When I contacted Reverend Kevin Gillespie, S.J. to comment on the 100th year anniversary of Saint Margaret School, located on the crest of Narberth Avenue, he quickly responded,
“SMS, 1956-64: a formative time of curiosities about life and the world with wonders about God and the Church, shaped by the dedicated labors of parents, nuns, teachers, coaches, and a host of volunteers.
“We children were blessed with so many graces in that splendid school located in that special borough called Narberth.”
As I prepared to write about SMS’ momentous longevity and those words of Father Gillespie, who had also served as 27th President of Saint Joseph’s University, his phrase “wonders about God and the Church” have resonated with me.
Today, Divine Mercy Sunday, at midday Mass, Monsignor Paul Dougherty described in his homily the peace of the Lord “which the world cannot offer.”
With these thoughts in mind and spirit, I will share some of the beauty and goodness of Saint Margaret School through a student’s words.
Elizabeth Shea, Grade 8, describes how Saint Margaret School models faith, “In our Religion classes, we learn about everything since the beginning of time, and we also do assignments in which we must interpret what something in the Bible means to our faith and to ourselves.
“Our teachers also make sure to remind us on how to be a follower of Jesus each moment in our daily lives.”
“Throughout the school year, Saint Margaret has many service-oriented activities and fundraisers. One example of these activities is a food drive which we call the ‘Souper Bowl.’
“Over the past several years, students bring in cans of soup and put them in a box for one of the two teams which they want to win the Super Bowl each year.”
Once collected, those cans of soup are delivered to the poor and needy.
These experiences outlined by Libby Shea reveal the essence of Saint Margaret School – faith, service, and academics – and reflect the legions of children who have studied, loved, and prayed there.
Now, imagine initiatives under way one hundred years ago in “the special borough named Narberth.”
Looking through an historic lens, according to the research of once-upon-a-time Saint Margaret parishioner Victoria Donohue, in conjunction with the start of SMS, we have learned that “the very popular fireworks tradition” in Narberth dated back to 1922.
Also, while the Sisters of Mercy and Saint Margaret School teachers were planning curricula, programs, and classroom spaces for the children, “Various community improvements went on apace, such as adoption of a building code in 1923 and the town’s first zoning ordinance in 1924, both of which were periodically brought up to date by amendments.”
In celebration of these very special 100 years, alumni, current and past parents, friends of St. Margaret School, and parishioners, are all invited to attend a special celebration on Saturday evening, April 22, to share memories and to enjoy the initiation of the Saint Margaret School Hall of Fame.
Year 2023 inductees will be Charles Friel, Class of ’54, parent and grandparent; Margaret Quinn Garofolo, Class of ’57, teacher, parent, and grandparent; and James McNulty, Class of ’78, parent and coach.
Memorial Awards are designated for Coach Jack and Mary Mullarkey, both parents of SMS students; for Sister Corinne Ritchie, RSM, former Principal; and “in gratitude” for the Community of the Sisters of Mercy, Founders of the School and faithful administrators and teachers.
The celebration begins with Mass at 5:15 pm, followed by a reception in the School at 6:15 pm, catered by PTG Caterers and former parent Gil Chavez.
For non-local readers, St. Margaret School is a Catholic Parish Elementary School in Narberth, which was established in the early 1920’s as an integral part of the Catholic Community of St. Margaret of Antioch Parish and which is supported by the parish community.
Today, St. Margaret School not only serves the parish of St. Margaret but is home to children from St. Matthias, St. John Vianney and the former parish of St. Justin, and the present parishes Presentation BVM, Our Mother of Good Council, and St. Thomas of Villanova, as a regional Catholic Elementary School for the Lower Merion-Narberth area.
For information about the “Celebration of the 100th Anniversary,” call 610.664.2640, ext. 2 or email: Alumni@smsnarberth.org.
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