St. Bridget’s alumni welcome the future by returning to the past
Alumni of St. Bridget’s Catholic School will take a step back in time this month at a reunion ceremony both honoring and discovering the contents of the school’s 1975 time capsule.
The capsule was placed behind a marble cornerstone of the building, which was constructed in the 1970s, and it will be opened this month in preparation for the building’s eventual demolishment for a Glassboro redevelopment project.
The school, which served first- through eighth-grade students, closed in June 2008 for financial reasons. It was merged with St. Catherine’s to become St. Michael the Archangel in Clayton starting with the 2008 to 2009 school year.
Saint Bridget’s Catholic School alumna Daniele Brida was in third grade when the time capsule was placed behind the marble cornerstone.
Brida, a resident of Glassboro and 1980 graduate of the school, is organizing the reunion ceremony for past students, to be held at the school located at High and Lake streets in Glassboro.
On Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m., alumni are encouraged to meet at the school as the cornerstone is removed, and to later attend mass at nearby St. Bridget’s Church, located on Oakwood Avenue.
The mass will be led by the 1975 pastor of the church, Monsignor Clarke. After the mass, the time capsule contents will be exhibited in the church basement where light refreshments will be served.
According to Brida, the white marble cornerstone is located on the left side of the building in the bottom corner and the capsule they expect to find there might include letters and signatures of students from each grade at the time.
Because it was sealed long ago, Brida and some alumni association members are not sure of the details of the capsule’s contents.
Brida said the impending construction is exciting for the town, but she wanted to preserve the history of the school by holding the mass before construction starts. “When I heard they were going to eventually tear down the school, I remembered the time capsule and immediately wanted to help preserve that piece of history. I have a lot of great memories at the school, and I just wanted to make sure we commemorate the school while it is still standing,” she said.
Brida has fond memories of playing kickball on the school’s asphalt playground, playing guitar at masses and being close to her classmates at St. Bridget’s.
“It’s going to be exciting because it’s a connection to something we did when we were young that we may not remember ’til we see it,” she said.
Currently, Brida is in the process of getting in touch with school alumni and employees from around the time of the cornerstone’s installment. She encouraged all who attend to bring old photos and memorabilia relating to the school.
Rose Donovan, a 1981 graduate and former secretary at St. Bridget’s, was in second grade at the time of the time capsule. Currently Donovan is a secretary at St. Michael the Archangel.
Donovan, of Glassboro, remembers placing a handwriting sample into the time capsule and plans to attend the mass.
For more information about the event, contact Daniele Brida by e-mail at 123dbri@comcast.net or by phone at 856-270-2695.
The capsule was placed behind a marble cornerstone of the building, which was constructed in the 1970s, and it will be opened this month in preparation for the building’s eventual demolishment for a Glassboro redevelopment project.
The school, which served first- through eighth-grade students, closed in June 2008 for financial reasons. It was merged with St. Catherine’s to become St. Michael the Archangel in Clayton starting with the 2008 to 2009 school year.
Saint Bridget’s Catholic School alumna Daniele Brida was in third grade when the time capsule was placed behind the marble cornerstone.
Brida, a resident of Glassboro and 1980 graduate of the school, is organizing the reunion ceremony for past students, to be held at the school located at High and Lake streets in Glassboro.
On Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m., alumni are encouraged to meet at the school as the cornerstone is removed, and to later attend mass at nearby St. Bridget’s Church, located on Oakwood Avenue.
The mass will be led by the 1975 pastor of the church, Monsignor Clarke. After the mass, the time capsule contents will be exhibited in the church basement where light refreshments will be served.
According to Brida, the white marble cornerstone is located on the left side of the building in the bottom corner and the capsule they expect to find there might include letters and signatures of students from each grade at the time.
Because it was sealed long ago, Brida and some alumni association members are not sure of the details of the capsule’s contents.
Brida said the impending construction is exciting for the town, but she wanted to preserve the history of the school by holding the mass before construction starts. “When I heard they were going to eventually tear down the school, I remembered the time capsule and immediately wanted to help preserve that piece of history. I have a lot of great memories at the school, and I just wanted to make sure we commemorate the school while it is still standing,” she said.
Brida has fond memories of playing kickball on the school’s asphalt playground, playing guitar at masses and being close to her classmates at St. Bridget’s.
“It’s going to be exciting because it’s a connection to something we did when we were young that we may not remember ’til we see it,” she said.
Currently, Brida is in the process of getting in touch with school alumni and employees from around the time of the cornerstone’s installment. She encouraged all who attend to bring old photos and memorabilia relating to the school.
Rose Donovan, a 1981 graduate and former secretary at St. Bridget’s, was in second grade at the time of the time capsule. Currently Donovan is a secretary at St. Michael the Archangel.
Donovan, of Glassboro, remembers placing a handwriting sample into the time capsule and plans to attend the mass.
For more information about the event, contact Daniele Brida by e-mail at 123dbri@comcast.net or by phone at 856-270-2695.
