Thursday, January 29, 2009 FROM THE ARCHIVES Southern Cross, Page 3 Story endings: A young woman’s vocation; an architect’s death; and the return of two priests from the Philippines to their homeland he lovely face of Peggy Dee Reid looks up from a page in a 1946 ing room. There, he located Mrs. in the diocese was shorter. After Tissue of The Bulletin of the Catholic Laymen’s Association. The Foley and her daughter, Mattie. serving temporarily at Saint daughter of the former editor of the paper, she is entering the novitiate After leading the women to Teresa Catholic Church in Albany, of the Ursuline Order in Beacon, New York. Earlier, she had graduated safety, Engineer Barry attempted he went on to complete his post- from the College of New Rochelle conducted by the Ursuline Order, win- to enter Daniel Foley’s room, but graduate studies at Catholic Uni- ning honors along the way. Whatever became of Peggy Dee Reid? Did was forced back by flames. When versity in Washington, D.C. Both her vocation hold true? the fire was put out, authorities Father Olalia and Father Pengson determined that Foley had died in spent the war years worrying A 2008 Southern Cross article many years of service to the his bed and that the possible cause about the welfare of their families (May 22, 2008) about Georgia’s Catholic Church in Georgia came of the fire was the explosion of a in the Japanese-occupied Phi- Catholic architects references to a close with his appointment as lamp in the architect’s room. lippines. Father Pengson located Daniel Matthew Foley, designer editor of the Catholic News of the According to the Enquirer, “Mr. his people in March of 1945. He of the fabulous Springer Opera Archdiocese of New York. Foley was eighty-three years of left for home on January 26, 1946, House, Holy Family Catholic Richard Reid and his family age and was a native of Ireland, much to the regret of his Augusta Church, and other Columbus moved to New Rochelle, New but had resided in this country friends. On March 24,1947, the buildings. Although Foley’s life York and it was there that his many years, the last sixteen of Bulletin carried a photo of Father and his affiliation with the daughter, Peggy, attended school. which he has spent in this city.” Pengson as seen in the sanctuary Catholic Church were fully At the College of New Rochelle Ironically, the building in which of Saint Francis Church, General described in the story, a operated by the Ursuline the fire occurred belonged to the Trias Cavite, the Philippines. question lingered about Order Peggy Reid garnered estate of the Springer family for Internet information about Father how his life ended. honors, including a listing whom the Columbus Opera Angel Pengson is scarce, one lone During the early and in Who’s Who in House—designed by Foley— was listing placing him at Saint mid-1940s, the names of American Universities and named. Dominic parish in Santo Domin- two young Filipino Colleges—1944-1945. Her go, Nueva Ecija. The Necrology priests, Fathers Angel V. decision to enter religious of Forerunners in the Sacramental Pengson and Alexander life was not an anomaly in Brotherhood reveals that Au- Olalia, appeared several her family. Peggy’s uncle, Rita H. DeLorme gusta’s beloved Monsignor Angel times in the Bulletin. (See Father W. D. O’Leary, was V. Pengson, a priest of the December 20, 2001 Southern then president of Spring Hill Catholic Diocese of Malolos, died Cross) The pair were continuing College; her aunt, Sister Kathleen in 1999. their theological studies at the Marie O’Leary, CSG, was at Mount Father Alexander (Alejandro) Gregorian University in Rome Saint Joseph Convent, Augusta, Olalia’s career and later life are when World War II broke out. Cut and her first cousin, Father easier to track. Born on February off from their homeland, they Andrew Doris, OSB, was sub-prior 26, 1913, he became a priest on came to the Savannah-Atlanta at Belmont Abbey in North Caro- March 23, 1940. After studying at Diocese at the invitation of lina. Ultimately, Peggy Reid’s Catholic University during the Bishop Gerald P. O’Hara. Savan- vocation to the Ursuline sister- war, he returned to the Philip- nah’s USO Club hosted a recep- hood led her to serve many years pines. In 1949, Alejandro Olalia

tion for them on their arrival and in missionary work. To this day, viewsfromthepampang.blogspot.com. from Photo was named Coadjutor Bishop of they were warmly received. When generations of her family remem- Archbishop Alejandro Olalia Tuguegarao, Philippines and the war ended and these popular ber her fondly as “Aunt Peg.” Titular Bishop of Zela. He was priests went home, what happened Officially Sister Margaret Richard Fathers Pengson and Olalia ordained Bishop of Zela that same to them? This question, as well as Reid, she died August 1, 2003 and Like those of Peggy Reid and year. In 1950, he became Bishop curiosity about what happened to is buried in the Ursuline Cemetery Daniel Foley, the later years of of Tuguegarao, Philippines. In architect Foley and about the out- in Waterville, Maine. Fathers Angel Pengson and 1953, Olalia was named Bishop of come of Peggy Dee Reid’s call to Daniel Matthew Foley Alexander Olalia call for answers. Lipa, Philippines. He was ap- religious life, are solvable small The final chapter of the life of These two promising priests, who pointed Archbishop of Lipa in mysteries. Columbus architect Daniel Matt- studied for six years in Rome 1972. Archbishop Olalia’s distin- Peggy Dee Reid hew Foley was a tragic one, end- after being ordained, became guished career ended with his To begin: Peggy Dee Reid ing when a fire broke out at the “alien enemies” of Italy once death on January 2, 1973. (named Margaret Nolan Dee for Veranda Hotel in Columbus, World War II began. Bishop The lives of Archbishop Ale- her paternal great-grandmother) Georgia, on October 23, 1895. O’Hara offered them a “home” in jandro Olalia, Monsignor Angel was born May 5, 1924 to Richard Early that fateful morning, his diocese until they could return Pengson, architect Daniel Foley, and Margaret O’Leary Reid in Engineer Barry of No. 5 Engine to the Philippines. Literate and and Sister Margaret Richard Reid Augusta, Georgia. Baptized at House heard cries of “Fire!” and fluent in English, the young graced this diocese only briefly, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, ran across to the street to the hotel priests quickly made friends in the but their generous spirit merits Peggy Dee spent her formative from which the cries were com- diocese. Father Pengson, well- full remembrance. years in Augusta. In 1936, her ing. The Columbus Enquirer that named “Angel”, spent his years in father, Richard Reid, was awarded day described what happened Georgia as assistant priest at Saint Columnist RITA H. DELORME the Laetare Medal by the Notre next: “The fire seemed to be con- Joseph Church in Athens and as is a volunteer in the Diocesan Dame University. The crusading fined to the two front rooms, and assistant at Saint Patrick and Saint Archives. She can be reached editor received an honorary to these he (Barry) forced an Mary on the Hill churches in at [email protected]. degree from Spring Hill College entrance.” The fireman rushed Augusta. in 1938 and was named a Knight through the front room, already Father Alexander Olalia’s time } of Saint Gregory. In 1939, his engulfed in flames, to an adjoin-