A Monday Memory....

I came across this saying on Pinterest recently and it brought back many memories. I was taught by the Religious Teachers Filippini in OLM grammar school. Their Order was devoted to teaching and originated in Italy. They were brought to this country to teach Italian immigrants in South Trenton, NJ and expanded from there. Their Motherhouse is located in Villa Walsh in Morristown, NJ. I remember many trips when my mother drove some of the Sisters there on a Friday after school. (She was terrified to drive on the parkway, but pushed beyond her fear because she felt she owed it to the Sisters.)

This was the habit they wore in those days. And yes, they could be a bit frightening at times and yes, many people still look back and complain loudly about them. But once I learned more of their story from my mother, many years later, I could certainly sympathize with their situations.

Their lives were truly ones of service. They often taught classes of up to 50 students. Just imagine trying to teach 50 kids in a classroom! There were no "resource rooms" and the range of ability among the students stretched across the spectrum.

They received a stipend of ten dollars a month. In those days, parents did not have to pay tuition.They relied on the generosity of the students' mothers who took turns providing them with lunch during the week. The textbooks we had were old and dated and they did their best to work with very limited supplies. Again, they had to rely so much on the generosity and assistance from the parents.

I am grateful to have been taught by them and admire greatly their sacrifices. The conditions under which I taught in a Catholic School years later were far better. Could they be harsh and short tempered at times? Sure. But then, aren't we all? But given their circumstances, I think they served God, their Community and their students extremely well.