Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-22
AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
Work at NOtre Dame

The Congregation of Notre Dame established in Waterbury ill 1869 by Rev Thomas F. Hendricken then of the Immaculate Conception parish, and afterwards bishop of Providence, k. l.
 A detailed history of the early years of the Con- would be story of the second period of Cath olicy in Waterbury, because for over twenty years this institution the greatest auxiliary of the church in this city
 The nuns and their pupils always ready to give an impetus to any movement for the religious and intellectual advancement of the people, and many Catholics look back with pleasure to the days when they attended in the Convent chapel and when the great social events of the year were the concerts given in the Convent hall for the benefit of the cathedral fund.- for the Irish Land league for il parish fund just formed, as the might be- This is phase of the life of the institution which is almost forgotten yet it had a refining and broadly charitable influence which has helped to make Waterbury most liberal to all forms of church work.
 Father Hendrcken purchased the residence of Anson Stocking and here, in September, 1869, five sisters opened a select school for girls. The first superior Mother St Cecilia who remained until 1883, when she succeeded by Mother St Gabriel, who died here in May, 1887. The third directress was Mother St Marie de St Esprit who for the first eight years of the school had been senior music teacher. It during her administration that the old Stocking residence replaced by vent the corner stone of which was laid on Febru- ary ', 1891.
 The reopening of the school in September of that year in new, large and up-to-date building event worthy of record, and was ttingly celebrated by the clergy, the and the graduates, who had shortly before formed an aumnae association.
 There have been three superors since then Mother St Augusta, who remained but year; Mother St Stanislaus, who, first teacher and then super for. spent twentyeight years in Waterbury and left behind her the memory of life of sanctity. 1901 the Rev Mother St Cecilia returned for two years to the field of her early abors, but recalled last June to occupy the high office of provincial of the order. She is woman of great executive ability and commanding personality, and the people of Wa terbury have much affection for her. Her assistant, Mother St Egbert. succeeded her local superior, and has completed the improvements which have transformed the commencement hall the dormitories and the refectory.
 The school is now in q prosperous condition. It's teaching corps is composed of clever women who might each one have made her individual mark in the world had she not elected to follow the steps Of the venerable Margaret Bourgose.
 These nuns whose elimination of self-interest from their lives is hardly understandable are not of the world yet Intellectually they are in touch with it, and keep abreast of all the modern educati tional methods. For thirty-three years the Convent of Notre Dame has met the requirements of this pro- gresslve city, whose people demand the best educa- tional advantages for their daughters For q third of century the good have laborcd to instruct their pupils, not only in the secular knovl- edge, but in the principles of righteousness and jus tice which underIy all the doctrines of the Catholic church The beauty of these doctrines is exempli- lied by the lives of the nuns themselves their pur- 1ty. humility. poverty and self sacrifice being so heroic that the history of city is ilumined and honored by the story of their years among us
 MARY HOLOHAN JACKSON