GROUP OF PROFESSORS ANR STUDENTS OF HOLY CROSS COLLEGE, 1925

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 14, 15 April 1925, Page 43

GROUP OF PROFESSORS ANR STUDENTS OF HOLY CROSS COLLEGE, 1925

£ (Concluded from page 21.) • J* steeped in the grace and blessing of God, > than the decree to establish a Provincial £ Seminary and to locate it in the Diocese of !• Dunedin, under the -wise counsel and gover.n- %. ance of the late revered and saintly Bishop J* Verdon, the Founder of the College and its l» first President. Herein was clearly seen the * finger of God; for surely none was more J* admirably fitted by training and experience ■j. in old-world seminaries for this delicate task £ than was Michael Verdon, second Bishop of ■fr Dunedin. I* £ Establishing Holy Cross. 'l* > In 1899 Bishop Verdon purchased the \ios- *£ giel House property, embracing then al.K'»t "h eleven acres of rich land in the Taieri ph.in. •j. The old wooden building, made of the best h imported timber, and still perfectly prel» served, was erected by Mr. Arthur Burns |» towards the end of the 'sixties. The beau- > tifid property was later acquired by Mr. -j. Hyde Harris, who was succeeded by Mr. £ Swan, from whom the late Bishop Verdon £ purchased the property. £ The college was opened on May 3, 1900, J* and during that year Bishop Verdon had "h associated with him three young priests long i* since gone to their reward — John * . f» Ryan, Michael Headen, and Michael Ryan. •j« $■ Towards the end of 1900 Bishop Verdon laid * |« the foundation stone of the beautiful chapel, i« to which was added, in 1917, the present E sanctuary, as a memorial to the late Father r James McMenamin, an old student of the r college, who lost his life at Messines in the f Great War. At the end of 1900 the college {• numbered but eleven students, but under 1

the fostering care of Bishop Verdon, and with the loyal support and sympathy of the ; .Hierarchy, the number quickly increased. J?or some years past the college roll num~yberi between sixty and seventy students, ntrawn in almost equal proportion from the : four dioeeses of New Zealand. Extension of Buildings. In 1905, owing to the increasing demands for accommodation, the present brick buildings were erected, consisting of a large hall, a dormitory for some twenty students, and several smaller rooms. T n 1909, when there were thirty students, the first Levites of the college were raised to the dignity of the priesthood. It is worthy of note that of the . band of thirty in 1909, no fewer than twentytwo were ordained priests. Among these was the late Father McMenamin, who may justly be styled the Proto-Martyr of the college. Each succeeding year sees more young priests going forth from the college, and the number already ordained is now close upon fifty. In 1910 Bishop Liston assumed charge of the college and discharged the onerous duties of Rector for ten years, till his appointment as Coadjutor-Bishop of Auckland. Under his wise and gentle guidance the college made rapid progress. On the death of Bishop Verdon Holy Cross College lost its

father and loving guide; but his work had been well and truly done, and the college will ever be instinct with his memory and its whole atmosphere sweet with the fragrance of the piety and faith of its gentlehearted founder. His Lordship Bishop Whyte, as was to be expected from his deep love of learning and his paternal solicitude for Christian education, at once took the college to his heart, and has always manifested the keenest interest in its welfare. To Bishop Whyte's practical sympathy and wise judgment Holy Cross is already deeply indebted, and under his prudent direction the college looks confidently to the future. The College To-Day. The college to-day embraces some twentytwo acres laid out in beautiful gardens and lawns. Included in the estate is now a wellcultivated orchard and a vegetable garden that amply suffices for the needs of the college. Surrounded by beds of the choicest flowers there is a magnificent marble statue of Christ bearing His Cross, a fitting memorial to the late founder of the college. Quite recently an excellent grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was designed and built by an enthusiastic band of the students, and their work adds much to the beauty of the college gardens.

The students of the college have always been characterised by an excellent spirit of piety, discipline, and manliness. The spirit of study, ever strong among the students, iswell exemplified in the brilliant results gained almost every year in the University examinations, a good number of students having gained the B.A. and M.A. degrees of the N.Z. University. The students have always manifested a deep filial love for their alma mater, and their loyalty to the college is as remarkable as it is gratifying. In no college, we believe, could there be found a more genuine spirit of brotherly affection and mutual helpfulness, and this striking characteristic of the students does much to promote the happiness that always reigns within the college walls. Though the college is but a quarter of a century old, already a distinct atmosphere has been created and a tradition established worthy of the most venerable colleges of the old world. We rejoice, then, with Holy Cross College in this happy celebration of its Silver Jubilee, and we feel assured that, with God's blessing, it will ever prosper and give more and yet more zealous and devoted priests to the Church in New Zealand.

GROUP SHOWING THE PRESIDENT (RIGHT REV. DR. VERDON), THE PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS OF HOLY CROSS ; COLLEGE IN 1909

No fewer than twenty-two of the students in this photo are now priests.

Top Row g«n p aftto ri^AlfredNeiil., Donald Fraser, Rev! Fr. McLaughlin, Rev! Fr. Spillane, Henry O'Connell. 3An Farrel], Gerald . Gregg, Second Hansen. Rev. Fr. Rooney. Francis ;Delargy.> Rev. Fr. Minogue, Claude Oakley, Rev. Fr. Riordan, Rev. Fr. Kaveney Rev Fr ™'* Ft. Falconer (R.1.P.), Rev. Fr. F. Cullen, Rev. Fr. W. Skinner, Rev, Fr. O'Donnell, Fourth Fr. ; McMenamin.(R.l.P.), Rev. Fr. Connolly, Rev. Fr. Woods, Rev. Fr. Scanlan, Rev. Fr. Daly, Rev Fr Collins' Front Fr. Buckley, Rev. Fr. Michael Ryan (R.1.P.). Right Rev. Dr. Verdon (R.1.P.), Dr. Sn. Rev. j