Despite having to ‘catch up’, the Junior does not seem ‘stressed out’ about the end of term papers and exams in the April 10 letter. He is glad to be getting ‘healthier and healthier’. Plans for another set of plays and getting ready for the gardens are central to the letter. Interest in the liturgical changes surfaces again in this letter regarding Easter liturgies. Easter is the focus in the April 24th letter, with a description of the successful production of their plays.

The May 16 letter describes some of the flurry of the end of the school term, and again expresses his hope to visit family on the way to the next course of studies (philosophy); it contains a harsh judgement about the ladies at the hospital tea, and an explanation to his mum why he cannot accept a surplice she wanted to sew for him. Studies still predominate in his Juniorate experience as he records appreciation for the lecture given on Homer’s The Odyssey and mentions the fete for Fr. Wickham on his successful defence of his PhD thesis.

IGNATIUS COLLEGE

Guelph Ontario

April 10, 1965

Dear Mum, Dad, and all,

At last spring is here. The snow is almost completely disappeared and the sun is again shining and giving us some warmth too. I’m looking forward to seeing the grass green and the trees flow and leaf. The birds are back and in the morning it’s good to hear their chatter and, of course, the robins’ chirpy noise.

All in all I actually didn’t see too much of winter because one thing or another kept me from tramping the snow or skating on the ice. In our last burst of winter two or three weeks ago, I caught a nice cold and then the next week I picked up a touch of the flu. So by the time all of that was rectified winter had disappeared. Right now I’m getting healthier and healthier and getting more exercise (at last). As a result I have much more vim to give to studies and believe me I need all the vigour possible to get caught up.

I have an exam at the O.A.C. [Ontario Agricultural College] on Easter Monday in Botany so there’s a good intention for that day. The rest of our exams are in the second week in May. I have a term paper to finish by the end of April, and thanks to one of the professors, my second term paper is only due about the end of May.

Another thing that comes with spring is getting the gardens in shape and starting the seedlings. Most of the seeds were planted in the green house this past week so I’m patiently waiting to see the first ones poke their heads out of the ground. We won’t be able to dig up our flower beds until the end of the tulip season. You see we planted our tulip bulbs in them last fall and they are now above ground level. In fact they peeped out of the soil during the thaw in the middle of March but then the snow came along and covered them up. It doesn’t look as though they have frozen their noses and I hope they bloom well.

We are going to put on a play for the community on Easter Monday evening. It is takeoff on Greek mythology and Aesop’s fables. In it is contained two of the fables, one, “The body and its parts”, which preaches the lesson of co-operation, the other, “the city mouse and the country mouse” which most people are familiar with.

The exalted role into which I was cast is the “belly” in the first fable. People were chosen for parts either because it suited them perfectly or because they were the exact opposite. Obviously I was chosen because of the opposite quality. I am also doing some work on the costumes and lighting.

Las night we had our annual house debate. This year Peter Henbury [Campion] had the pleasure of being chairman and I, happily, was merely a judge. The debate was on whether Quebec should be an independent state or not. It was quite successful.

Myrna [sister] wrote me a lovely letter this week telling me all about their move and place. It was good to hear from them. Lillian [sister] wrote just the other day too and sent me some beautiful snaps of Blaine [nephew], and I’m glad that they got in on the picture too. It was good to see them.

I made some Easter cards again this year. Unfortunately there isn’t time to finish them to perfection but I think they are an improvement over last years. You can be the judge. Because of the crowded schedule there wasn’t too much time to be inspired with a tremendous idea but c’est la vie.

Easter promised to be an interesting experience this year with all the new liturgy changes. I’m afraid we might have lost a lot of the beauty, however, that will be adequately balanced by the greater understanding we will receive. What changes have been introduced at St Peter’s by now? Have you started singing an English High Mass?

This will have to be my Easter letter because I won’t get a chance to sit down and write this coming week. Enclosed is my gift to all of you. [A spiritual bouquet of Masses and prayers.]

