St. Thomas Aquinas School History

From the Sisters of Mercy Archives

"St. Thomas Aquinas School was opened in 1910, by the Sisters of Mercy from St. Patrick Academy of the West Side, at the request of Rev. Daniel Luttrell. Sister Mary Xavier McKee was placed in charge with Sisters Mary Immaculata Henry, to teach the approximately 200 pupils in the 8 grades.
The Pastor, Rev. Daniel Luttrell, later Monsignor, was a close friend of Sister Mary Xavier, and also of Sister Mary Camilla Mulhern, who had resided in Saint Genevieve's Parish when he was a curate there. When Father Luttrell was given the newly established parish of St. Thomas Aquinas to build up, Sister Mary Camilla, with Sisters Mary Clotilde and Mary Immaculata, taught the public school children Sunday after Sunday, regardless of weather or poor transportation conditions.

"Although the school was opened in 1910, the Sisters commuted from St. Patrick Academy nearly eight years. Many are the tales told of transportation difficulties, walking several blocks in the snow, rain, slush or hot sun, as the case might be, both before and after taking the uncomfortable Madison Street cars of those days. It was necessary to transfer at 40th (the Crawford, or Pulaski Road of today) to the "Hinky-Din" car, as it was called, for the balance of the distance. One incident all remembered was the day the suitcase in which the food to be prepared for their dinner sprung open and the onions, apples, potatoes and eggs rolled down the center of the car (which had length-wise seats, at that) to the great amusement of the other passengers, and the equally great embarrassment of the poor sisters.

"In 1917 or 1918, a building at the corner of Laramie Street and Washington Boulevard was purchased and remodeled for the use of the sisters. Sister Mary Callista Coyle was the first resident Superior. With her were Sisters Mary Clotilde Cyr, Barbara Broderick, Camilla Mulhern, Peter Leander, Bernardine Murray, Urban Coughlin, and Juliana O'Brien.

"When the house was ready for occupancy, there was a heart-warming "house-warming," for the sisters had made many friends with their friendly manners, even among their non-Catholic neighbors. Many families had moved westward from St. Malachy's parish, where Father Luttrell and the Sisters of Mercy had served many years, and were glad to send their children to their "own" Sisters of Mercy, and soon the school was filled to over-flowing.

...and there is more

"The staff at the present time - 1951 - consists of Sister Mary Giovanni Quinn, Superior; Sister Mary Immaculata Henry, First Councilor; Sister Mary Mechtilde Whalen, Second Councilor; and Sisters Mary Cyprian Johnson, Bernard Oakley, Jerome Maloney, Annette Gordon, Genevieve Rimmer, Willilam Steinhauer, Albert Schueneman, Eunice Madden, Avellino Lang, Ellenita Murphy, Tharsilla Finucane, Gilbert Boleskey, Cecile Cassidy, Francesca Manley, Agneda Lamb and Rosa Ridley.

"The school now has an enrollment of approximately seven hundred pupils, taught by sixteen sisters. When the new church was built, the first floor of the school, which had been used as a church, was remodeled into new classrooms, all of which are in use. Many pupils are second-generation St. Thomas children whose parents were taught by Sister Mary Immaculata, and who insist that she, and she only, must teach their little ones as she taught them in their first school experience. Two sisters have full-time schedules in the teaching of music and present a program each year that is a credit to them and to their pupils.

"Father Edward F. Dondanville was the successor of Monsignor Luttrell, who died shortly after the completion of the beautiful church. To Father Dondanville goes the credit and thanks for the lovely convent now occupied by the sisters on Leamington Street, just back of the church. Upon the death of Father "Don," as he was affectionately called, Monsignor Long was assigned to the parish. He has done much to build up the parish work, and, both the school and the convent have been put into excellent condition as becomes necessary from the wear and tear on buildings require it. All in all, the Sisters of Mercy have fared well at St. Thomas Aquinas, at the hands of the priests and people."
(Signed)
Sister Mary Cyprian Johnson, RSM
Archivist
Sister Mary Margaret Murphy, RSM
1951
 
Source: Sisters of Mercy Archives/St. Thomas Aquinas School - Class of 1955
The Webmaster of the 1955 STA Reunion Class graciously encourage placement of this information on our site.  She hoped some of us would know of 1955 STA graduates and direct them to their site.