The Spirit of St. Cecilia Academy

The Spirit of St. Cecilia Academy
Reflections from graduates of St. Cecilia Academy
-- now Sisters of St. Cecilia

In 1860, the Bishop of Nashville invited four Dominican Sisters from Somerset, Ohio to come to Nashville to start a boarding school for girls. And so began the long legacy of young women who became a part of the spirit of St. Cecilia Academy. Mother Frances Walsh, one of the original four, wrote that “it was not without forethought that the young academy was called St. Cecilia,” the name of the virgin-martyr who is the patroness of the fine arts. Though St. Cecilia Academy moved in 1957 from the Motherhouse to its present location on Harding Road, it still remains today the home of the original timeless spirit of St. Cecilia. This spirit -- rooted in traditions of excellence in the arts, a deep desire for truth, virtue, and beauty, and a simple joy and good humor that come from a deep faith -- binds students from all times together.


Sr. Robert Ann Britton Class of 1946		Sr. Mary Louis Baltz Class of 1957
*“My education was excellent. I had all sisters for teachers and they taught us to be ladies. Great concern was shown to each student and I respected and loved them all.”*		“My most memorable teacher was Sister Mary Agnes Burke from whom I took Latin for four years. She was brilliant, stern and kind. I remember Sr. Mary Elizabeth Carney and her beautifully hand painted spiritual bouquet cards, Sr. Mary Magdalene’s operettas and Glee Club, study hall desks, library stacks, the Maypole dance, sitting on the front stone wall, the Sweetheart Ball held in the recreation hall, chapel visits and processions, and the simple, steady, spirituality witnessed by the sisters.”

Sr. Jerome Hannifin Class of 1945		Sr. Roseanne Tatum Class of 1950
“The sisters were good teachers but had their practical jokes also. As Sr. Felicitas was standing in front of the class one day, one of our retired sisters, Sister Mary Peter Ford, paused at the door and threw a snowball at Sister. We all laughed as Sr. Felicitas ran immediately after her.”		“From the very beginning I saw a deep dedication to teach all of us about God. The one thing that stood out most was the life of the sisters, the goodness and the very real sense of purpose in life. It was fun and an honor to be from St. Cecilia Academy.”

Sr. Mary Christopher Class of 1973		Sr. Emma Calvo Class of 2004
“My years at St. Cecilia Academy were enriched by the example of the sisters. Their spirit of joy, hard work, perseverance and in prayer were very evident in their daily interaction with the girls. My involvement in Sodality -- spending Saturday mornings at the orphanage, trips to Signal Mountain, sharing Christmas with the poor and needy -- only helped in discerning my vocation as a Dominican Sister.”		“One of the greatest gifts I received is that of friendship modeled on the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a member of Sodality, I was involved in community service, May Crowning and retreats. Through these experiences, we learned the beauty of self-gift to one another.”

St. Cecilia Academy Alumnae pictured above (front row, l. to r.) Sister Dominica Gobel, ‘27, Sister Mary Louis Baltz, ‘57, Sister Robert Ann Britton, ‘46, Sister Mary George Barrett, ‘47, Sister Mary Damian Harrington, ‘39 (top row, l. to r.) Sister Mary Leonard Colorigh, ‘46, Sister Jerome Hannifan, ‘45, Sister Mary Justin Haltom, ‘74, Sister Mary Christopher Weiland, ‘73, Sister Mary Kevin Cronin, ‘58, Sister Helen Marie Glaser, ‘76, Sister Margaret Andrew Baker, ‘77, Sister Rosanne Tatum, ‘50, Sister Emma Calvo, ‘04, Sister Mary Cecilia Goodrum, ‘89, Sister Bernadette Mathieson, ‘85, Sister Mary Benedict Ryan, ‘45, Sister Regina Craft, ‘52. Not available for photo: Sister Mary Patrick Connor, ‘92, Sister Philip Joseph Davis, ‘62, Sister Mary Ambrose Williams, ‘37