Memories from Mary Jo
In 1946, Charlie Senior and Grace bought a house for $19,000 (or thereabouts) at 6216 Clover Lane, in Lakeside (23228). The house was just three doors down from the first Church building for Our Lady of Lourdes parish. They lived in that house until Charlie was 16 and Mary Jo was 12, at which point they moved to 1601 West Laburnum Avenue (23227).
In the preparatory notes for the Year 2000 Jubilee, CAK recounts his family history: Mary Jo shares the story as follows:
CAK’s grandfather (Thomas Kelly) married Grace Elizabeth Beckett Kelly’s mother (Josephine Francis Beckett Kelly) at Holy Name Catholic Church in Camden, NJ. Grace and CAK’s father (Charlie) were also married in this Church. They lived at 550 York Street in Camden, NJ. After they moved to Virginia, the first house that they owned after the war, shortly before Mary Jo was born, was on Clover Lane. Interesting story: Charlie and Grace were headed from Camden to Florida for their honeymoon after their wedding on December 27th, 1937. Their car broke down in Richmond, VA, where Grace’s brother (Joseph Beckett) lived on Oakdale Avenue. They ended up settling in Richmond, never going to Florida until Grace’s brother died November 2nd, 1977.
In those same notes, there is a reference to the school bus. The school bus went from Our Lady of Lourdes in Lakeside to the Cathedral School. The bus driver was Mrs. Berry. There are many fond memories from those bus rides. You would not believe the number of people that we are still connected to from that school bus.
It is interesting that in that "life history," he does not call out his attendance at Benedictine High School. He graduated from Benedictine in June of 1960, having served as Head [Lieutenant Colonel] of the Corps, Class President, Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook. He was Valedictorian of his class.
From Benedictine, he went to Saint Charles College Seminary (two years) in Catonsville, Maryland. This was followed by two years at Saint Mary's Seminary on Paca Street in Baltimore, Maryland from 1962 to 1964. At that time, he left for Rome in the Summer of 1964 on the Michelangelo (Transatlantic Ship).
Following his ordination of December 21st, 1967, CAK remained in Rome to complete his degree (STL) until the summer of 1968. It was customary at that time for seminarians to be ordained prior to graduation, allowing them to celebrate the liturgy in the historical Roman churches (and sometimes beyond) in the final semester of their studies. Upon his return to Richmond in the summer of 1968, he was assigned to serve as the Priest-Secretary to Bishop John J. Russell, while simultaneously serving as Secretary to the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and teaching at Cathedral School. He was in residence at Sacred Heart in South Richmond.
In the preparatory notes for the Year 2000 Jubilee, CAK recounts his family history: Mary Jo shares the story as follows:
CAK’s grandfather (Thomas Kelly) married Grace Elizabeth Beckett Kelly’s mother (Josephine Francis Beckett Kelly) at Holy Name Catholic Church in Camden, NJ. Grace and CAK’s father (Charlie) were also married in this Church. They lived at 550 York Street in Camden, NJ. After they moved to Virginia, the first house that they owned after the war, shortly before Mary Jo was born, was on Clover Lane. Interesting story: Charlie and Grace were headed from Camden to Florida for their honeymoon after their wedding on December 27th, 1937. Their car broke down in Richmond, VA, where Grace’s brother (Joseph Beckett) lived on Oakdale Avenue. They ended up settling in Richmond, never going to Florida until Grace’s brother died November 2nd, 1977.
In those same notes, there is a reference to the school bus. The school bus went from Our Lady of Lourdes in Lakeside to the Cathedral School. The bus driver was Mrs. Berry. There are many fond memories from those bus rides. You would not believe the number of people that we are still connected to from that school bus.
It is interesting that in that "life history," he does not call out his attendance at Benedictine High School. He graduated from Benedictine in June of 1960, having served as Head [Lieutenant Colonel] of the Corps, Class President, Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook. He was Valedictorian of his class.
From Benedictine, he went to Saint Charles College Seminary (two years) in Catonsville, Maryland. This was followed by two years at Saint Mary's Seminary on Paca Street in Baltimore, Maryland from 1962 to 1964. At that time, he left for Rome in the Summer of 1964 on the Michelangelo (Transatlantic Ship).
Following his ordination of December 21st, 1967, CAK remained in Rome to complete his degree (STL) until the summer of 1968. It was customary at that time for seminarians to be ordained prior to graduation, allowing them to celebrate the liturgy in the historical Roman churches (and sometimes beyond) in the final semester of their studies. Upon his return to Richmond in the summer of 1968, he was assigned to serve as the Priest-Secretary to Bishop John J. Russell, while simultaneously serving as Secretary to the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and teaching at Cathedral School. He was in residence at Sacred Heart in South Richmond.