The Emmitsburg Convention
Sheeran, Clara Douglas
THE EMMITSBURG CONVENTION By CLARA DOUGLAS SHEERAN THE International Federation of Catholic Alumnae is dedicated to a lofty service in the cause of Catholic education. It now numbers nearly...
...In thus creating a democracy of alumnae wherein the ofttimes over-estimated interests of parochial or local issues were counterbalanced by the vision of unified action on an international scale for the whole cause of Catholic education, the alumnae of Saint Joseph's never lost a certain maternal interest in the development of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae...
...On Thursday morning the delegates left for Washington to visit the Mary Altar in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where the convention was formally closed...
...A luncheon at the Mayflower Hotel, a tour of the city and Mount Vernon, and a bridge by the Maryland Chapter were the concluding social features...
...Harry M. Benziger, chairman of this great education fund, has pointed out, the girl winner may or may not become a factor in Catholic education but the teaching sister is bound not only to benefit her school and pupils through many years but to affect directly the higher standard of Catholic faculty requirements...
...At the session of the department of education, Miss Anne McNichols, chairman, presented the Reverend William J. F. Ruggeri, S. J., regent of Loyola, New Orleans...
...Monsignor Pace gave the keynote address...
...Mary Wade Kalbach, president emerita of Saint Joseph's College Alumnae...
...The principal speakers were the Right Reverend John M. McNamara, auxiliary bishop of Baltimore, the Honorable Albert C. Ritchie, governor of Maryland, Monsignor Edward A. Pace, director of the federation, and Mrs...
...This year, the centenary of the Miraculous Medal, was a propitious year...
...On Sunday evening, Benediction was sung on the convent grounds at the shrine of Mother Seton whose cause for canonization was introduced at the Vatican by the late Cardinal Gibbons...
...The ninth biennial convention of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae was held at Saint Joseph's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, from August 23 to 28...
...Election of new officers took place on Wednesday afternoon, and their installation followed the closing banquet...
...Philip A. Brennan is chairman, opened the Wednesday morning session...
...The response was given by Mrs...
...Miss Naomi Larkin, chairman of the department of literature, arranged an unusually interesting program with the following speakers on special subjects: Dr...
...The Federation has since its inception, worked under the special patronage of Mary Immaculate and this favored title...
...Awards are given in order of standing, the sisters thus choosing from the list of available scholarships the place of their residence for higher study...
...Thomas A. McGoldrick on motion pictures, and the Reverend Joseph B. Code on the writings of Mother Seton...
...During the afternoon a civic celebration was held at the battlefield of Gettysburg...
...On Sunday morning a pontifical Mass was sung by the Right Reverend John M. McNamara at Mount St...
...Francis E. Fitzgerald on the library school, Mrs...
...Its central aim, as outlined by its director, Monsignor Edward A. Pace of the Catholic University of America, is increased scholarship and efficiency in the faculty of every Catholic school for the higher education of women...
...This convention afforded an opportunity to express gratitude and appreciation to all sisterhoods and alumnae associations whose cooperation made the success of the undertaking...
...The awards for the year 1929-30 not only included the Edward A. Pace Scholarship at the Catholic Sisters' College, Washington, but in addition donated scholarships by Catholic Colleges and Federation chapter scholarships to a total value of $352,000...
...Twelve hundred priests, sisters and delegates were in the procession, which could be compared only to that at Lourdes...
...Maryland, land of sanctuary, was a happy and propitious scene for the Federation's meeting...
...As Mrs...
...Any sister who holds partial credit toward a degree may upon authorization of her superior take the scholarship examination prepared by the Catholic University of America under the supervision of Monsignor Pace...
...It now numbers nearly eighty thousand Catholic graduates whose devotion to God and society has resulted in a religious and moral force greater in unity of purpose and strength of action than any other woman's organization...
...Each separate alumnae association has to its credit one or more scholarships for students—which is, incidentally, a measure of the effort involved in the Federation work...
...Under the chairmanship of Mrs...
...The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul received visiting sisters as their guests...
...The department of social service, of which Mrs...
...The Very Reverend Kieran P. Moran, CM., preached the sermon...
...Mary Blake Finan, president of the Federation...
...The speakers were the Reverend E. S. Garesche of the Medical Mission Board, Sara Loughlin of the Girl Welfare Organization in Philadelphia, Dorothy Willman of the Sodality Union, and Sister Mary de Paul Cogan of Maryknoll Missions...
...Over two hundred sisters took part in the discussions at the sessions of the sisters's section at which Sister Mary de Paul presided...
...James J. Sheeran the ninth biennial convention opened with an attendance of over eight hundred at a reception in the auditorium of Saint Joseph's College, on August 23...
...In creating scholarships for sisters, the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae distinguishes itself from many organizations by building mainly for its future members...
...The scholarships are competitive...
...But scholarships for sisters are a greater help to the unity and solidarity of Catholic education than scholarships for students, worthy as they are...
...Formal business sessions were held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the work of the administration was reported and new plans were outlined...
...It was the alumnae of Saint Joseph's who, in 1914, organized the various distinct associations into a federation, authorized by His Eminence, the late Cardinal Gibbons...
...The Right Reverend Bernard A. Bradley, president of Mount Saint Mary's College, graciously arranged to entertain the visiting clergy, and designated several buildings for delegates who were late in securing accommodations at Saint Joseph's College...
...Mary's College, Emmitsburg...
...This success is attested by the fact that two Sovereign Pontiffs, the late Pope Benedict XV and His Holiness, Pope Pius XI, have given their personal approval to the Federation and its work, that papal delegates in both the United States and Canada have endorsed it and that the American cardinals and practically the entire hierarchy have enthusiastictlly encouraged it and have attended its meetings...
...The principal speaker was Reverend Raymond J. Campion...
Vol. 12 • September 1930 • No. 20
