This afternoon, the Sacred Heart School of Halifax, Sr. Wachter (Headmistress), with the entire student body from Fountain Academy of the Sacred Heart, faculty and staff, former staff, past parents and friends of the school celebrated the 10th anniversary of the boys' high school which began on the Inglis St. campus on the first floor of Canadian Marytrs Church. We celebrated with a special liturgy of the Eucharist with celebrant Fr. Randall Doucette who was instrumental in assisting with the boys' school in the early days.
Mr. Robert Marchand, Principal of Fountain Academy of the Sacred Heart, and Principal from the beginning, addressed those assembled after the liturgy.
"Among the myriad of memories and faces that go through my mind today as we assemble in the church where we began the boys school, there is one face that I keep coming back to, our headmistress at the time, Patricia Donnelly.
Patricia, more than anyone, had her share of obstacles to overcome; some of which she shared with me, most of which, thankfully, she didn’t. But despite the many obstacles things just seemed to work.
Patricia commented to me on more than one occasion that she believed that divine intervention could be the only reason for some of the good fortune we had in those early days.
After all, we managed to find just the right set of passionate, eccentric and intelligent teachers year after year. We had the backing of key supporters from the Board of Governors and the RSCJ, such as Mary Finlayson, who is with us today. Parents inexplicably trusted their sons with us, the first of whom is also with us today, Martha Carrera. And men like Father Randy Doucette and Dr. Brian O Brien, who had no specific stake in our enterprise, nevertheless took the time to become mentors to these boys.
But although Patricia spoke of divine intervention, I knew that she understood what I came to understand….that it wasn’t when God was on our side that things went so well, but rather when we were on God’s side.
With the help of St Madeleine Sophie Barat and St Philippine Duchesne, and the guiding love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fountain Academy will no doubt continue to thrive for decades to come.
Thank you for being here with us today."
