Celebrating the 40-year anniversary of the school, St. Catherine
had a Nano Nagle celebration on Nov. 21.
Celebrating the 40-year anniversary of the school, St. Catherine had a Nano Nagle celebration on Nov. 21.
Five Sisters of the Presentation who had been teachers and or principles at the school attended, including the original principal and teacher Sr. Mary Kieran O’Connor.
Other Sisters who attended the prayer service celebration were Sr. Paula Baker (principal for 15 years), Sr. Ann Therese Lynch (principal three times), Sr. Pat Davis, PBVM, and Sr. Michelle O’Connell.
The service started with the original school song written in 1963 by Sr. Mary Natalie and Sr. Mary Barbara. It was followed by a brief history of Nano Nagle.
Honora Nagle, nicknamed Nano, was born in Ireland in 1718. Because she taught during the day and visited the sick by night using a lantern to guide her path, she became know as the Lady with the Lantern. The Lantern has since become the symbol of the Sisters of the Presentation around the world.
The Sisters of the Presentation have been present in California for 150 years. Sr. Kieran brought “the lantern” to Morgan Hill 40 years ago on Sep. 3, 1963, when a school for first and second graders opened.
Suzanne Rich, current principal of St. Catherine, was honored in recognition of principals’ day and given a gift. Then the lantern of the Presentation Sisters was presented to her as a symbol to carry on their work.
Sr. Kieran addressed the school assembly, thanking the priests, and lay teachers as well as the students for making “St. Catherine the wonderful community it is today.”
She continued saying that the Presentation Sisters are proud of the foundation they have laid. “The Presentation spirit is still alive at St. Catherine School,” she commented.
Sr. Kieran closed saying that she has served as a Presentation Sister for over 60 years and that it is a wonderful life. She encouraged girls to consider this calling. She hopes that St. Catherine will continue to be a strong presence in the Morgan Hill community for many years to come.
First grade presented gifts to each of the sisters and showed them an art project they made replicas of the Presentation’s lantern created of construction paper. The sisters were touched.
