News from Blessed Sacrament Province (USA)
On August 15th, Regina DeVitto celebrated her Golden Jubilee at Our Lady at St. Germain Parish in Oak Lawn, Chicago. The beautiful liturgy was followed by a luncheon hosted by Pastor and long-time friend Fr. Tom Cabala. She is joined here by Kay Powers, Fr. Tom, Darleen Mayo, and Betty Kehoe.
Leadership Transition
A ritual of transition will take place on Saturday September 18th in the province offices at Sacred Heart University. Afterwards the current and new teams will meet, and on Sunday the 19th the new team will hold its first meeting.
Notre Dame Academy Gala
To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Marguerite Bourgeoys, Notre Dame will honor Sisters of the CND at its Gala on October 1st at 7 p.m. at the Richmond County Country Club.
An article I found in a file marked QUONNIE by Mary Lou Carter, 1965 (?) (Spelling as in the original)
Enjoy a bit of history! Joann Compagno, CND
“Scrub Buckets and paint brushes in the busy hands of a group of nuns has given a new face, a new name and new purpose to the famous old Quonochontaug Inn, long a landmark to Charlestown beach goers. Today the inn is known as Villa Margarita and it is the summer retreat house for the mothers of the Congregation of Notre Dame, whose headquarters are in Richfield, Conn., and who serve in three Providence parishes.
The order purchased the inn this spring from the former owners, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Lewis, and the mothers went to work with soap, water, and paint to put the ocean-front structure in shape for a summer of recreation. Professional help was called in only for such projects as remodeling the kitchen and painting the huge exterior chimneys.
The 43 room, three-story weathered shingle building, stands on two and a half acres of land, between the road to West Breachway, Quonochontaug, and the ocean. At the present time there are 20 nuns staying at Villa Margarita, increased on the weekend by members of the order who are taking summer courses at Providence College. When the classes end, another 20 sisters will adjourn to the old inn.
Besides tidying the inn for use, the mothers also went to work on a small adjoining building previously used for sleeping quarters. With the help of blue paint and white brocade drapes, this two-room structure was converted into a chapel, complete with a sacristy and an altar donated by the communicants of St. Vincent’s Church in Bradford, where the mothers formerly attended Mass.
Mother St. Frances de Chantal, acting superior of the Villa, obtained special permission to establish the chapel and on July 19 the Rev. Timothy Sullivan, former pastor of St. Vincent’s celebrated the first Mass in Villa Margarita.
Life has not been all work for the mothers at the summer retreat house. There has been time for swimming, shopping excursions to nearby centers, visits to Rhode Island tourist attractions and study hours. And one mother has acquired a fishing rod and plans to join the hopefuls casting off the rocks in front to the inn.
Mother St. Margarita Marie, the provincial bursar in charge of summer houses, said that the order of teachers has 24 convents in the United States including the three at Providence parishes – St. Sebastian’s, St. Anthony’s, and St. Mary’s. These religious directed by the provincial superior, Mother St. Philippa, are trained at a novitiate in Richfield, a juniorate on Staten Island and at Notre Dame College, a day school for girls. Frequently the mothers later attend graduate schools near their convents.
Recent visitors to the Villa from the college were Mother St. Rita Marie, president, Mother St. Mary Eileen, dean and Mother St. Natalie Frances, librarian.”