Many return to Ashburton for Sacred Heart closing

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32783, 7 December 1971, Page 24

Many return to Ashburton for Sacred Heart closing

School ties attracted former pupils and teachers from throughout New Zealand to Ashburton on Sunday for functions marking the closure of the Sacred Heart College after 87 years.

Enrolments for the day’s activities were received from centres from Napier to Gore, and more than half of the 280 who attended came from outside Ashburton.

The college, which was established in May, 1884 by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions Order, closed at the end of the school year last week, because of the dwindling roll of girls in recent years, and the lack of further enrolments for next year.

Included in Sunday’s gathering, which enjoyed perfect conditions for the informal, picnic - atmosphere outdoor functions, were a pupil who enrolled at the college in 1899, and a teacher of 60 years ago.

Mrs A. Smith, of Ashburton, who was formerly Miss Ada Thomas, was the earliest pupil present yesterday. She was at Sacred Heart from 1899 to 1904. Mrs Smith, who has lived all her life in Ashburton, was the only pupil in her decade group. Sister Mary Augustine, who now lives in retirement in Kaiapoi, was the oldest former teacher present, having taught at the college from 1911 to 1918. About 40 nuns attended the functions. There were also three men who were former pupils, going back to the years when pupils of both sexes from kindergarten to secondary school stage were taught at the college. When the new school portion was opened 10 years ago, the primary school

classes were transferred- to the parish school, St Joseph’s and the Convent became Sacred Heart College for girls. Sunday's celebrations began with a mass in the Church ot the Holy Name. There was an extremely large communion at the mass, at which the parish priest, Father F. E. Kelly, officiated. He was assisted by two priests, formerly of Ashburton, who serve in the Bishop’s parish in Christchurch. They were Fathers J. Cunneen and K. Burns. MESSAGE FROM ROME Photographs of former pupils and teachers in decade groups were then taken in the college grounds, and a buffet luncheon held In St Stephen’s Hall. A

message from the Mother General of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission order in Rome was read at the luncheon, as wall as a number ot telegrams from former pupils in ew Zealand and overseas. Mrs E. Connelly (nee Dr Langley) ot Ashburton thanked the members of the committee which organised the closing functions for their outstanding effort and hard work involved in such a successful final function for the college. A conversazione and reunion gathering was then held in the college grounds, followed by afternoon tea and a benediction. FUTURE USE OF BUILDINGS The college, one of the oldest teaching institutions in Ashburton, will still serve education in the future, with Forms 1 and 2 classes of St Joseph’s School transferring there from the beginning of next year. The principal of Sacred Heart College (Sister Jane) said yesterday that primer classes would eventually utilise the classes left by the shift of the Form 1 and 2 classes from St Joseph's. She said that when she camo to Ashburton four years ago the Sacred Heart roll was 70 girls, but It had dropped this year to 45 and there had been very few applications for enrolment next year, before the decision to close was made.