Mass is such a perfect and all embracing prayer because the number of my intentions increase daily. These Masses were offered for ‘Mum, dad, sisters, brothers (all of them), nephews, nieces, grandparents, relatives, and friends’. My prayer is that all of you come closer to Christ daily. Pray that I may do the same. All of you will receive a special remembrance in all my prayers during holy week and particularly on Easter Sunday.

May God bless all of you and keep you in His grace.

Love

Frank

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IGNATIUS COLLEGE

Guelph Ontario

April 24, 1965

Dear Mum, Dad, and all,

Time passes much too quickly. This letter should have been written at the beginning of the week instead of today. Before I go any further into this letter I’m going to say thank you very much for your prayers and lovely cards. Thank you mum and dad for the gigantic parcel. Everything arrived in tip top order and it seemed that you had just taken the cookies out of the oven for they were as fresh and tasty as if you had must made them that day.

The Puffed wheat squares were beautiful and so were the other squares (I don’t know their name). The whole community enjoyed them early Easter morning just after the Holy Saturday services and Easter Mass at midnight. (The marsh mellow was fantastic.) We enjoyed the nuts, jelly beans, the lovely little chocolate rabbits watching hockey games.

The large rabbit was beautiful. It’s been such a long time since I received one for Easter. He sat on my desk all week so that I could feast my eyes on him. Today I took him to villa and we feasted our stomaches on him. He was as delicious as he looked. Your card was one of the loveliest I’ve seen mum and dad. Thank you for everything; my Easter was wonderful.

The Wednesday before Easter we tried to dye some eggs for the table center pieces. We had a lot of fun doing it but the results were not so successful. I think it was the dye we bought. We just couldn’t get dark coloured eggs like you do at home. But even so, when they were oiled they looked very eastery.

All the Easter services were very good and practically all in English. We had quite a time of it in the choir because we had to learn nearly all the things we had to sing. One day we had a choir practice over two hours long, but we only had three practices in all so . . . .

Easter Sunday was lovely and spent quietly. The weather was poor but that didn’t make any difference. On Monday evening we had our Easter play, but before I say anything about that, I should tell you that we had a movie on Easter Sunday evening called Quo Vadis, a movie of Christian martyrs around the time of the time of the Roman emperor Nero, the one who burned the city of Rome just so that he could build another city. It was very enjoyable and the only set back was that I had an exam the next morning at the O.A.C. [Ontario Agricultural College]

(Oops, I need a new sheet of paper)

The exam wasn’t too bad. It was long but not too difficult, and it was a relief to have one subject out of my hair. The rest of the exams are coming pretty soon so there is much to study. Monday afternoon we had a dress rehearsal for our play, and there was a lot of finishing touches to be done on the costumes so that was a busy afternoon. (I also had to put in four more boxes of seeds for one of the brothers that afternoon.) So evening came quickly.

The play was quite successful and all my lighting sequences turned out alright. I shall send a picture of the ‘Belly and the part’ scene as soon as I get it. Enclosed is a program. The rest of this week was one holiday. On Wednesday a group of us got a chance to go to Toronto to see the movie ‘My Fair Lady! It was simply marvellous, although if Julie Andrews had played Eliza it would have been fantastic. However, Audry Hepburn played the part well. If you get a chance, to to see it.

Source: buzz.com

During the rest of this week I have been trying to piece together a term paper. I think it is finally falling into place, at least, it had better during this coming week. We started to take down the hockey boards today. The weather has been so strange this year. It doesn’t seem to want to warm up. It was fairly warm this morning but by this afternoon it was colder again. When it is so cold things don’t spring up as quickly and the grass is taking a long time to green and the tulips a long time to bloom.

I had my first handball game yesterday. It was sort of a handicap match but I was allowed two bounces instead of the usual one because I still can’t move too quickly, but it is coming. Both my teams were beaten out in hockey (Toronto and Detroit) so I’m not too interested in the finals. I think the Canadians have it in the bag though. All the Canadian fans here are happy about it and we have quite a number here.

Well I’ve run out of newsy news. . I hope you are all well and happy. Please continue to remember me in your prayers. You are always in mine.

