Northwest Georgia's oldest Catholic parochial school, St. Mary's, is again being staffed by a contingent of sisters after a year of being virtually a private institution with a faculty consisting only of lay teachers.

Sisters of the Daughters of Charity order will form the nucleus of the faculty this year, under the principalship of Sister Mary Aloysius. She has previously taught at St. James School in Johnson City, NY, and at Mother Mary Seton School in Emmetsburg, Maryland.

Other sisters associated with the school are Sister Kathleen Marie, Sister Barbara, Sister Ellen and Sister Mary Ann. They all received their training at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmetsburg and did undergraduate work at St. Joseph College. Graduate work was done at various eastern colleges and universities.

Sister Kathleen Marie will teach religion to grades six, seven and eight, and math and science to grades seven and eight.

Sister Barbara will teach fourth and fifth grade religion and social studies in grades five through eight.

Sister Ellen, the first grade teacher, will serve as primary coordinator.

Sister Mary Ann will serve as home-school liaison and as parish visitor. Although she will not be teaching here, she will be doing home visiting.

The Mother House for the Daughters of Charity is in Paris, founded in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac.

The community traces its origins in the United States to Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, daughter of a prominent New York City doctor. She embraced the Catholic faith after returning from Italy following the death of her husband. Until 1809, she conducted a small school for girls in Baltimore. By this time, a small group of women had joined her and she and her co-workers became known as the Sisters of Charity.

After Mother Seton's death in 1821, the community continued to grow and spread through the eastern part of the country. In 1850, the Emmetsburg community was accepted.

St. Mary's School was established in Rome in 1945 in the Lumpkin House, a 113-year-old house which has now been demolished. Located on West Eighth Avenue, it was built by Gov. John H. Lumpkin and was used as a hospital for Union soldiers during Sherman's march to the sea.

Enrollment for the first year had 51 students in grades 1 through 11. Enrollment increased steadily after that, and in 1951 a $75,000 funds drive was begun to finance construction of the present building on East Seventh Street.

The Sisters of St. Dominic of Adrian, Mich., staffed the school from 1945 until 1970. Due to a shortage of nuns in their order, they were unable to continue teaching after 1970. Consequently, the faculty for the 1970-71 school year was made up entirely of lay teachers.

The 1971-72 school year has 201 students and 10 faculty members.