I was in Mount loretto from AGE 6 TO 18. lOOKING BACK AT IT, The nuns taught me a lot of values that I still use in life. I have a lot to be grateful for.

i was at mt loretto from, l923 to 1932. Looking back, I was very fortunate to have been place there with my sisters and brother. The nuns were very special indeed.

I just heard this name from my sister as a place where our mothers' cousins were placed as children. We are not sure why, when. They were 3 daughters Anne, May, Ella Donnelly. Do you have people interested in Family History research that have a point of contact in your organization?

I was at Mt Loretto back in the 1950 and 1960's..it is where me and my brothers went to school..this was our home...we have all good memories and will always remember the good times...

I was at Mt. Loretto from 1973- 1980 , They were the best years of my life. I wouldn t trade them for anything... So many good memories. It s a shame that the mount is nothing like it used to be. I Go back to visit every few years. I miss all the friends that i had while i was there, it would be nice to see them again.

I REMEMBER MT. LORETTO. I WAS THERE FROM 1974 TO 1980 I GRADUATE FROM THERE. I REMEMBER SOME OF THE TEACHERS NAMES. I AM SURE LOTS OF THEM ALREADY PASSED AWAY. I WOULD NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT BEING IN MT. LORETTO. I MY LIFE HAD TO REPEAT ITSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO END UP BACK IN MT. LORETTO. I HAVE LOTS OF GREAT MEMORIES.

Every year, usually the third Saturday in September, we have a Reunion. This year, 2010, will mark a 100th year celebration at the Mount. We hope that "Mission Kids" from all over the country and the world will come back and celebrate our uniqueness. For many of us, the Mount saved us from seriously disfunctional families and abuse. The nuns, the priests and the counselors instilled in us good values. We also enjoyed new experiences that we otherwise would have never been exposed to. I especially remember going to see "The Temptations" and "Oklahoma." I lived in a dormitory with many girls called the Villa. I feel fortunate that I have a second family with brothers and sisters that I feel close to. If you know any Mission Kids, please tell them about the 100th celebration and encourage them to attend. It will be special. Lydia S.

Well.. my Mother and her younger siblings lived in Mt. Loretta. some loved it and some were the death of it. what story would you like to hear?

My husband's grandfather lost both his mother and father in 1890. He and his siblings were sent to Mount Loretto. Can you imagine the trauma for these children? We would really like to honor the memory of our family. We are compiling a family genealogy and want to include and honor these family members. Is there any accounting of the residents of Mount Loretto in the 1890s? If anyone can steer us in the right direction we would really appreciate it. please reply to memcd@aol.com Thanks, Mary McDonald

Of course you have a say. It is impossible to imagine the experience of being an orphan unless you have been there yourself. no mater how well intentioned an "orphanage" could be, there has to be a lasting impact on your life for being left alone in the world.

My father is Jeremiah Blunnie, he was born in 1932 and he was one of seven children born of Margaret Mary (supple)Blunnie and John Joseph Blunnie. His siblings were as follows: Oldest: Patrick J. Blunnie who never resided at the orphanage, was in the army at age 15. 2nd oldest was my father Jeremiah, then John Francis Blunnie, Margaret Mary Blunnie the only girl of the 7 children, Thomas (middle name unsure) Blunnie, James Blunnie, and Michael Blunnie. middle names i am unsure of. Jeremiah, my father, married a woman named Christine who also resided in the orphanage. I would like to find people who knew my relatives or may have attended school with them. My father and Michael Blunnie are the only remaining survivors of the seven children. My father and his brother are estranged from one another and my father's clarity on events has left him as he is 79 yrs old. anyone with information i would love to hear from you. Please contact me, Trisha @ tessabellesmom@yahoo.com