Love

Frank

+++++++++++++++++++++++

IGNATIUS COLLEGE

Guelph Ontario

May 16, 1965

Dear mum, dad, and all

By now you must have given up hope of ever hearing from me again. It has been too long between letters this time, but I have been quite busy these past couple weeks or so. The first thing was to get my term paper completed and handed in and that took a great deal of time, then I tried to cover all the matter of the term so that I should not have to put on a big review rush the day before the exam. So all in all the time was devoured.

This week I wrote three exams, philosophy, Latin composition, and English Literature. Since I wrote botany a long time ago, I only have two exams left to write, humanities (study of Greek literature in translation) and Latin authors. I also have to finish writing an English term paper by the fifth of June. Because I lost some time this term, it was almost impossible to get it done on time, so I asked if I could do it later. As you can see I have enough to do this month.

Next month will be an interesting and enjoyable month for most of us. On the fifth of June a select group within the choir will be going to Toronto to sing for the ordination. That alone would be enjoyable, but I will also get a chance to see two men who taught me at Campion be ordained.

Immediately after that most of us will be going off to do some spring ‘ministry’ work. A number are going to the northern missions to help the priests there to teach catechism, or build, or introduce the new liturgy (e.g. teach singing). All of us are looking forward to it. A few know where they are going now, but the rest of us have no idea as yet.

Soon after we get back we will have our summer villa, and right after that we will have our annual eight day retreat. Our summer course will start after that. This year we third year Juniors will be taking a Sociology course while the rest of the Juniors take French. The course will last until the twenty-fifth or so of August.

Marlene [sister] was asking about when I’d be passing by this year. I suppose it’s best to tell you that there is a possibility that I might not be passing through because some of us will not be going to philosophy at Mt. St. Michael’s in Spokane because they don’t have room for all of us.I though it only fair to let you know that possibility. Of course I’m hoping . . . . . .

If I do pass by it will be in late August and I’ll probably be able to stay for a couple days. As you can see, I myself don’t know too much as yet. I will find out when the summer status comes out and when I do, you’ll get the information immediately.

About the surplice mum, I’m afraid I can’t have a personal surplice for a number of years.  Until you are ordained you have no use for a surplice, and only after ordination are you allowed to keep a surplice on hand in your room. It would have been lovely. Perhaps you can make something for yourself or store it away for a few more years.

Well I haven’t been too co-operative in the first part of this letter have I? In any case, you can see that the summer will be rather busy.

Before I go any further, thank you very much for the letter and pictures mum. Please thank Marlene and Lillian for their letters. [sisters] I don’t know when I will get a chance to write back. How is Bernice [sister]? I hope there is nothing serious and that she is now the picture of health.

About the Prelate affair, I hope we do get a good crop this year. As far as sending someone off a year before the rest were, it seems to me that circumstances alter cases. [This comment was in regard to a question about why some spent two years in the Juniorate and some did not.]

Last week we had professor Finley from Harvard University give us a lecture on Homer’s Odyssey. It was simply fabulous for he developed many points we had touched on in class and exposed many others. There were a number of guest from the universities close by attending the lecture also.

Just the other day I attended my first tea. The sisters and the St. Joseph Hospital Ladies’ Guild put on a tea. Because all the fathers here at the house were busy, a few Juniors were asked to go and represent the college. I was one of them. We went and had tea and ‘crumpets’ gave the sisters greetings and good wishes and came home. Quite frankly, the only thing these teas are for (I think) is that the ladies can show off their new spring clothes and hats.

Last week a few of the brothers cleaned out the pool (swimming pool) and then repainted. It is now full of crystal clear water and looks very inviting. Yesterday I went for my first swim of the season and during the day got a healthy sun burn on my arms. I think swimming will be excellent to get my leg back into shape.

Last Sunday in an attempt at tennis I slipped on some sand lying at the edge of the court and fell. That didn’t do my leg any good at all and on Monday I couldn’t even sit still without feeling a sharp ache. It was almost impossible to get around. I had to go back to using my cane. However the leg improved daily and although it isn’t back to normal yet, I’m sure a couple days is all it will take.

