Robbie Dempsey writes, August 2008 (to Fr Pierre) :
" I am intrigued by the above photo. Is this the outline for a retreat ? or Exam post mortem ? Why would there be interviews otherwise free time at 4.45 ? I can't recall the term 'Conference' (three of them timetabled during the day here). "
Fr Pierre replies :
" Dear Robbie, I can't recall these writings on the wall at all! Maybe it was something that belonged before St Columba's became a college for Forms I and II. There were novices there before our time. "
John Paul Dawson writes, August 2008(to Fr Pierre) :
" . . . .an intriguing programme on the main study-room-blackboard. Having thought about the programme contents - it may well refer to a retreat that occurred for the junior seminarians at the College in the early Autumn of 1955 before you arrived there to take up your teaching post.
Forgive me if my memory is failing, but I believe the handwriting on the black-board is Fr.O'Donnells. In my opinion:
* the manual work at 3.00, followed by recreation and tea at 3.45 was written
in stone in the juniors daily routine.
* two (not three - which was thought too much for young boys) recitatons of the
Mysteries of the Rosary
* Benediction
* the Summary, Confessions, Meeting and Conferances (with the priest giving the retreat)
are indicative of a three day retreat programme for young students at the College. . . . "
Fr Pierre replies :
" Dear John Paul, Thank you for your message. As regards to . . . . "the writing on the wall". It is impossible that this photograph taken by me was taken in the autumn of 1955 as I wasn't there; I arrived at St Columba's in September 1956. Furthermore, Fr. Tom O'Donnell arrived also at St Columba's in September 1956. Maybe the writing on the blackboard was his . . . but was written in 1956 or more probably in 1957 (he was then Superior). For the record Fr. O'Donnell died on 29 August 2004, aged 83. Great guy! " (see OBITUARIES)
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