Edward L. Dondanville. Pastor 1925-1938

Prior to Msgr. William Long becoming Pastor of STA, Fr. Dondanville was pastor for 13 years. Under his leadership, Fr. Dondanville oversaw the installation of the Immaculate Conception stained glass window over the Washington Boulevard entrance; all of the stained glass upper clerestory windows; and the magnificent high altar made of colored terra cotta.

Photo courtesy: Maura Cagney Leus, daughter of 1932 STA graduate, Edward John Cagney.

2012 Reunion Update

Email sent to Alums who have provided their email addresses, September 30, 2012:

STA Alums --

What are you doing two months from today?  Hope it is attending the St. Thomas Aquinas All-School reunion on September 30.

We have heard from over 75 Alums, most of whom hope to be at the Mass and attend the reception following in the school "Canteen".  So far, the graduating class years of those who plan to attend cover a twenty year period: 1951-1971!

Many photos have been posted to the STA Blog over the past month, with several more due to be added in the next couple of weeks.  When you get a chance, take a look at http://stthomasaquinasreunion.blogspot.com   Thanks to all who have contributed photos and stories.

If you have class photos or memories you would like to share, please send them to me and I will post them on the STA Blog.  Everyone loves seeing friends (and themselves) from the magical times of our youth.

The current program for the All-School Reunion on September 30 is:

·        Arrive around 10:00 a.m. to enjoy the beauty of the Church

·        10:30 a.m. Mass with the Youth Ministry of St. Martin de Porres

·        Followed by pastries, coffee and renewing friendships in the "Canteen"

If we are lucky, we will get to take a stroll through the school as well.

Please continue to spread the word.  If you haven't RSVPd as of yet, just send me an email and I will add you to the list.

Next month, I'll list all the classes represented and the number of alums from each class that plan on attending.

Enjoy the summer.

Elaine Beaudoin (1960)

elaine.beaudoin@gmail.com

Church Bulletin, June 9, 1963

Donna Fassone Blaha (Class of 1963) saved this church bulletin from June 1963 with a photo of the 1963 graduating class.  She kindly sent the entire Bulletin.  

Were you an altar boy in 1963?  Did your receive "First Honors" or did you have "Perfect Attendance" in 1963?  You might be listed in the bulletin.  Give a read through.

Remember these businesses that advertised in the church bulletin?  Many weekends at Conboy's Bowling Lanes for me!

I certainly remember seeing this bulletin each Sunday.  I know the colors changed on occasion, but I don't remember if there was any rhyme or reason to the color.  Does anyone else?

Donna, thanks so much for sharing this piece of memorabilia.

1955 Graduating Class

Rosemary Cohan (Class of 1955) sent a note saying how much fun she had at her 50th reunion in 2005.  The class of 1955 put up a website and Rosemary has shared the link.  Others from the Class of 1955 will find it fascinating as photos from the 2005 reunion are included.  Enjoy: http://sta55.com/index.php?ID=home

1955 Graduation Class

Does anyone else have a copy of this photo?  Unfortunately, it was saved at a very low resolution, so it doesn't blow up very clearly.   If there is another copy, send it to me and I will re-post.  We would like 300 ppi at least, but the more pixels, the better.


Rosemary, thanks so much for the photo and the link to the 1955 STA Website.

1932 Girls Graduating Class

In an earlier post we saw the young men of the 1932 graduating class from St. Thomas Aquinas, here are the young women.

1932 Graduating Class

Note, even in 1932 they were using some form of "Photoshop" or else the young lady in the last row on the right had a very large head!

Photo and graduation list courtesy: Maura Cagney Leus whose father, Edward John Cagney, is Class of 1932

Sr. Maraline, RSM

Does anyone remember Sr. Maraline?  Carol Broderick (Class of 1960) tells us she taught first grade in Room 3 next door to Sr. Immaculata from 1959-1960. Also, that several of the eighth grade girls, including Carol, used to help Sister after school.

Sr. Maraline, RSM, 1960 (Peggy Cummings)

Are there any alums from the Class of 1967 who would have had Sr. Maraline as their teacher?

Carol, thanks for the photo.

Graduating Class of 1956

What a good looking Class of 1956 photo!  Msgr. Long sits amid his graduates on June 6, 1956.  Thank you, Gwen Clarke Breen for sharing this wonderful photo.

Okay, now, who can name all 91 of the graduates pictured?

Photo courtesy: Gwen Clarke Breen, Class of 1956.

