2004 Inductees: SISTER MARY PASCHAL CARROLL, PBVM
Category: Music
|
Sister Mary Paschal Carroll was born in Placentia in 1914. She entered the Presentation Convent in September, 1937, and was received into the Order the following July. Two years later, in 1940, she was professed as a Presentation Sister, and began a life-long career in the fields of religious life and education.
|
Early in her teaching career, she served briefly in Grand Falls, but spent most of her career at either the Presentation Convent School, Cathedral Square or at Holy Heart of Mary High School in St. John's. Her summers were spent in improving both her religious and teaching qualifications at Boston University in Massachusetts and Villa Nova University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Eventually, her qualifications came to include a Licentiate of Music, a Choir Master's Certificate, and a Doctor of Music Degree.
She has the distinction of being a competitor in the very first Kiwanis Music Festival back in 1952, when her choir from Presentation Convent School took part. Thus began a tradition which continued for many years afterwards. In addition, she served as a member of the Music Festival's Syllabus Committee for eight (8) years.
In March, 1970, Sister Paschal was appointed by the Minister of Education at the time, Hon. Dr. Fred W. Rowe, as Music Supervisor with the province's Department of Education. The government bulletin announcing the appointment, and print media coverage as well, hailed it as the first time a member of a religious Order had been appointed to a Government post in the province. As Supervisor of Music for the entire province, her duties included "advising and consulting with the School Boards and School Administrators in their efforts to institute or extend and improve their musical programmes at all levels, having due regard for all the factors involved." During the time she spent as the province's Music Supervisor, she also found time to adjudicate at various Music Festivals throughout the province.
Sister Paschal is now 90 years of age. However, she still finds both the time and the energy to pass on some of her musical knowledge to others. For her devotion to her craft, her many years of service to the music community both locally and at large, and her support of the aims and objectives of the Kiwanis Music festival Association of St. John's, we are pleased today to induct her into the Festival's HALL OF HONOUR in the Music Category.
[ top of page ]
|
-