Page 85 - The Gonzaga Record 1994
P. 85
SECOND YEAR PARENTS’ FORUM
From memory, it was on a wet night in I woke early on Sunday and thought I
November that I headed for the last event heard a splash, then a second splash, but 1
in the calendar of events arranged by the thought to myself, "It can’t last,' and went
First Year Parents’ Forum, and ended up back to sleep. By 8.00 am, 98 FM advised
as a member of the Committee of the that the rain would eventually cease, and
Second Year Parents’ Forum! 1 know now we would have sunshine by the afternoon.
never to be 30 minutes early for a meeting I arrived at Gonzaga at 12 noon, in the
when Fr Brennan is around. Perhaps I did pouring rain. Fr Brennan was as glum as
something to upset him about 28 years the rest of us. We held a discussion on the
ago during one of his classes. accuracy of the science of weather-
The Committee formed that night had to forecasting and, at half-tw elve that
follow in the footsteps of previous afternoon, we called off the barbecue.
Parents’ Forums which had been very Thank goodness we were able to return
successful - a daunting prospect. the drinks, the loss on the food wasn’t too
The purpose of these Forums is to bad, and we were able to give some to Fr
establish a system for developing Peter McVerry; and that was that.
com m unications and relationships On the basis that lightning doesn’t strike
between the parents. The events held twice, we arranged another barbecue for
during the year are geared towards this September and were lucky to get possibly
end. The support provided by the Forum, the only fine day in September! The
in building these relationships and sports were a great success, and the large
keeping communication lines open, can turnout consumed all the food.
help parents in a number of ways during Our next event, our final one, was held
their sons’ progression through Gonzaga. in November. This was a talk on
Off to work we go, three functions to be Communications within the Family and
held during the next 12 months. was given by Dr Moloney. The early
In February, we held our first endeavour arrivals were again grabbed by Fr
- a talk given by a member of the Garda Brennan for the Third Year Parents’
Drug Squad. Noel Clarke. This talk was Forum. How does this man get away with
highly informative, and I doubt if the it?
room we used will ever be the same I would very much like to thank our
again! mentor Fr Brennan for all his help and
During the summer term, with high guidance. He manages to continue to
hopes of long sunny evenings, we felt that smile through all the hard work. I would
a barbecue was the obvious choice. It also like to thank the other members of
would also involve families, and so, the committee: Marie Dillon, Veronica
Sunday 15th May was chosen. Minerals, Farrell, Sheila Freeman, Bernard
wine, lashings of food and five hundred Kennedy, Des Mulligan, Joyce Mulligan,
burgers were ordered, and Mass and Nancy M ullins and John O ’Mahony.
sports were organised - no chance of rain Thank you all for your hard work and for
of course. Weather forecast good, things making the year an enjoyable one.
still looking fine on the Saturday. I even
got sunburnt ! Nothing could go wrong Gerry Barry
now - I could almost smell the burgers.
77
From memory, it was on a wet night in I woke early on Sunday and thought I
November that I headed for the last event heard a splash, then a second splash, but 1
in the calendar of events arranged by the thought to myself, "It can’t last,' and went
First Year Parents’ Forum, and ended up back to sleep. By 8.00 am, 98 FM advised
as a member of the Committee of the that the rain would eventually cease, and
Second Year Parents’ Forum! 1 know now we would have sunshine by the afternoon.
never to be 30 minutes early for a meeting I arrived at Gonzaga at 12 noon, in the
when Fr Brennan is around. Perhaps I did pouring rain. Fr Brennan was as glum as
something to upset him about 28 years the rest of us. We held a discussion on the
ago during one of his classes. accuracy of the science of weather-
The Committee formed that night had to forecasting and, at half-tw elve that
follow in the footsteps of previous afternoon, we called off the barbecue.
Parents’ Forums which had been very Thank goodness we were able to return
successful - a daunting prospect. the drinks, the loss on the food wasn’t too
The purpose of these Forums is to bad, and we were able to give some to Fr
establish a system for developing Peter McVerry; and that was that.
com m unications and relationships On the basis that lightning doesn’t strike
between the parents. The events held twice, we arranged another barbecue for
during the year are geared towards this September and were lucky to get possibly
end. The support provided by the Forum, the only fine day in September! The
in building these relationships and sports were a great success, and the large
keeping communication lines open, can turnout consumed all the food.
help parents in a number of ways during Our next event, our final one, was held
their sons’ progression through Gonzaga. in November. This was a talk on
Off to work we go, three functions to be Communications within the Family and
held during the next 12 months. was given by Dr Moloney. The early
In February, we held our first endeavour arrivals were again grabbed by Fr
- a talk given by a member of the Garda Brennan for the Third Year Parents’
Drug Squad. Noel Clarke. This talk was Forum. How does this man get away with
highly informative, and I doubt if the it?
room we used will ever be the same I would very much like to thank our
again! mentor Fr Brennan for all his help and
During the summer term, with high guidance. He manages to continue to
hopes of long sunny evenings, we felt that smile through all the hard work. I would
a barbecue was the obvious choice. It also like to thank the other members of
would also involve families, and so, the committee: Marie Dillon, Veronica
Sunday 15th May was chosen. Minerals, Farrell, Sheila Freeman, Bernard
wine, lashings of food and five hundred Kennedy, Des Mulligan, Joyce Mulligan,
burgers were ordered, and Mass and Nancy M ullins and John O ’Mahony.
sports were organised - no chance of rain Thank you all for your hard work and for
of course. Weather forecast good, things making the year an enjoyable one.
still looking fine on the Saturday. I even
got sunburnt ! Nothing could go wrong Gerry Barry
now - I could almost smell the burgers.
77