My Name is George Mateo and was in Mount Loretto in the early 60's with 3 of my brothers.I have a lot of good memories and friends who's names I still remember. In the late 80's I met one of my best friends (Cesar) who went to The Navy but then lost contact with him. We resided at 1st cottage and the head nun there was Sister lorentene (I hope I spelled that right) We also Had a live in consular name Margret and her dog Skippy. We had lots of fun there and learned to play all kinds of sports. I miss those days and my friends. If you were there at this time or know me you can e-mail me at sir1geo@msn.com

I was in Mount Loretto as a staff member working along side the nuns and to this day it was the best job and times of my life. I lost my father in WWII, and my mother my junior year in college. I left college in Janruary,1964 and fell into the job at Mt. Loretto. It was as if I had a loving and nuturing family again. The nuns were wonderful and working with the girls I worked with over at St. Elizabeth's was the best time of my life. I was devastated to find out that St. Elizabeth's building had burned down and today to learn Mt. Loretto has changed so much. It's gratifying to fine this page and read so much about children who had been at the Mission and refer to themselves as "Mission Kids" I think of all of you often, I became a social worker and therapist. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA Mary

Looking for friends from Omega House 1 & 2 years 1987 to 1993. I was there during this time. My name is Jason Kerr and I am looking to get in contact with other residents who were there at the same time. Management was Anna Fleming also duty supervisor was Walter Moore. Residents names Jose "Chico" Santos, Jason Curry, Al Anderson, Jimmy James Dugard. Please contact me I am currently living in the Bronx.

My grandmother was at Mt Lorretto in the 1920s. She left in 1932. She had fond memories. Does anyone have any photos dating back that far that you would be willing to share?

i was on the mount with julius/baldy/jr brown it was the best time of my life. i was in cottage b anybody out ther then please shootme an email

My Grandfather was at Mount Loretto as a child and then onto Farmerdale Long Island Trade School for Boys until he was 17 in 1940. He passed away in 2006 and always had a tough time speaking of his life there. He had terrible scars on his back from the beatings he endured. We do not have much information about his life or parents. He was haunted by the memories of his childhood and did not speak of it but only once to me. Does anyone know how I might find more information about his life?

if you remeber me i was in third cottage 1962 to1976 please call me if you was in third cottage at 8452829584

My Husband, DOMINICK DeFILIPPO, was an orphan at Mt. Loretta in the 1930's/1940's. Anyone out there remember him ? I remember him loving a Sister Aquinatta, whom he claimed was kind to him. I know he learned many skills while he was there. I would love to know more if you can share info and or pics. Thank you.

Our family Lorriane, John, Joanne, Edward, and Daniel, lived at Mt. Lorreto.And we thank the hevens every day for our lives and that they will forever be apart of Mt. Lorreto history. Dawn and Bridget

