Special medal from Pope John Paul for Jimmy Roe
AFTER eight years as one of the most energetic and most progressive principals of any school in the country, Sr. Elizabeth Maxwell hands over the reins of Our Lady’s College, Greenhills, to a successor, Sr. Frances Crowe.
Sr. Elizabeth now takes up a new post in Chicago in the U.S.
When Carlow-born Sr. Elizabeth came to Drogheda in the Seventies from Kilcock, she had scant idea of the enormous amount of work that she would tackle in the years ahead.
Now, looking back on it all, she feels proud of the expansion that took place in Our Lady’s, but what pleases her even more are the tremendous strides forward in curricular innovation.
On the expansion side of things, Our Lady’s College has been almost turned inside out, as the old boarding school part of the premises was converted. Modern new science laboratories were provided, a library was added and a host of other amenities to put the college on par with the best in the country.
“I seem to have been building all the time since I came here,” says Sr. Elizabeth. At times she felt more like a clerk of works than a school principal and she admits that she did find the job of asking all the time for money, a difficult one.
“But we have an absolutely marvellous Parents Council. The parents of our pupils are magnificent and they made it all possible.”
This was a point which Sr. Elizabeth stressed last month when she saw the dream of the new Sports Complex become reality for her, for the 700 students at the college, for the parents and for all others involved in its erection. The advances in the curriculum brought many improvements. Two major ones were the provision of the E.S.F. funded Voluntary Preparation and Getting out of bed winter and summer before seven bells, is no bother to Ardee’s genial sacristan, Jimmy Roe (left) from Castle Street.
He’s been doing that for more than 32 years now and as he explained to the “D.I.” “it’s a habit which grows on you.”
Earlier this month, Jimmy’s great loyalty to the parish and Church was recognised with the awarding of the ‘ Benemerenti Medal’ and scroll from Pope John Paul. The presentation was made by Cardinal O Fiaich during a solemn dedication ceremony in the church in Ardee.
Very Rev. Canon P. F. Shields, PP, remarked: “The recipient is a man of committed loyalty, honesy and integrity - a man who has been sacristan here for almost a lifetime. Always reliable; always in good humour, that’s Jimmy Roe.
“We’re all so happy that this great honour has been bestowed on him. Training programme.
The other important facility was the provision of a Pre-Year in the secondary college to help youngsters cope with the transition from primary to secondary school. This year has proved tremendously popular and very valuable. Its success, says Sr. Elizabeth, was due to the great co-operation from the teachers.
Now, after her eight hectic years, Sr. Elizabeth is off to Loyola University in Chicago to do a degree course in Pastoral Studies. She is already the holder of a B. A. and an M.A. In Education.
Science and mathematics teacher, Sr. Frances B.Sc, who becomes new school principal has been in Dorgheda for the past five years. A Dubliner, she came to Drogheda from Clane. While in town she has enjoyed being a member of the St. Peters Choral Group — but if the eight years ahead are anything like the eight years gone by, Sr. Frances will be so busy that even a few hours off with the choir will be a luxury