ARCHDEACON HOLBROOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 195, 19 August 1927, Page 11

ARCHDEACON HOLBROOK.

SILVER JUBILEE.

On September 9 the Yen. Archdeacon Kolbrook. parish priest of Grey Lvnn will celebrate his silver jubilee. Bon Wexford. Ireland, on November 29 1579. he was educated at the Christian Brothers' schools in that place. He wa.tlie first priest for the foreign mission? to complete his philosophical and theo logical studies at the Diocesan Seminar; of St. Peter's at Wexford, where has wa~ordained by the Most Rev. Dr. Brown Bishop of Ferns. Father Holbrook let almost immediately for New Zealand arriving at Auckland the followinNevember. The late Dr. Lenihan, on hi-

first visit to Ireland after his consecration as Roman Catholic Bishop of Auck land, called at St. Peter s College, Wexford, in 1899, and asked for volunteers to work in his diocese. Father Holbrook was the first to offer his services. Upon arriving in Auckland, Father Hoi-! brook was appointed assistant to the late Father Patterson at St. Patrick's Cathedral, whom he succeeded as administrator in 190.5. Father Holbrook instituted in connection with St. Patrick's parish the Mens Confraternity of the Holy Family.. In 1904, in conjunction with Brother George, he founded the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Association. One of the big results of the administration of Father Holbrook was" the completion of St. Patrick s Cathedral, which was blessed and opened by Cardinal Moran in 1908. Father Holbrook in 1913 got leave of absence to visit his aged mother in Ireland, and took the opportunity to visit the Holy Land and Rome. Prior to hi* departure Father Holbrook was farewelled in the Town HalL Upon his return in 1914 he was appointed first parish priest at Grey Lynn. Within three months the present tine property on the Great North Road was purchased for £4000. and the old church in Tennyson Street, Surrey Hills, was moved to the new site. The convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph was transferred there shortly afterwards, and in 1916 a modern brick school building was erected at a cost of £.1500. In 1921 the Convent was destroyed by fire, and was replaced at a cost of £12,000. A property has been also acquired at Point Chevalier, on which it is proposed to erect a church and school when funds are available. The progress of the parish of Grey Lynn under the care of Father Holbrook is a testimony to his progressive administration, and also to his personal popularity. As manager of the diocesan orphanges, Father Holbrook's administrative abilities found further scope for good work, and three years ago he was raised to the dignity of Archdeacon.