To all the people who ever lived in M.I.V. remember you are blessed for ever. the place was a life time joy for many kids that played sports there and enjoyed all the activities they always had for us, no electronic games no sitting around, always free to run around , good make believe games. it was the best fun ever as a kid i learned so much there i became a good baseball player, a good football player also track and field, boxing, swimming and a good student , i joined the military after and served my country but before all that i attended Tottenville H.S. also as a at kid I.S.34 played gym hockey after school against other schools, till this day i stay in touch with M.I.V. i remember being the one kid looking out my 3rd house window seeing the smoke coming from the beautiful church were i was baptized and made my first communion, i was 13 yrs old i reported the fire to the night man on duty, the next day i remember and seeing the Bishop Oconnor in front of the church(it was a long time ago but i am sure that's right) i happen to be one of the kids he had put his arm around my shoulder i was wearing a red M.I.V. jacket never forget it was a sad day( that photo came out in the paper the next day) indeed the church that meant so much to so many of us and others. a year before that i remember all the kids including me being sent on buses to palisades amusement park rides lots of fun back then. Now i believe that was in order for them to film part of the movie the Godfather at that same church with no kids on the grounds interfering the filming , we were treated very special. always going to NY Met Games, Firemen Fun Day so much History i still have the true story of MT. Loretto in my heart. from 1968 to 1978. but i ended up in the Persian Gulf in late 1979 after boot camp training and Hawaii during that was time the hostages in Iran 444 days captivity but before all that i got to play in Yankee Stadium for the new york city Majors Trophy game.i happen to be chosen to represent M.I.V.for one of the good players from the school. (sandlot baseball) NY Met Vs NY Yankees I got the winning Hit that day and beat the NY Met score 4to3, never forget few days before that great experience happen i was in the Bronx sitting on a bench outside Yankee Stadium in the night with a friend and i remember making a wish looking up at the Stadium ' wow i wish i could play here' God did answer my prayers. next day on the Staten Island Advance head lines "Dream Comes true for Carmelo Torres" this is who i am a kid that came from Puerto Rico at the age of 5 because my moms had passed and lived in the streets of Harlem 145st with an uncle then the Bronx with a aunt. But got to see visit many countries all over the world when i enlisted in the military. Today i stay in contact with M.I.V. and the man that cared so much for all of us so well. The one and only Mr.Bill D'amBrosio he is the strong link to all the unity. Great leader great coach great father the whole world would be a better place if everyone could have a person like him in their lives. his teaching and coaching unbelievable. what a great coach when it came to life and football i could see him coaching in the NFL with out question! they were many other coaches and teachers but no one other has come as far to show so much care and love for kids and people the way he has During my time and i am sure others. we call him our "God Father" which he is for me forever and I am sure for so many others.I thank you "GodFather" for all the teaching and memories. Anyone out there reading this please remember to go back and visit where we all grew up at as kids and became young men. "Be blessed again". M.I.V. was the truth and still holds love. to contact me contact our "GodFather"( Mr. Bill D'amBrosio) to all of those that ever lived there during my time.

i was on the mount from 1979 till 1983 do any one remember jr.brown/baldi/julius/oj/dave/wolfredo iwas in cottage b i miss those days i wish i can see some of my freinds again if anybody was there then give me a call 9194031420

Hello, My mother was pregnant with me between 1969 and 1970, the year of my birth. Her last name was Cox, and i believe her first name was Antoinette. She was in a home for girls in staten Island around that time. i was born in Staten island hospital (which has been since closed) I'm trying to find her. I was place for adoption at birth with the Sheltering Arms center in Manhattan. She was 18 at the time. My father was a jewish boy that she had been dating. i know nothing of his name. If anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate a bit of direction. Thank you.

I have read about a lot of sad stories and searches here. I hope & pray these people resolve their hopes and strifes. I was there for a very short while in the late 60's, but I remember a great deal about it. I was in 3rd house with the younger kids, from about 8 yrs old till I was about 10. I had my 1st Holy Communion at St. Joachim & Ann's Church before it burned down. I remember we had a beagle named "Snoopy" who was one of the most lovable dogs I had ever seen in my life. The best thing I remember at MIV was the Christmases I spent there. They were the best I ever had because of something special they did that will stay with me forever. I guess through donations, we all got some money and a spending spree at Gimbels in NYC. I also remember the kids all singing the Christmas carols together. I remember the treatment was very strict but fair in my experience, although I do remember some kids getting punished alot more than I did. I was punished alot until I finally surrendered and became very committed to church-going and praying. My counselors that I remember were Brother Micheal Waak & Brother John. I remember a kind lady named "Miss Claire" too. In third house, the dormitory floor was called St. Pius and St. Jude. I would like to hear from my friends that I made there, unfortunately I don't remember their names except for a few but no last names. I remember a kid we called "Jack Bruce". That was his first name and middle name, I think. He was greek and always talked about his dad. He was my best friend there, but I don't remember his last name. Anyone who was in 3rd house from 1967 to 1970 might know me. Write on this blog so I can contact you.

