Note from a 1964 STA Alum

An unsolicited message from an attendee of the 2011 STA reunion:

I am a 1964 graduate of STA.  My maiden name is Kernaghan and have 3 sisters who also graduated from STA - Kathy in '66, Eileen in '58 and Julie in '57.  My husband and I attended the reunion Mass last year and are still talking about it.  The Church is so very beautiful and the community was so very welcoming.  Seeing the singing, swaying and clapping must have made some of the RSM nuns turn over in their graves.  How I remember getting poked in the back if I wasn't kneeling up straight!  We weren't able to attend the school tour, but have enjoyed looking at the photos on the website.

 

I've marked my calendar for September 30 and will pass on the information.  Thank you so very much for organizing this and being able to bring back wonderful memories.  It was a great parish and the neighborhood was like an extended family.

Rita Kernaghan Thornton

 

Rita we look forward to seeing you on September 30, thank you for your note.

First Grade, January 1961 - Class of 1968

This STA first grade photo is from January 1961.  Thanks to Diane Callahan Mastny, Class of 1968, for sharing her photo of  Sr. Immaculata's classroom.  Many of us had Sr. Immaculata as our first grade teacher, me included!

Among the students pictured are: Eileen Houlihan, Joann Kelly, Veronica Ciancio, Ann Mitringa, John Dickinson, William Waller, Robert Doyle, Joyce Mallory, Nancy Wixted, Bill Pappas, Diane Kuryla, Marty Maloney, Nancy West, James Gordon, Patty Grennwald, Alan Frymire, Diane Callahan, Tim Foley, Maureen O'Shea, Roberta Coit, John McCormick, Michael Mazza, Cynthia Dianovsky, and Joe Wood.

Thanks to Diane Callahan Mastny for sharing her photo.

Graduating Class of 1968

1968, an auspicious year to be graduating! 

 

The photo originally provided by Bill Pappas has been replaced with a slightly clearer class photo from Patrick T. Reardon.  Thanks to you both for sharing a photo of this 1968 class.  The individual photos are a little small, but if you click on the image once, it will open up a bit larger.

Class Photo, 1960, Eighth Grade

These Baby-Boomers are now Medicare-Receivers!  Where did the time go?  Hope to see all of you at the September 30, 2012 reunion at St. Martin de Porres Church.

Photo courtesy: Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin

Austin Neighborhood on Facebook

There has been a resurgence of interest in the Austin neighborhood.  At least three unique Facebook pages post stories, photos and archival newspaper articles, all focused on Austin's history.  St. Thomas Aquinas is mentioned on occasion, but venues from the Rockne Theater to Columbus Park to the Town Hall Library are also represented.  It is fun reading the comments members make about these locations of our past.  If you are on Facebook, consider joining one or all of these --you surely will be taking a walk down memory lane if you do.  Also be sure to check out each page's historical photos as well as looking at each site's "Wall." 

Type the following into the Facebook search box to locate these sites:

Austin West Side Archive

Austin Historical

Austin Neighborhood-Chicago

If anyone knows of others, please let us know by using the "Comment" box below.

A Look Back at the Last Reunion, 2011

At our reunion in March, 2011, Dan Carr (class of 1960) took a wonderful video of our Church and included excerpts from the Mass.  In anticipation of our next gathering at St. Martin de Porres/St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Sunday, September 30, a look back seems in order.  Enjoy Dan's video.

Plans Have Begun for September 30, 2012

Tomorrow, May 3, 2012, a meeting with Pastor Gustavo, St. Martin de Porres, is scheduled to see what is possible for a St. Thomas Aquinas Reunion on Sunday, September 30, 2012.  Watch this blog for more information.

For those alumni who attended the March, 2011 event and provided email addresses, an email will be sent providing an update.

More to come.......