From far corners of the land came St. Mary's Academy alumni former students and members of their families for the school's 50th anniversary celebration April 23, 1950. And they converged here by the hundred.

The faithful were smiled on by the weatherman. Although rain had been predicted, it was a brilliant day befitting one in June.

The jubilee began with a solemn Mass in St. Patrick's Catholic church. An alumni breakfast followed. "Symbolic History of St. Mary's" was presented in pantomime in the afternoon by the students in the O'Neill Public School Auditorium. A banquet in the evening climaxed the event.

Leading the parade of returned graduates were five priests from the Society of Jesus, one secular priest, and Mother M. Erica, head of the Sisters of St. Francis at Denver, Co.

The Rev. Father Peter Price, S.J., of Decatur, Ill., delivered the jubilee sermon and borrowed from the book of Leviticus: "Thou shalt sanctify the 50th year, for it is the year of jubilee."

"W are meeting here today to carry on a tradition," Father Price said as loudspeakers carried the sermon outside to the overflow crowd. "I think it is very ancient history. I is a tradition which goes right back to the dawn of that glorious day 3,400 years ago when, from the majestic clouds that surrounded Mt. Sinai, God spoke to Moses."

"On that day, no less than the Almighty Himself commanded that every 50th year should be celebrated in extraordinary religious celebration."

"Our jubilee," said Father Price, "Like those of the ancient Hebrews has a certain among of splendor. It is a day filled with joy, filled with happiness, and to that is why we are allowed to ask the question, Do we have reason for our happiness and or our gayiety."

Mrs. Charles (Loretta Carr) Shatto, class of 1930 was toastmaster at the banquet, which was held in the gymnasium basement of the west wing. So large was the crowd dinners were served in adjoining rooms and listened to proceedings via loudspeakers.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Timothy O'Sullivan, St. Patrick's pastor, eulogized the late Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.F. Cassidy, who founded St. Mary's and the late Rt. Rev. J.G. McNamara, who succeeded Monsignor Cassidy.

Others on the program were Cletus Sullivan, John O'Neill, Larry Morris, Edward McCarthy, Francis Flood, Marde Birmingham, Nancy Beha, Lorraine Simonson, Bernadette Hynes, Mrs. O.D. (Constance Biglin) French, Mary Donlin Regan, Mrs. C.J. (Marie MacLeod) Gatz, and Jack Gatz (class of 1950).