MARIST BROTHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 220, 16 September 1940, Page 3

MARIST BROTHERS.

FOUNDER HONOURED. SCHOOLS IN 43 COUNTRIES. All parts of St. Patrick's Cathedral were lilled yesterday when Solemn Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Bishop Liston on the occasion of the centenary of the death of the founder of the Marist Brothers Schools, Joseph Benedict Marcellin Champagnat. Included in the congregation were Marist Brothers from Auckland and Waikato schools, juniors from Tuakau who are preparing to become Marist Brothers, and students from Sacred Heart College. Old bojjs were also present from various 2>arts of the province. The assistant priest was the Rev. Father McKeefry, the deacon of the Mass was the Rev, Father Kenefick, the sub-deacon the Rev. Father F. Ryder, and the assistant deacons the Rev. Fathers J. J. Kelly and B. Kavanagh. The Rt. Rev. Monsignori Cahill, Ormond and Holbrook, the Very Rev. Deans W. J. Murphy and M. Alink, and members of the diocesan clergy and Franciscan Fathers were present in the sanctuary. The music of the Mass was sung by the studente of the Juniorate at Tuakau, and Miss N. Ormond was at the organ. The preacher was Monsignor Holbrook. who sketched the life of the Venerable Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Order. His work lias been richly blessed and to-day there are 10,000" Marist Brothers conducting C 22 echoole throughout 43 countries of the world. Until 1852 the schools conducted by the brothers were confined to France, but in that year they opened schools in .London, and these wer e followed bv schools in Belgium, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa. In 1371 the brothers came to Australia and set up their first school in Sydney. New Zealand welcomed the brothers in 1875. The brothers have suffered persecution in numerous countries, 200 being put to death during the recent war in Spain. Since Hitler came into power 15 schools have been closed in. Germany.