Graduating Class of 2009 - Michael Bryan

[I first saw this speech when Michael presented it to me -- a week before graduation -- in an almost-polished form. What a surprise it was! This topic was not what I was expecting. Sr. M. Ph.]

Graduating Class of 2009

Graduating Class of 2009

Good afternoon, Sister Marie Therese, Sister Maria Philomena, Mr. McManus, Mama, Papa, Brothers, Sisters, family, friends, and fellow IHM students.

Every graduation speaker wants his speech to be unique and personal in one way or another. I decided that the best way to make mine unique would be not to buy it online for $24.99, but to just write it myself.

I have attended Immaculate Heart of Mary School for the last eleven years. Eleven not twelve, because one year I went through two grades. The years which I remember most clearly were the last few, when I finally saw the end as something reachable, and not just something in the distance which would come along eventually. However thanks to the foundation laid by my earlier education, these last years I have been able to start appreciating what I had experienced. Realizing that it was meant to help me in high school and the rest of my personal life. Most likely I won’t ever have to use the periodic table, but the exercise of memorizing it had a much bigger purpose. That of helping to develop my brain and form my whole character by discipline. Thereby perfecting the nature that grace builds upon. Continue Reading »

Blueberry Jammers tie for seventh!

Blueberry Jammers at Young Tradition Showcas

Blueberry Jammers at Young Tradition Showcase

IHM’s Blueberry Jammers are moving up in the world! In an attempt to branch out, meet more people, and see new faces the Blueberry Jammers accepted an invitation to compete during the Young Tradition Weekend at the Showcase on May 16 in Burlington, VT.  The Young Tradition Showcase consisted of young singers, dancers, and musicians (the Jammers include all three), all carrying on various musical folk traditions from around the world.

Dancing, too!

Dancing, too!

Out of thirty-two competitors, our local Blueberry Jammers tied for seventh place in the audience-judged contest. What made the audience love the Jammers? Come and see their amazing performance yourself at their very own seventh annual Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival 2009, Cheshire Fairgrounds, Swanzey, August 7 & 8. To see videos and pictures, click on the following links:
YouTube Video Part One (2:04)

YouTube Video Part Two (7:50)

For David Yandell’s pictures, click this link.

John F. McManus - The Forgotton Virtue of Hope - Graduation 2009

Graduation Speech, St. Benedict Center, Immaculate Heart of Mary School
Trinity Sunday, June 7, 2009

Mr. John F. McManus

Mr. John F. McManus

By John F. McManus

[Mr. McManus has an amazing background in the Marines, engineering, and public relations. He has been the president of the John Birch Society since 1991 -- as well as a friend of the Center and Third Order member of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary since the 1970's. ]

Thank you, Sister, for the invitation.  Thank you, Brother Francis, Brother Andre Marie and all of you for keeping this place going, this oasis in the vast desert that surrounds us.

(Here he told a joke about the burglars who were interrupted in their thievery by a parrot.)

Burglars are stealing our country. Some are trying to steal our Church. We must not let either happen.

I’m delighted be here at this graduation. Right here we have a rather amazing young man in Michael Bryan. He has led his class in everything. Of all the graduates assembled here today, he is tops in science, in math, in literature, and in religious studies. There is no prize for the class of 2009 that he hasn’t won. Good for you, Michael!
Continue Reading »

The Christian Training of Children - Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

A well-earned treat after climbing the 294 stairs of the Bunker Hill Monument

A well-earned treat after climbing the 294 stairs of the Bunker Hill Monument

Chapter XI. – A Christian Mother’s Co-operation with Pastor and Teacher

The first aids of a mother in her arduous task of properly rearing her children are derived from the sacramental grace of matrimony. They come to her in the form of supernatural inspirations, interior counsels, admonitions and encouragements. Besides these there are also external aids, among which the father of her little ones holds the first place; then we may add older brothers and sisters and servants of the household. All of these, if good and virtuous, will at least exert a morally educative influence by their good example and by occasional admonitions. In a wider sense the whole environment of the child, made up of playmates, relatives, friends and school companions, collaborate with the mother in the moral and intellectual development of the child. Continue Reading »

The Christian Training of Children - Prayers

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

Chapter IX. – Prayers a Christian Mother May Teach Her Child.

