Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-02
REUNION 1T A0TRE DAME
| uInM q thu Graduates met the
 SlDsiel General Of he 0Idsl.

Ihe visit last week or the Rev Mother St Anaclet, the superior gen eraI of the Congregation dc Notre Dame, was of much interest to the Catholic people of Waterbury. Once h six years the Mother General of the order visits each one of the con vents under her Jurisdiction, and this years she honOred the mission which was established in Waterbury nearly forty years ago. The venerable lady was accompanied by Mother St Mary Caroline, the superior of the famous .'Yilla Marie'' in Montreal. and MOth' er St Peter, the superior of the Villa Marie Academy In Seventy ninth street, New York city.
 On Monday evening the distinguish ed visitors were rendered reception by the nuns, pupils and alumpae of the convent. Not since the visit to Waterbury of the Papal Delegate, Archbishop Falconio. in October, 1908. has the convent hall been the scene of . more brilliant gathering. The deco rations were of potted plants effcc- lively arranged as background for pianos and harps. The graduating class of l907 formed semi-circie q little below the center of the hall, and back of them were grouped the other pupils. all attired ill white, and pre- senting a picture of girlish simplicity which can be found only in a convent school. In double tiers of seats on either side of the hall sat the lnem- bers of the Alumnae association who had returned to their "Alma Mater" to pay honor to the living representa- tive of the saintly Margaret Bour- goise. The Rev Mother General and Mother St Egbert, the superior of the local convent, occupied chairs on a platform at the lower end of the hall and grouped about them were the oth- CT nuns, their sombre robes adding pleasing note of contrast to the "shim- mering sheen" of the gaily gowned alumnae.
 The exercises consisted of an ad- dress by Miss Mary Healey, 1907 who gracefully, and in beautiful English welcomed the Mother General to Wa terbury. Miss Fraser of Hartford, re echoed the welcome" in French. and Miss Alice NJ. O'Connor, president of the Al,nnnae association, spoke for the old pupils. Miss O'Conn0r's re marks were broad in scope. and treat ed of issues which should interest all Catholic women, ending with beau toful tribute to the order of the Con. gregation de Notre Dame, and an ex- precision of loyalty to it's chief repre- sentative.
 The addresses were interpersed, and the program opened and closed with music of an unusually high or der. There was fine harp solo by Miss Brownell, four part chorus "Cantate Domino" with piano. harp and violin accompaniment, and . '.Concerto" arranged for two pianos which was given by the Misses lsrow- nell. Fay, first pianos, and Misses Garde aud Healy. second pianos. This was a very difficult composition, but 1t was rendered with an exacttltude and a beauty of expression which made 1t the gem of the evening.
 At the close of the program the Mother General addressed the assem- bly, and told of her recent visit to Rowe where she spent five months working for the canonixntion of the foun rsss of the order, the Venerable Margaret BOurgoise. She recounted her audiences with His Holiness lOpe Plus K. and told of his interest In her workand her order, and her children as she aTectionately termed all, from the smallest tot to the most ~ta.ely matron. The Rev Mother also spoke of the courtesy shown her and her companion by Cardinal Merry del Val, the Papal secretary Of the state. who said daily mass at the convent in Ottawa. while Papal delegate to Can ada. Her remarks were made In French, and enunciation and choice of phrase were delight to the ear. She has a most melodlous speaking voice. Rev Mother St Mary Caroline smoke In English. and graclously thanked the nuns and pupils for the welcome to Waterbury,
 Then the members of the Alumnae association had the honor of being presented to the Mother General, and each one carried away the impression Of having met . woman of remark able Intellect and dne spirit. A pleas ing feature of the reception was the introduction, with their mothers, of the daughters of Mrs John NJ. swee- ney and Mrs Thomas F. Jackson. ney and Mrs Thomas F.. Jackson. These representatives of the "second generation" show that the older Aum- nae are ever loyal to their Alma Mater" M. H. J.