St. Brigid students and Sisters of Mercy get together for tea

Students at St. Brigid School in Portland invited some special guests to join them for the recent celebration of Catholic Schools Week. They had members of the Sisters of Mercy over for tea.

“We got to talk and have food and have some fun,” said Alina, a third grader.

“It made me happy to meet the sisters and make new friends,” said Paisley, a second grader.

“We feel privileged to receive this invitation,” said Sister Mary George O’Toole, RSM. “I think this is wonderful that they’ve started to have this.”

Before it closed, Catherine McAuley High School in Portland held a tea for the sisters, and now, thanks to the initiative of some parents, St. Brigid is embracing the custom. The tea coincided with the school’s celebration of its patroness’s feast day.

“Since it closed, I thought it was important to make that tie with the school, with the patron of our school, St. Brigid, and kind of to re-create that tradition for the Sisters of Mercy and have that connection here,” said Diane Salvaggio, a McAuley H.S. graduate who is a parent of St. Brigid students.

The Sisters of Mercy have a long connection with St. Brigid School, going back to the days before it was formed by the merger of St. Joseph and St. Patrick schools. In fact, of the 10 sisters who attended the tea, six were former teachers.

“I taught here for 19 years. I taught with another third-grade teacher for one year and then kindergarten for 18 years. So, I have a special place in my heart for St. Brigid School.” said Sister Rosemary Harrison, RSM.

“It’s very important for me because I taught for so many years, and I loved every single minute of what I taught, so this really brings back wonderful memories,” said Sister Mary Fasulo, RSM.

Among those the sisters taught were some current parents and teachers.

“It was cool to have tea with the Sisters of Mercy because they taught at St. Joseph's when my dad was at this school. It was cool to see what it was like back when the sisters were teaching,” said Cole, a fifth grader.

"I thought having tea with the sisters was fun because it was fun learning about how many people that they taught that I actually know. I like that they are friends with my old teacher Mrs. Halpin,” said McKenna, also a fifth grader.

For the Sisters of Mercy, gathering to enjoy a cup of tea is a tradition that goes back to their foundress, Catherine McAuley. As she lay dying in Ireland in 1841, she tried to lift the spirits of the sisters gathered at her bedside by suggesting that they share a good cup of tea.

“It was the sense that she was thinking of others, even when she was dying,” says Sister Mary Morey, RSM. “We don’t know if she said a comfortable cup of tea, but it generated into that. So, for us, a comfortable cup of tea brings back that idea of hospitality. It's become a symbol of hospitality, of thinking of others.”

Along with sharing tea, juice, and pastry, the sisters and students joined in weaving St. Brigid crosses, a tradition on the saint's feast day. The sisters also were treated to a dance performance by third graders who were preparing for the school’s dance mania competition.

Also attending the tea were Father Paul Sullivan, SJ, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Father Michael Seavey, and Father Kevin Upham, a hospital chaplain.