With great pleasure we celebrate our new name…
St. Brigid School
This is the most fitting name, which celebrates the
historical legacies of both St. Patrick’s and St.
Joseph’s Schools originally established in Portland,
Maine during the early twentieth century. Both
schools, founded by the Sisters of Mercy, an Irish
order of sisters, are perpetually and respectively
linked both to St. Joseph and to St. Patrick. It is
said that St. Patrick blessed and converted St.
Brigid. The Sisters of Mercy, just like Brigid of
Kildare, aided in comforting those who came to them
in Ireland (and in the city of Portland) with a spot
0’ tea and a cookie or warm meal. The Sisters of
Mercy were a driving force in the conversion of
souls in the early twentieth century here and
abroad, when both schools were established. They
remain a powerful force in the work of today’s
church of Maine.
The St. Brigid’s cross, a legend told about a
conversion she made while wrapping the reeds of the
field into a cross during the teaching and blessing
of a dying man, seems to be the most profound symbol
for our new consolidated school. St. Brigid was
resourceful, while she taught and prayed over this
dying soul receiving the blessings of a conversion
and inception into the loving arms of Christ. The
legend says she wove a symbol of reeds, into the
symbol of the cross. This will surely give us
direction while we, ourselves, find conversion
though prayer and action throughout this great
change as well as a great opportunity in the life of
our parish cluster community. The center of the St.
Brigid Cross, they say, depicts the eye of God. It
will certainly be a fitting logo and symbol of the
resourcefulness of St. Brigid, our new patron, to
embrace while becoming a renewed community of God.
It is fitting and so beautiful that we have found a
name, which matches our schools primary heritage. It
is through our work together as well as rejoicing in
our heritage that we will create a lasting future
for all generations of children to come in the same
spirit of the Sisters and loving, faithful
parishioners, who established our schools at the
turn of the century.
Peace and All Good
Things To Come!
Ms. Lee, Principal of St. Brigid School
