MARYKNOLLERS & EMPLOYEES gathered this afternoon on the library patio to celebrate Betty Vetere's 70 years of life and, on the same day, her 33rd anniversary of working for Maryknoll. Archives hosted the cake-and-coffee event from 2 p.m. to 3. Archives is another hidden gem here at the Center with documents, letters and artifacts not just from Maryknoll missioners but also from years predating our creation. My personal favorite was dusted off and put on display 23 years ago when we celebrated our 75th anniversary: a porcelain doll of St. Bernadette.
As I recall the story, Father Price liked to go to Lourdes on retreat and/or vacation and help out with confessions. In those days priests did not sup with nuns, but the good Sisters took pity on our Co-Founder and, concerned about his dining alone, presented him with this beautiful doll of his spiritual bride: St. Bernadette Soubirous.
Among correspondence is a letter from Pres. Theodore Roosevelt encouraging the formation of a U.S. missionary society, hoping it would send missioners to the Phillipines to cultivate a pro-American mentality among the colony recently won from Spain. Whoever thinks politics doesn't mix with religion knows little about either.
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