St. Martin de Porres is Welcoming

This article is from the July, 2012 edition of the Senior Connection and was sent by Bob Blackwell, who used to live just north of St. Thomas Aquinas.  He says the author of the article is a fella who is trying to visit all the churches in the Chicagoland area.  We are glad the author visited St. Martin de Porres and provided such a positive comment.  Note the last paragraph.

We will all be looking forward to experiencing "their joyful music and the way they greet everyone after the Our Father" on Sunday, September 30 when we join the congregation for Mass.

Thanks Bob, for sharing the article.


Source: SENIOR CONNECTION is a monthly publication of Churchill Publications and has been published monthly since 1995 providing news and information to mature Catholics in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.  It is delivered to Catholic churches throughout the dioceses of Chicago, Joliet and Rockford in Illinois, Milwaukee and Madison in Wisconsin, as well as to individual subscribers.

Music at STA - 1948

One hundred and thirty seven St. Thomas Aquinas music students pose in front of the stage on the top floor of the school.  It looks as though students from each of the grades are included. If this is true, students would be pictured from the classes of 1948 through 1955.

Can you recognize anyone?

Click on photo to enlarge

Did anyone else know we had so many budding musicians at STA?  Thanks for the wonderful photo.

We have our first identification from Ed Neville, his sister: Mary Patricia Neville, third row from bottom, 7th child from left.

Photo courtesy: Bob Blackwell

Room 6, 1949 - Class of 1952?

It is believed this photo is a fifth grade photo.  In the photo, somewhere, is William (Willie) Blackwell. Can anyone locate him?  And, what is Sister's name?  Can anyone name the students in this photo?

Photo courtesy: William Blackwell's brother Bob!

STA Priests and Principal

If you were a student in the 1950s or 1960s at STA, you will recognize these three people.

Fr. William White

Reverend William J. White, beloved son of the late Catherine, nee Briscoe, and William White; loving brother of Robert J. (the late Peggy) White and Mary "Betty" (the late William) Mahoney; fond uncle of James, Moira, Lisa, Meg, Dan, Bill, Tim and Brian; treasured great-uncle of many.
Fr. White was a faithful priest to his parishioners at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Chicago, St. Nicholas Church in Evanston, St. Jude Church in South Holland and a dedicated pastor at St. Gerald Church in Oak Lawn for 17 years and currently as Pastor Emeritus at St. Gerald.
Visitation will be held at St. Gerald Church, 9310 S. 55th Ct. in Oak Lawn on Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Arrangements handled by Thompson & Kuenster Funeral Home, 708-425-0500.

Chicago Tribune, January 4, 2001, page 4

Sr. Mary Giovanni as we knew her

Msgr. William Long, Pastor

See  Msgr. Long for Msgr's death notice.

Does anyone have information on Sr. Giovanni?

Black and white photos courtesy: Gwen Clarke Breen, Class of 1956 - Thank you very much!

Class of 1968 - Grade 2, Room 1

Another fine photo of the Class of 1968 when they were in second grade.  Photo taken in January, 1962.

Included in the photo are: Diane Callahan Mastry, Janis Furlong, Patty Greenwald, Joann Kelly, Janet Kelly, Eileen Houlihan Guimon, Mary McGreevy, Roseann Kelly, and Colleen Delaney Newcomb.

John McCormack added: Debbie Angelilli, Lynn DeVito, Barbara Hayes, Maureen Brennan, Bill Prendergast, Tom Ryan, Richard Kane, Bill McIntaggart, Daniel Gerrish, Mike Conway, Mary Foley, Henry Milius, Rocco DiOrio, Patricia Maloney, Alan Frymire, Tim Reardon, Patricia Riley, Joe Bureau, William Woller, Craig Santolin, Christine Johnstone, Gerald Reiter, Steve Hamilton, James Gordon

Photo courtesy: Diane Callahan Mastry via Austin Neighborhood-Chicago Facebook page; John McCormack, thanks for the additional names.

In Memoriam - John (Rigney) Sexton

Sexton, John S. (Class of 1960)
Fairport: January 20, 2010. Survived by wife, Yvette; children, Aileen, Andrew, Jeremy and Crystal; grandson, Joey; brother, Vincent; sisters, Mary Helen and Patricia. Memorial Service, Saturday, 1:30 PM at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home (Village location), 41 S. Main St., Fairport.


Rochester Democrat And Chronicle, January 27, 2010

John's sister, Mary Helen Rigney McCarthy, Class of 1955, let us know about her brother's death.  Thank you.