This year as we mark
the seventieth anniversary of our foundation as a parish, it is interesting to
note some of the markers along the road of our history. So much of what we enjoy every day on our
beautiful campus is the fruit of the dedication and generosity of faithful and
foresighted people many decades ago.
Some of what we enjoy, though, predates even those hearty first
parishioners.
Last Friday’s
Nor’easter brought record winds to the region and did more than a little
damage. While our area seems to have
been spared a power outage, many things were toppled or torn away by the gusts,
including a few slates (yes, slates)
from the roof of our school.
But the biggest
casualty was a beloved and central figure in our parish, especially among CYO
athletes and their families: the large, ancient holly tree near the swings at
the edge of the sports field snapped its trunk and toppled.
Most folks have no
idea how old that holly was. All I know
for sure is that it was full grown in 1958, because it stands out clearly in
photographs taken of the campus as site preparation for the new church was just
beginning. That indicates to me that it
was at least a century old.
The tree was such a
popular gathering spot during games that a few years back some folks put in
benches and a garden around it in memory of parishioner Tom Bernier. I was worried about losing the beauty of the
spot, but Jen Bernier has already contacted me about replacing the tree. We aren’t sure yet what type to plant, but we
want to get at least one hundred years of shade and beauty out of it.
That way, during the
sesquicentennial anniversary celebrations of the parish, in 2098, attentive
parishioners will enjoy its mature splendor, and marvel at the dedication and
generosity of faithful and foresighted people many decades before.
Monsignor Smith
