SPLENDID SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 6

SPLENDID SERVICE

MARIST BROTHERS

TEACHING FOR FIFTY YEARS

A glowing tribute to the work of four members of the Marist Brothers' teaching Order—the Rev. Brothers Borgia, and Phalan (Sacred Heart College) and Vergilius and Paul (Tuakau)—was paid this morning by Bishop Liston when a Solemn High Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral on the occasion of the golden jubilee of these brothers.

Describing tliem as "happy, fortunate men of God," the bishop spoke of the ripening of the souls of these teaching brothers in dedication to the Almighty and their sacred work among the children for the past fifty years. "Let me thank you, brothers, from a full heart, for your splendid services through long years," he said. Their work had not only borne excellent fruit among the children placed in their charge, but also had been an encouragement to the other brothers and sisters of the teaching Orders.

Old Boys at Mass

Bishop Liston presided at the Mass, which was celebrated by the Rev. Dr. F. Terry, a former pupil of the Marist Brothers, now director of education among the Catholic schools of the Auckland diocese. In addition to large numbers of representatives of the religious Orders, the Mass was attended by large numbers of old boys and present pupils of the Marist schools and colleges.

The Rev. Brothers Borgia, Phelan and Vergilius are all New Zealanders from South Canterbury families. Brother Borgia, who was educated at Sydney, has taught at many of the Marist Brothers schools, including the first one opened in Pitt Street. He has twice been director of Sacred Heart College, Auckland, and has also held similar appointments in Australia. He was principal of the Ordeu in South Africa from 1930 to 1936. His retirement as director of Sacred Heart College was announced last year, but he is still teaching at the college.

Brother Phelan, who was a foundation teacher at Sacred Heart in 1903 and has had overseas experience, has held the directorship of several Marist Brothers' schools, including that at Barbadoes Street, Christchurch (now Xavier "College), at Wellington, and at the Novitiate, at Timaru. He retired some years ago. but is at present on the staff of Sacred Heart College.

Brothers Vergilius and Paul—the latter a native of France, who left that country when members of religious orders there were given the option of abandoning their work or of exile—have also had long service in New Zealand schools. Brother Vergilius, Avho was twice on the staff of Sacred Heart, and is now teaching at the Juniorate at Tuakau, was one of the organisers of the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Rugby Football Club in Auckland in 1904.

A Jubilee Bursary Fund to aid in the training of novices is being organised to mark the occasion, and the first donations will be handed over at a smoke concert to be held in the Vermont Street School this evening.