Monday by the blessing and formal dedication
of the new mother house convent and College of Our Lady of Mercy at
Dallas. More than 2,500 persons, including the largest assemblage of
priests and nuns ever assembled, here, witnessed the ceremonies. Rt.
Rev. M.J. Hoban, Bishop of Scranton Diocese, officiated at the
blessing of the property and, following this ceremony, which is
essential to the dedication of such church institutions, an interesting
program of exercises rendered from a spacious platform erected on
the campus, fronting the main entrance to the building.
Preceeding the formal speaking program, a patriotic tribute was
paid in the raising of the Stars and Stripes on a huge staff, directly in
front of the college. This staff by day, like the huge illuminated cross
that blazes atop the edifice at night, has already been seen by the
passing motorists and pedestrians to mark the commanding rise of 96
acres which the sisters acquired for their mother house and college
site 11 years ago. From a distant vantage point, the flag-raising
ceremony constituted a picture worthy of brief description for in its
detail, like other scenes contribution to the day’s program it was
recorded by a motion picture camera to be treasured in annals of the
school.
Grouped about the base of the flag pole were uniformed officers of
the American Legion.
Grouped about the base of the flag pole were uniformed officers of
Snee of Wilkes-Barre Post 132, with two flanking companies of Girl
Scouts and Boy Scouts of St. Mary’s parish in uniform. The flag was
unfurled and run aloft by an escort of navy and marine veterans.
Hemming is this group in charge of the flag raising was the large
company of guests who came from all sections of the county to pay
their respects to the nuns.
Among the speakers and, distinguished guests, were Attorney
James M. Stack, the chairman; Judge Foster M. Heller, of the
orphan court; County Superintendent of Schools, F.M. Hoover, Hon.
Charles H. Hoban, State’s Deputy commissioner of education; Rev.
J.J. Curran, pastor host with the nuns from this city; Dr. James L.
Walsh, scholarly educator and writer, of New York City, who will
serve as a member of the college faculty after its assembly on
September 25, and Mayor Daniel L. Hart, of this city.
Certainly for the last two, more than for any other of the platform
guests, the scene marking the first formal flag-raising on the
beautiful estate evoked memories that caused a tugging of heartstr-
ings and which were assuredly to find utterance later. Both attended
the old Canal Street school, which was the first parochial school
opened here by the Sisters of Mercy when a pioneer band of eight of
these nuns came on from Pittsburgh on September 8, 1875. They
the call of Rt. Rev. William O’Hara, Bishop Hoban’s predecssor as
head of the Scranton Diocese, and the pastor of St. Mary’s Church
who welcomed them was the late Rev. Dennis O’Hearn. It is
interesting to observe on the event of the Sisters of Mercy celebrating
the golden jubilee of their advent here that one of these nuns survive.
She is Sister Mary Alberta Brenn, who is residing at Mercy Hospital,
and who joined the order when Pittsburgh was the seat of its only
mother house.
Bishop Hoban was impressively earnest in his voicing of thanks on
behalf of the diocese to the Sisters of Mercy for their success in local
educational work. Religion in educational work was never more
needed. than now, he said, and he repeated the necessity for this
which was voiced at the National Educational Association’s conven-
tion in Washington, D.C., last summer. Many states, Pennsylvania
among them, Bishop Hoban declared, are advocating making the
instruction of the Christian religion in public schools compulsory.
1952
ko
/
* \
1971
1942
days.
College Misericordia, founded by
the Religious Sisters of Mercy in
1924, will celebrate its Sixtieth Anni-
versary beginning with a parade on
Friday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m.
The parade units, featuring floats,
bands and local dignitaries, will
assemble at the Weis Food Mart in
Dallas and continue along Lake
Street to the college where there
will be refreshments, entertainment
and a gigantic fireworks display at
8:30 p.m.
Dr. Joseph R. Fink, president of
the college, and Sister Marianna
Gildea, class of 1928 - the 1st four
year graduating class, will serve as
the parade’s grand co-marshals.
Honored guests include state Sena-
tor Raphael Musto; Congressman
and Mrs. Daniel J. Flood (Catherine
Flood, class of ’39); Harold Rosenn,
vice chairman of the Board of
Trustees; Paul Labar, mayor of
1979
Dallas; Gina Major, Miss Pennsyl
vania, and Manny Gordon.
Representing the college will be.
Sister Martha Hanlon, dean of stu-
dents; Robert E. Mooney, dean of |
financial and administrative |
affairs; James J. Pallante, aca- i
demic dean; David M. Payne, dean
of admissions; John A. Perry, direc-
tor of institutional advancement;
and Father John J. Bendick, college ko
chaplain. Ne
Other participants include the
1984 Homecoming Queen and her
court. Lake-Lehman and Dallas
high school bands, and the Irem
Temple Clown Unit.
Sunday’s activities begin at 5 pI m.
with a liturgical anniversary cele-
bration at Mercy Center. Dedication
of the new Academic Complex in
the Administration Building and the
president’s reception will conclude
the festivities on Sunday evening.