St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in Washington, Ga., held its first and last homecoming Sunday at the two-story brick building that has been a home for many boys over the years.

It was the last homecoming planned because in the near future, the nuns and boys will move to the new modern Village of St. Joseph in Atlanta, and close out a chapter in their lives.

The homecoming was a day for hamburgers, music and memories. Several of the “old grads” brought their wives and children to show them where they had lived for a time. What did they remember about home?

“I’ll never forget the pavilion in the side yard and the peanut butter sandwiches,” said Nicholas Pileggi, one of four brothers who were at the home from 1938 to 1940.

“The training...I look back now and it wasn’t that bad,” said Frank Pileggi.

“The chapel...I remember the chapel. It seemed we were always going to the chapel to pray because of the war,” Salvatore Pileggi said. The fourth brother, Anthony, did not make it the reunion.

While the three brothers talked about the school, the 30 boys at the home and their guests downed hamburgers and cold drinks and showed Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan how well they played guitars and sang. Sister John Frances, administrator, conducted tours through the building and passed out hamburgers during lunch.

Sister John Frances, the boys and other nuns said they are glad they will move to the modern home now under construction, but there was a twinge of regret. The old building has been a home since 1932, but they knew it was a necessary change. The archbishop touched on change in his sermon at Mass. He said, “Bishop John England came to Washington in 1832, by horse, I came today by Olds.”

Asked what he thought about the move, Frank Pileggi said, “Is the Archbishop around? I’m just kidding, I know they have to move.” Nicholas Pileggi said he hoped the pavilion was left standing because so much always happened under the pavilion when he was a boy at St. Joseph’s.