Did anyone attend Mt. Loretto School from 1966 until 1968? I am looking for old acquaintances. My name is Anna Garcia. My maiden name was Anna Castro and my nickname was "Sweet Pea".

My mother was there in the 1940s when she was 6 and was abused by a priest and beaten when she told about it. Her brother was also abused on the boys side. All my mothers file says is that she was bad bad bad. She did escape there and found her way back to her mother. She said this was a terrible place. Im glad that not everyone was abused there.

My grandmother Elizabeth Harding was at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, apparently the same site as Mt.Loretto, in 1920. I just read that there was a 100 year anniversary. Does anyone have any pictures of that year, or know my grandmother? She never spoke of her life there and she didn't even know how she ended up there. She died in 1994 and my mother died in 1991; I am trying to do a family tree for my daughter and regret not asking either one before they died more about the history. My email is LPN6260@Yahoo.com Thanks.

Hello, My name is Roslyn and I was a resident at MIV from I believe 1982-1984 on and off. my nickname was Sugar. I wish I could remember the names of some of the staff there, I remember what they looked like, but don't recall names. I remember Mr. Mac he was I think a gym teacher, but was very large. he was very kind and funny and everyone loved him. I am hoping to find someone who might remember me or was there at the time when I was there. some of the names of the girls and boys that were there when I was were, Freddy Martinez (lucan), Gloria Earl (freddy's girlfriend) we used to call her butter, Felipe, a girl we used to call littlebit (felipe's girlfriend), Ebony, John RC, Gina, Yolanda, Luis. there were two sisters there I cannot recall their names, but one of them had an accident in the pool and passed away from the trauma. Does anyone remember any of these people? MIV made a great difference in my life. despite my shortcomings I was glad that MIV was a great part of my life and provided great memories for me.

I was an orphan and was put into foster care as an infant. I am looking to meet Scottie Williams, He dated Josey aka Josephine Cruz. They both grew up in mount loretto group homes. She was my mother and she tells me that Scottie is my father and he is from Brooklyn N.Y. I would love to just meet him. So many people tell me different stories about him. No matter what I want to hear him tell me his story.

I was 12 yrs. old when I came to Mt. Loretto along with my three brothers, Vincent, Charlie, and Peter. It was in 1963 that we arrived and my siblings stayed there until 1967. I left in 1965, I had run away to pursue my lifelong dream. I later became a famous boxer and actor. My name is Chu Chu Malave. I'm now 60 yrs. old, a writer. My book "The Longhaired Boxer" is currently making the rounds for publication. In my book I write about Mt. Loretto. I have fond memories being there and I will be forever impacted in a positive way being there for 3 yrs. Chu Chu Malave...

I went to ML when i was 12 years old. I was one of the youngest and one of the very few girls among many boys there in about 1996. This place was the worst place in the world for me. I was sexually assault in the halls and basement where they had the lunchroom almost everyday. I was afraid to go to school but i couldnt tell my grandmother at the time. I was there from the age of 12-about 14 when i tried to kill myself so that i would be put in the hospital because i couldnt go back for another summer. Even had one of my para's trying to have sex with me. sick huh! I regret not telling someone then cause its all i think about now that im 26. In an out of mental hospital from 14-18. ML is the devil in my eyes.

My grandmother and her sister were in the orphanage back in the late 1920's/early 1930's. Does anyone remember them? Mary and Dorothy Schneider. Does anyone have any pictures from back then? Thank you.

Hi i was a recipient at mt loretto from 1980 to 1981 then i moved to a group home.I was the whitest thing there at the time and passed my days fighting to earn respect i remember this one guy named willie hall he and i fought from the barracks to the infirmary. I had a girl friend named cookie. wow mad memoried were are these people today?

My mother and her 5 sisters were sent to Mount Loretto when their mother got sick and then died between 1934 - 1937. They may have lived there for 1 or 2 years before they were sent to Little Flower in Wading River, NY. Does anyone reading this remember the Fernandez sisters from Manhattan? I am writing about them now and would love to learn more about them and that period of their lives.

