Putnam patriot., 1912-04-05
Sister Leontine's Silver Jubilee
MANY auEsrs-JoYous FEsTIvIrl

LeO0b1ne WbS celtDihltu at ANobiS Dame Academy, Tuesday. The day was one of joyous feasting, festivity and merrymaking. 1t marked a period of 25 years of religious life, de. votion and sacrifice of a noble christian woman.
 Sister I,eontine is direetress of music at the academy and the thoroughness of her work has been evidenced when- ever the pupils have appeared in public. The Academy orchestra, or. ganized some years ago, has developed musical efficiency of high degree and their work would do credit to band of musicians who were many years older. There are some twenty or thirty pieces in the orchestra with many different instruments. The vocal talent at the Academy is also of high order, and all students who wish a thorough musical training, either Instrumental or vocal, are assured Of 1t at Notre Dame.
 The Sister, whose Jubilee 1t was, received hearty congratulations and best wishes from all present. She Is loved by her CO., workers in the academy and by the pupils; highly esteemed and respected by the clergy friends and acquaintences, and the little strangers who enter the institution each year are at cnce attracted by her personal mag netism and soon learn to love and obey her. Friends and relatives came from many points 10 be present at her jubilee and extend congratulations. They must have been pleased at the enter. tainment provided, especially the varied program given by the pupils in the afternoon.
 To Sister Leontine the day must have indeed been joyous one and long to be remembe red. Surrounded by her co-workers, pupils, relatives and friends, receiving intending ex. pressions of love, esteem, regard, praise and good wishes must have been some small reeompense, and have emphasized the appreciation of all for her quarter century of ooncientious de- votion to a chosen christian duty en- Iailing abrogation of self and life de- voted to others. And of those who had finished their course al the aca- demy in the past twenty. five years and gone into the world, doubtless many of them In thought turned back to alma mater this day, recalling the .ta. hx, ,.HHinU fhAtr silent benedetion for the woman whose christian life had so entwined itself in theirs during their period of devel- opment at Notre Dame that it's benign influence will never wholly cease to be guardian angel in their trials and vicissitudes as they 70 down liie's rough pathway.
 Sister Mary Leontine was born in Mechanicsville the daughter of Corne- Illus and Marianne (Byrnel 0'Leary. Her name was Mary Elizabeth and she was one of five children, boys and girls. Fr. O'Leary of New Can. aan, Conn, Is the only brother now living. She attended the school in the village and was bright in her studies in which she took great interest. Her parents decided to grattfy her wish for higher education aud placed her in the Convent of Notre Dame at Put. 1880 graduating 1884, having the honor of being the first to graduate from the Academy.
 While at the Academy the oppor- tunity offered to develop fondness for music which she had always pos sesSed and by close application 10 her cherished lessons in this department she reached high mark of efficiency and evidenced unusual talent and ability in the art that later she was to teach. She also showed fondness for christian doctrine and was devout in her religious duties. While here she decided 10 eonsecrale her life as Sis ter of Mercy and soon after her gradua. tion she made her novitiate In the Mother house in Hartford and was profeSsed sister of Mercy April 2nd, 1887. She remained in Hartford a while, then went to Danbury and New Haven before she came 10 Putnam to enter, as & teacher, the in. stituiion where she prepared herself for her liie's work, and which is dear 10 her heart. A just pride in her Alma Mater and a fondness for children, coupled with an inborn desire to do her duty we'll, has crowned her efforts with success and many are the pupils that have gone forth from Notre Dam, the better for herlcounsel and teaching
 At s o'clock there was s mass in th, chapel the celebrant being Rev. r. J O,Leary of New Canaan, brother O Sister Leontine. Miss Elizabeth Byrne was al the organ and during the mass the musical part of the ser vice was of special note, solos beins sung by Sister Ernestine and Mis- Aline LaRue. Following the mass an informal reception was held al shicf