MARIST BROTHERS

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1938, Page 9

MARIST BROTHERS

JUBILEE AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, November 7The accommodation* of the spacious ■Roman Catholic Cathedral in Barbadoes Street was twice taxed beyond its capacity yesterday by the crowds of former pupils attending tne jubilee celebrations of the Marist Brothers’ School, Christchurch. In the morning there was a jubilee Mass of thanksgiving, at which the celebrant was Bishop Brodie, and the Old Boys and present pupils took part in a General Holy Communion. Later the old pupils of tile school —members of classes formed 50--y.ears ago, walking with those who left the school in the last decade —marched to the Bridge of Remembrance, wtrers . a wreath was placed in memory of th? big number of old boys who were killed in the Great War. After that ceremony a reunion breakfast was held in the Caledonian Hall, and attended by 600 old boys Mr A. L. Curry, president of the Old Boys Association of the school, was in the chair, and the guest of honour was Bishop Brodie. The breakfast, at which congratulatory speeches were made, and many tributes paid to the work of the Marist Brothers, who have taught at the school, lasted foi nearly three hours, and many reminiscences of the earliest days of the school, and in, early achievements in sport and learning, were exchanged. Last night, the Church was again crowded to the doors for Benediction, procession, and the preaching of the jubilee sermon by Bishop Brodie. The procession through the cathedral, m which paraded all the old boys of the school, -the Children of Mary,schoolchildren, and members of the Hibernian Society was so long that it had to extend beyond the Church building itself, through part of the grounds, to avoid overlapping. Pride at the attendance was expressed by Bishop Brodie in his sermon. The size of the gatherings at all the jubilee functions, and the enthusiasm of all who had taken part was an impressive tribute to the affection in which the Marist Brothers were held. A plea for Catholic Action, which he described as a lay apostolate, in which men practised, lived, and acted on their faith, and assisted others in a better understanding of its doctrines was made by Bishop Brodie who specially addressed his remarks to more than 1000 old boys of the school who were present at the cathedral. Changing times had made it no longer necessary for any Catholic now to hide the fact of his religion from the world, he said. Non-Catho-lies took a keen interest in the Church, and in many ways Catholic men, at work and everywhere, could assist to prevent misunderstandings on the Church’s doctrines. Non-Catholics were sometimes humiliated by the unswerving attitude the Catholic Church took towards divorce, said the Bishop. Almost every other Church sanctioned or permitted divorce. Catholics knew exactly where they stood, and others sometimes envied them their unchanging attitude. The inflexible stand the Church took too, in such matters as the destruction of pre-natal life and the unnatural crime of contraception was often envied too, by other Churches. More than 500 old boys, and friends of the Marist Brothers’ School attended a jubilee banquet held during the week at the Caledonian Hall. The association had invited representatives of educational bodies in the city, and amongst those present were Dr, James Hight, rector of Canterbury University College, Mr A. E. Flower, representing Christ’s College, Mr J. B. Mawson, headmaster of St. Andrew’s College, and the Rev. Father M. J. Burke, S.M. from St. Bede’s College. The Mayor, Mr R. M. Macfarlane, was also present and responded to the toast of “The Guests.” Representatives of old boys’ associations from numerous city schools were also present. On Saturday sports were held.