AFTER READING ABOUT MARY STORY OF HOW SISTER HELEN ALMOST THREW HER OUT THE WINDOW THAT'S CRAZY. WELL I WONDER IF I WAS ABUSED WHEN I WAS THERE CAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I CAN'T REMEMBER. AND THEN I BE HAVING FLASH BACK ABOUT SOME RED SHINY SHOE AND DON'T LIKE IT CAUSE WHAT COME TO MIND IS THAT I WAS FORCED TO WEAR REALLY TIGHTED RED SHOE BUT I DONT KNOW IF THAT WHAT HAPPENED OR IF I JUST IMAGINATING IT..WHEN I WAS THERE I MET JOSE PADILLA WE DATED HE TOOK MY VIRGINTY AND I BECAME PREGNANT BY HIM. HE DENIED HIS CHILD. I ENDED UP PUTTING HIM FOR ADOPTION BUT FOUND HIM LAST YEAR ON FATHER'S DAY JUNE 20 2010 HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET HIS DAD..AFTER JOSE I DATED MART ROBINSON AND HAD 2 KIDS WITH HIM WE ARE NO LONGER TOGETHER BUT WE DO STAY IN TOUCH. NOW JOSE HAD A BROTHER THERE ALSO NAMED LUIS PADILLA. IF ANYONE OUT THERE REMEMBER THEM AND KNOWS THERE WHERE ABOUTS AND IF YOU JOSE IS OUT THERE PLEASE GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT MY EMAIL. dkingofking2001@yahoo.com

Luis Ibarra I didn't know that your brother Sammy passed sorry to hear that when did he passed and he was young still can I ask what happened?

HI, ANYONE THAT WAS IN M.I.V WHEN I WAS THERE PLEASE CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THERE REMEMBER JOSE AND LUIS PADILLA I WAS THERE FROM 1974 - 1980. OR HIS SISTER'S NAME...I REALLY NEED TO GET A HOLD OF JOSE..ITS VERY IMPORTANT. IN ADDITION TO THAT DOES ANYONE KNOWS HOW I COULD GET A YEARBOOK FROM WHEN I GRADUATED FROM ST. JOSEPH HIGH (P.S. 25)? THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL OF MIV KIDS... DEBBIE

I was in Mount Loretto: from 1974 to 1980; I remember the good times; they finally finished rebuiling the church and we were able to see it return to glory. One of my councellors was Jerry Conforty; he was alway good to me; the cottage where I lived was St.Anthony's, that house was considered the brotherhood. Mount Loretto taught me what (Brotherhood) truely meant; I had a great time learning the things I didn't learn at home. It wasn't until I attended Mount loretto, that I learned how important it was to get a good education; in fact, I didn't like school at all until I went there. At mount Loretto; the winters was cold and the summers was hot, but I always had joy in my life. It wasn't always sunshine and rainbows; i saw my share of restriction and other punishments, it was usually for something stupid that I've done; this was part of growing up. I've read a lot of (Horror stories) in these pages; my heart goes out to those people who had bad expieriances and I hope that God will watch over you always, as for me, some of the things that happened to me there allowed me to grow as a person, both good and bad. There are so many people who went through mount loretto and if a small percentage of us are doing well, then they have acheived Fr. Drumgooles dream, and that is to help as many people that they can, I am greatful to be one of them.

I was at MIV from 1960 to 1967. I attended St. Aloysius and was an altar boy at the church. My favorite nun was Sister Mary Claire. I spent the first few years in the second cottage then moved up to the fifth cottage before going over to the intermediate side. Although I was frequently bullied, I still thought the experience was far better than the alternative. For those of you on Facebook, you may want to check out this link. http://www.facebook.com/groups/MountLorettoAlumni/?id=197895976947032&notif_t=group_activity