Mr. Phil McConnell! Phil came to St. Catharine in 1918. He was 20 years old and began his work here as a cowhand. When the Sisters needed a general maintenance man at Immaculate Conception Academy in Hastings Nebraska, Phil responded. He lived in Nebraska from 1920 until 1932. He was called back to St. Catharine' s to be the farm manager and over the years held many different jobs: electrician, plumber, farmer, builder, grass cutter, bus driver for the Academy, painter, vegetable grower, dairy man. Probably many Sisters in the community were picked up in Louisville by Mr. Phil and driven to St. Catharine' s on the day they entered the convent. Many sisters remember Mr. Phil driving them in the bus to Holy Rosary, St. Rose or St. Dominic to teach school. People who attended the Academy remember Mr. Phil as the bus driver.  The sisters did not start driving regularly until the 60's, so it was not unusual for Mr. Phil to get a call in the middle of the night to take a sister to the hospital. I am sure one of his most interesting jobs was being the private driver for Mother Julia and the Council.

I don' t know if it is true or not but the story is that before Mr. Phil died he was asked if he wanted to be buried in the cemetery at St. Catharine' s. He said, "No, bury me at St. Rose because the sisters would always be finding something for me to do and I would never get any rest."

"It' s by Mr. Phil' s House."  How many times we have used that expression to orientate ourselves when referring to various places on the Motherhouse grounds? Mr. Phil' s house has served us well but sadly, it has become unreasonable to continue to put money into repairing it for sentimental reasons. Right now it suffers from old termite damage and it is sinking in the middle and, despite our efforts to control them, the flies rule!! New windows had been installed but heating the second floor is still not satisfactory. We have decided that it would be best to take down McConnell House. We will retain the monument expressing our gratefulness for all that Mr. Phil did for us and means to us.

The sun had barely appeared when the giant "dinosaur" came to begin taking down McConnell House. With each "bite", I felt my heart quiver ... there were so many memories connected to the house. Danny Ray Spalding, manager of St. Catharine Farm, Sr. Rosemary Cina and I watched each holding thoughts and a flood of memories. I know Mr. Phil was sitting in his chair, hat on his head and hands on his cane, directing the men as they begin to take down the house. I have to say that there were some tears rolling down my face when the last nudge brought the whole house down with barely a sound.

Some think McConnell House was put up around 1915. It has been many things over the years. It was the "men's house," Mr. Phil' s home, residence for Sisters and until last month a residence for Fr. R. B. Williams, OP. However the day had come. It took less than an hour for the house to come down, an efficiency that Mr. Phil would have like.

The house is gone but the memories of Mr. Phil will live long in our heart. It was hard to see Mr. Phil' s house come down but knowing his good, common, practical sense, I think he would kind of nod his head, tip his hat and raise his cane in approval because he was always a man of good common sense. At the same time there may be a few tears rolling down his face, too.  Teresa Tuite, OP