COLLEGE JUBILEE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 167, 11 April 1935, Page 23

COLLEGE JUBILEE

Founding of St. Patrick’s, Wellington COMING CELEBRATIONS One of New Zealand’s best-known secondary schools, St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, is celebrating its jubilee this month. The celebrations begin on Wednesday, April 24, and conclude on Friday, the 26th. * The complete programme of the celebrations is as follows: — Wednesday, April 24. 10.15 a.m. —Basilica, Thorndon : Solemn Pontifical Mass of Thanksgiving. Celebrant, His Grace Archbishop 0 Shea, S.M., D.D. The occasional sermon will be preached by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Morkane, D.D., M.Ai 12.15 p.m.—Council Chamber, .Town Hall: Civic reception by his Worship the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop. Replies by his Grace Archbishop O'Shea and the president of the Old Boys Association, Mr. B. McCarthy. 1.30 p.m.—St. Patrick’s College, Wellington : Luncheon tendered to the Hierarchy and clergy by the Provincial of the St> Bp.m.—St a Patrick’s College, Wellington : Conversazione and reception by the rector and staff. Thursday, April 25 (Anzae Day)., 9.30 a.m. —St. Patrick’s College, Wellington : Assembly of all past and present students. Man.li to Requiem Mass. 10 a.m.—St. Mary- of the Angels, Boulcott Street:. Solemn Mass of Requiem for deceased old boys. Celebrant. Chaplain Captain Moloney, S.M., N.Z.E.F. lhe occasional sermon will be preac’bed by Chap-lain-Major McDonald, S.M., N.Z.KI!. 3 p.m.—St. Patrick’s College, Wellington: Presentation of address to bis Grace Archbishop O’Shea, S.M., the colleges most distinguished old boy, by his fellow Ol< B p°im— St. Patrick’s College, Wellington : Reunion of old boys, to whom this function will be limited exclusively. Unveiling of the College War Memorial in the Study Hall by his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, 8 p.m.—Hotel St. George, Palm Lounge: Private reception to the wives and lady friends of old boys. Friday, April 26. 10 a.m.—Visit of old boys to Karon Cemetery. °3O p m. —Reception at Silverstream (St. Patrick’s) College. 9 p.m.—Jubilee ball to be held at the Town Hall. - Early Days of College. Far back in the early ’eighties his Grace, the late Archbishop Redwood (then Dr. Redwood) realised the need of a Catholic college in Wellington, and on March 16,1884. his “dream came true,” when he himself laid the foundation stone of St. Patrick’s College, .on the lower slopes of Mount Cook, facing Cambridge Terrace. On June 1, 1885, the college was opened for pupils, although the formal opening did not take place until February of the following year. The original staff of the college—four—came out from Ireland. They were the Very Rev. Dr. Watters, S.M., D.D. (1885-1898), the first rector of the college; the Rev. W. D. GOggan, S.M. (1885.-1892) ; the Venerable Archdeacon Devoy, S.M. (1885-1891) ; and the’ Very Rev. W. Carolan (18851894). In 1910 the college celebrated its twenty-fifth • anniversary, and during thosfe first twenty-five years nearly 1200 boys had passed through the different classes of the school. To-day more than twice that number have passed through the college. The growth of St. Patrick’s through the years has been steady. At various periods extra accommodation has had to be provided to" meet the needs of the increasing number of boys. The New College. On April 27, 1930, the foundation stone of the new St. Patrick’s College at Silverstream was laid, also by the late Archbishop Redwood. The building of the new college did no have any effect on the attendance at the old college. This is shown by the fact that in 1930, before the new college was built, ? the roll showed 104 pupils; to-day it shows a large increase, the number being 185. Since its foundation the college has had eight rectors, who all have played a worthy part in building up the institution and holding high the motto of the school. They are: The Very Rev. Dr. Watters, 1885-1898 (first rector); Rev. Father Bowen, S.M., B.A. (actingrector), 1898-1901; the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M;, 8.A., 1901-1909: the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy,’ S.M., .D.D., 1909-1918: the Very Rev. Father Gilbert, S.M., M.A., 1918-1928; the Very Rev. Father Ryan, -S.M., . M.A., 1928- the Very Rev. Father Dowling S.M.. M.A. (the present rector of St. Patrick’s College,- Silverstream), 1929- and the Very Rev. Father Cullen, S.M.; B.Sc., (he present rector of the college. ' ■. "■■■ It is an interesting fact that one of the first boys to be enrolled at St. Patrick’s, Stanislaus Mahoney (the late Rev. Father Mahoney), was tne first boy of the college to pass the matriculation examination. Actually the first boy to arrive at the college was Bernard McMahon, of Reefton—on May 28, four days prior to the opening of the college. , Sport has played a great part in the activities of the college, especially Rugby football. One of the keenest college games in Wellington is the annual match between St. Patrick’s and Wellington College: the first match was played on August 22. 1885. The'jubilee celebrations are being organised by the jubilee committee, of which Mr. R. L. Evatt is secretary.