Remember my companion invalid of last fall who had a similar injury but whose leg sort of healed up? He’s going into to get his cartilage out in the beginning of June. After the injury the swelling went down on his knee but up to now he could never get it back to full strength and besides that the side of his knee always clicked.

He saw the doctor and was told that the outer cartilage was torn and that’s why it clicked. He said it would have to be taken out eventually and that his leg wouldn’t be too strong until it was taken out. So he’s going to have it out. It won’t take him too long to get back into shape though  (not as long as my knee is taking) I think because he has been able to use it all this time and has been able to keep the muscles built up. From November to February I was never able to use my knee without limping because it was always swollen, so the muscles deteriorated.

Yesterday we planted the glad bulbs. All the rest of the plants are coming up very well in the green house and right now the tulips are starting to bloom. They are a little late this year.  The lawns are all as green as ever and the trees are budding out and some are already blooming.

Have you ever grown castor oil beans mum? They grow from three to eight feet high and have beautiful large shiny leave. They look so exotic. We are putting a number of them in one of our flower beds and between them we are going to put zinnias and Kochia, shihc is a green bushy plant that grows about two and one half feet high and turns red in the ball. Along the edge (front) we are going to put portulaka.

In our other bed we will put a border of Alyssum (white) and put petunias (blue with white centers) in the center. In our cut flower bed we will have asters, snapdragons, (glads of course), and this year Brother Hevey got a new kind of ‘mum’. I don’t know what it will look like.

You should see the strange little plants we have in the green house now. Brother Hevey grew them from seed and up until yesterday I hadn’t paid any attention to

them. Suddenly they looked very familiar to me, and I realized that I had seen them in one of my botany labs this year. In order to make certain I touched them and lo and behold when I touched them they did collapse confirming my suspicion. The little plants are sensitive to touch and will droop when bumped. [It is called the Sensitive Plant’]. In a few minutes however they will erect themselves again.

I don’t think Brother Hevey know about this because I believe they were a gift from the dealer he gets his seeds from. It might be a good joke to touch most of them and then ask him if they are dying before showing him the truth.

You should see the barrel cactus you brought me. It is getting taller and is nice and fat. The other cactus is lovely too. You now that other plant you brought me, the one with the shiny leaves. It has grown so well and sent up so many new shoots from the root that now there are three other people in the house who have it and the original plant has leaves almost ten inches long and still fills up the whole pot.

During this past year whenever the fathers went away on ministry I was left in charge of their vines etc. so I’ve had opportunities to find lovely plants and start new ones for various people interested in plants. Now that I spent a whole page on plants, I should get into something else.

Do you know what I did? I forgot my little god child’s birthday. [niece Frances] I had put her on my June list by mistake and then found out later that she should be in May. So I put her on my May list and underlined it in red so that I wouldn’t forget. The only thing I didn’t do was put her in the right  spot. Her name was added after Bernice’s [eldest sister] whose birthday is also underlined in red; so I missed it. I sent a late birthday card, but is is always better to get a birthday card on your birthday than after it.

Just the other day one of our fathers (who teaches us English Literature) defended his thesis and received his Ph.D. On Friday evening we sprung a little surprise lunch on him. We set up tables in our auditorium in a U shape and put lovely trays of sandwiches etc on the snow white table clothes.

We had an M.C. to introduce the speaker who would propose a toast to Father Wickham and then asked Father to give a speech. After the lunch Brother Price entertained us with a beautiful piece [piano] written by Franz Liszt. (I should have said ‘composed’ instead of ‘written’.)

Well, I’d better sign off pretty soon or this will look more like a book than a letter. I only wish I could talk as much in my term papers etc. as I can in my letters. I hope that you are all well and happy. Don’t forget to remember me in your prayers. You are never forgotten in mine.

Love

Frank

P.S.- I don’t think you’ve sent me a picture with you and dad for a long time mum. I really  enjoyed all the snaps you sent.