GOLDEN JUBILEE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 119, 13 February 1935, Page 11

GOLDEN JUBILEE

St. Patrick’s College

COMING CELEBRATIONS

To celebrate the founding of St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, on March Hi, 1884, when the foundation stone was bald by Archbishop Redwood, and the opening of the college by the Archbishop on June’l, 1885, a golden jubilee programme has been drawn up to be carried out in April next. . For months past a committee of the Old Boys’ Association of the college has been organising so that the event may be fittingl>’ celebrated. Under the constitution of the Society of Mary the most important work of the Marist Fathers is that of education, and from its foundation the college has been.staffled by members of that society For fifty years, the college has been drawing to its roll boys not only from Wellington but also from all parts oi the Dominion. At its foundation, tiie college was the first Roman Catholic secondary school- in New Zealand, and for many years it was the only one. Today its ex-students are to be found in every city, town and village throughout New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and farther afield. Jubilee Programme. Following is the detailed programme of celebrations extending over three days: — Wednesday, April 24: — Basilica, Thorndon (10.30 a.in.) : Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea, S.M., D.D., celebrant; Rt. Rev. Msgr. Morkanc, D.D., preacher. St. Francis Hall (1.30 p.m.) : Luncheon tendered to visiting priests by the Society of Mary. Town Hall (time to be, arranged). Civic reception by his Worship the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), St., Patrick’s College, Wellington (8 p.m.): Conversazione and reception by the rector and staff.

Thursday, April 25 (Anzac Day) : — St. Mary of the Angels, Bouleott Street (10 a.m.) : Solemn Mass of Requiem for deceased old boys of the college, preceded by parade of old boys and present bovs from the college to the church. St. Patrick’s College, Wellington (8 p.m.) : Reunion of old boys (function confined to a private gathering of former students). Hotel St. George (8 p.m.) : Private reception of the wives and lady friends of old boys visiting Wellington. Friday, April 26: — Silverstream College, Hcretaunga (afternoon) : Reception by rector am. staff with open-air gathering and sports events, etc. . , „ Town Hall (S p.m.) : Old boys’ jubilee ball.

As befitting the golden jubilee of the first Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in the Dominion, the celebrations . are being organised on a Dominionwide basis. It is expected that a large number of old boys and their wives from outside of Wellington will make the journey to share in the greatreunion and take part in the indicated functions. To facilitate the consideration of arrangements and accommodation, a sub-committee has interviewed tiie transport offices and hotel proprietors. Jubilee Publication. The special jubilee publication "St. Patrick’s College 1885-1935” has been conceived on ambitious lines. Tiie work will comprise a quarto volume of approximately 192 pages. There will be three special etchings: Ills Grace Archbishop Redwood, founder of the college, the old college, and the Silverstream college. These are being done by Mr. F. V. Ellis, A.R.C.A. (Loud.), one of the leading artists in the Dominion. Ollier special illustrations will cover representative features of college life and history during (he past fifty years, and will include photographs of all the rectors. In addition the years of college achievement will be dealt with in a series of special articles: “The Foundation of the College,” written by the founder; “The Years of College History,” treated in suitable periods, and written by representative old boys; ‘‘The Rectors,” being brief biographical appreciations of the men who directed fifty years of progress; “The College Roll,” wherein a complete list of masters and students will be found, with their college performances and after-college achievements. Other articles will deal with “The College’s Contribution to New Umland Catholicity,” "The College’s Place in National Life,” “The "War Record of the College,”. "College Benefactors,” and “The Spirit of 5.P.C.,” each written by a specially selected Old boy writer. There will be two editions, a limited de luxe edition and an ordinary edition. 'With regard to the former number, two hundred copies were autographed by tiie late Archbishop Redwood within a month of his death. The first, orders received will be given preference.