MARYKNOLL CONNECTIONS
Alumni Reunite with Maryknoll Sisters in
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n April 2002, a spirited alumnae group journeyed to visit the Sisters at the “Mother House” – the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY. This was the second official visit by a group of Maryknoll School graduates; a smaller group made a similar trip one year ago. The contingent from Honolulu included Agnes Sills Cordeiro ’37, Dulinda Gomes Ernesto ’37, Lucile Smith Mistysyn ’37, Virgie Gonsalves ’38, Nancy Hada Nakamura ’40, Ruth Yamamoto Saito ’46, Viola Pavao Quinn ’49, Viki Quinn Ventura ’79 (and her daughter Dana) and Christine Ribble. Mercedes Wong Manalili ’58 and her husband Donald joined the group from their home in Hilo, HI. Traveling from various parts of the mainland were Elizabeth Haggood Helfrich ’39 (Salinas, CA), Joan Brenchley Campbell ’40 (Baltimore, MD), Napua Prado Demers ’58 (Sun Valley, CA), and Mary Finnegan Ehring ’58 (Altadena, CA). Also part of the group were Yvonne Usita Morris Fr. Francis Diffley, former president of Maryknoll School, hosted the alumnae for dinner at the Maryknoll ’63, Camille Domaloan Michel ’84, and Lori Kern Fathers and Brothers residence, Pictured are (front L to R) Viki Quinn Ventura, Lori Kern Carlos, Ruth Carlos ’87 from the Office of Development & Alumni; Yamamoto, Viola Pavao Quinn, (back L to R) Virgie Gonsalves, Dana DeSilva, Mercedes Wong Manalili, grade school vice principal Carole Ota; and Tina Lucile Smith Mistysyn, Donald Manalili, Mary Finnegan Ehring, Fr. Diffley, Elizabeth Haggood Helfrich, McNealy from Becker Communications, who docu- Napua Prado Demers, Joan Campbell. mented the trip on video. Kern Carlos, Maryknoll’s alumni relations coordinator, and the enthuSeveral alumnae stayed in special suites on the ground floor of the siasm of its participants. Sisters Center. The rest of the group made themselves at home upstairs “What a great group of Knollers we had! It was an unforgettable in the single, dormitory-style rooms that the Sisters themselves live in. experience,” said Napua Prado Demers. “What a terrific time we had Late night cheesecake-and-gab fests led one alumna to remark in visiting with the Sisters from our school years, seeing The Lion King, delight, “It’s just like camp!” and going on the bus tour of New York City.” Virgie Gonsalves espeThe trip was again a joyous reunion of former teachers and cially enjoyed “ being with the Maryknollers and visiting the City – students, especially when the alumnae visited the Maryknoll Sisters on especially Ground Zero.” Viola Pavao Quinn chose to go on the trip the Residential Care floors. Napua Prados Demers said, “For those of because her own sister, Ida Pavao, is a Maryknoll Sister now living at us who went to Maryknoll School during the days when almost all of the Mother House. She said, “I’m so glad I went. Maryknoll is beautithe teachers were Maryknoll Sisters, the sisters are Maryknoll. It is ful and the trip was great!” When Carole Ota was asked why she chose nice to see that there is such a beautiful and caring place for them to to go on the trip, she answered, “After hearing about the previous trip, live in retirement.” I wanted to see the Mother House for myself. I also thought it would A highlight of the trip was an evening in New York City for dinner be ‘neat’ to spend time with the alumni. I was wrong…it was fabuat Benash Deli, followed by the fabulous Broadway musical, The Lion lous!” Carole added, “Anyone connected with the school – alumni, King. The next morning, the group boarded a luxury coach for a guided employees, etc. – would appreciate the spirit of the place.” New York City tour that included a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mahalo to the Maryknoll Sisters for their gracious hospitality – lunch at a cozy French restaurant, and a drive past Ground Zero. The especially Sr. Joan Chatfield, whose many roles included airport shutfollowing day was a “free” day. Part of the group spent a leisurely day tle driver, concierge, and tour guide – and to the administrators and in the nearby town; others took a tour of West Point military academy. staff of the Sisters’ Residential Care Facility. Another group traveled by train back to the city, where they went to the top of the Empire State Building, shopped for souvenirs, visited the famous Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, and got caught in a dramatic rainstorm on the way back to Grand Central Station. On the last day, New York-based alumni Alice Bugman ’95, Sharon Goo ’84, and Brian Mistysyn ’95 joined the group at the Mother House for lunch and a tour. Later that evening, LeAnne Mistysyn ’97 arrived with fiancé Adam to spirit away grandma Lucile for dinner. Despite a very early morning departure from the Mother House to the aiport in White Plains, the group remained in high spirits. Most of the alumnae went on to spend a few days in Las Vegas before returning home to Honolulu. The alumnae attended the monthly birthday party for the Sisters living on the The trip was a tremendous success, thanks to planning by Lori Residential Care floor, where bright decorations, Hawaiian music and impromptu hula performances gave the lounge a luau atmosphere.
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Knoller
