<P> They put their hopes in Horace P. Bogardus ( Henry Travers ) , a businessman who has built a modern building next door to the school which they hope he will donate to them . Father O'Malley and the dedicated but stubborn Sister Superior , Mary Benedict ( Ingrid Bergman ) , both wish to save the school , but their different views and methods often lead to disagreements . One disagreement involves a student ( Richard Tyler ) who is being bullied by another . A more serious one regards the promotion of an eighth - grade student , Patsy ( Joan Carroll ) , whom the parish has taken in while her mother ( Martha Sleeper ) attempts to get back on her feet . </P>
<P> They put their hopes in Horace P. Bogardus ( Henry Travers ) , a businessman who has built a modern building next door to the school which they hope he will donate to them . Father O'Malley and the dedicated but stubborn Sister Superior , Mary Benedict ( Ingrid Bergman ) , both wish to save the school , but their different views and methods often lead to disagreements . One disagreement involves a student ( Richard Tyler ) who is being bullied by another . A more serious one regards the promotion of an eighth - grade student , Patsy ( Joan Carroll ) , whom the parish has taken in while her mother ( Martha Sleeper ) attempts to get back on her feet . </P>
who played patsy in bells of st mary 's
who played patsy in bells of st mary 's
Joan Carroll
Joan Carroll