[As I explained to the mothers at our last Mothers' Tea, the important thing to be drawn from this chapter are the sentiments that they should be instilling in their children, whether or not they have them memorize these verses. As a child, my mother read to us regularly from Monsignor Hugh Benson's A Child's Rule of Life (which is in rhyme). To this day, some of my prayers are more easily expressed by those simple phrases. Sr. M. Ph.]

Dear God, make me good, that I may get to heaven!

Dearest Jesus, Thou art mine;
Let me be forever Thine.
I am young, and pure my heart,
O dwell therein, and ne’er depart!
Heavenly Mother, stand by me,
That I thy little child may be!
Guardian angel watch o’er me,
That my heart from sin e’er free,
May to God most pleasing be!

Continue Reading »

The Christian Training of Children - The Father’s Role

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

father1Chapter VII. - How a Mother Should Instil [sic] into the Hearts of Her Children a Sincere Love and Respect of Their Father, and how She Should Co-operate with Him in Their Education.

During the first months of its early life the child is entirely dependent upon the care of its mother. After a year or so this dependence is not so absolute, yet the child could not thrive without mother’s tender love and care. In these early years the father would be a practical stranger to the child, unless mother roused in its little heart sentiments of love and affection for him, and this should be done from its earliest life and continued through the succeeding years, because this is of the utmost importance to the child. Continue Reading »

The Christian Training of Children - Rewards and Punishments

Little Book of Instructions for Christian Mothers [continued]
(from Mother Love - A Manual for Christian Mothers - by Rev. Pius Franciscus, O.M.Cap., 1926)

On the Christian Training of Children

Temper tantrum in adults (or students acting adult parts) is not pretty.

Temper tantrums in adults (or students acting adult parts) are not pretty.

Chapter VII. - Of Rewards and Punishments.

A stubborn evil spirit that resists the ordinary means of control, is driven out according to the words of our Lord by prayer and fasting. This is also the means by which deeply-rooted defects and faults in children must be driven out. Prayer and fasting will win. Still as long as a child is young enough to be coerced, it should be compelled to pray and fast in its own behalf, though it may be good and advisable that a mother pray for such a child and offer for it many personal acts of self-denial. Prayer humbles the spirit, while fasting chastens the flesh and is the sovereign remedy against sensuality. Continue Reading »

Happy Easter!

We have had a beautiful Holy Week. Here are a couple of pictures of our altar, radiant for Easter!

Easter Sunday in IHM Chapel

Easter Sunday in IHM Chapel

Continue Reading »

Sursum Corda Society

Sursum Corda Society in the Rosary Chapel in Saint Philomena's Convent

Sursum Corda Society in the Rosary Chapel in Saint Philomena's Convent

On Palm Sunday, Sister Marie Therese presided over a lovely little ceremony in the chapel of our new convent. Over a year ago, the Sisters started a prayer society for the young ladies in our community: the Sursum Corda Society. After a winnowing process, two young ladies renewed their promises, two more were re-instated, and a fifth was received for the first time. The purpose of the Society is simple: to bring about the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, in the hearts of the girls themselves and those of their families, in the hearts of the religious, and then in the hearts of the laity at Saint Benedict Center. The girls, after making their Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, promise to say the Rosary (with meditations) and other prayers daily, make daily sacrifices, wear the Brown Scapular and Miraculous Medal, read certain books, and attend monthly meetings. Continue Reading »

Religious Professions

Brides of Christ

Brides of Christ

The Sisters in their new black veils after Holy Communion

The Sisters in their new black veils after Holy Communion

Please rejoice with us over the first vows of two of our Sisters: Sister Maria Rosaria and Sister Marie Gabrielle. They made their professions on March 25 (Feast of the Annunciation), taking vows for three years as Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Semper Deo gratias et Mariae!

(A special thank you to Carolyn Kamuda for her lovely photography. She took many more pictures than these two. A link to the other images has been sent to our Friends and Benefactors. If you are not on our Friends & Benefactors email list and would like to be, please send me an email through the Contact Us link at right.)