GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22517, 27 September 1938, Page 18

GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION

fT BROTHERS, OP HRISTCHURCH BOYS* TESTIMONIAL OF £IOOO

Hans have been completed for Hhe observance of the golden jubilee of . tfltlMaTist Brothers' School at ChristeEurch,.and the organising committee bas prepared an extensive programme of - cntprtarfnment, starting with a jubilee bajULat the Winter Garden on October . 19. * -The central feature. of the jubilee is the presentation of a sum of £1000'; to the Marist Brothers as an did Boys' testimonial,' and success in "ihi» direction depends upon the donation of 10s or more from those who have passed through the school and consequently owe their education and position in life to the Marist Brothers. '"it is a little more than 50 years ago that Catholic education came under | the control of the Marist Brothers in Christchurch. although visits had been made by. Brothers as far back as a cen- , tury ago. However, to enable the Rev. Brother John, Provincial, to comply with the earnest wish of the Bt. Rev. Dr. Grimes, S.M. (newly-appointed Bishop of Christchurch), to have the school of his episcopal city under the direction of the Marist Brothers, four Brothers embarked from Marseilles for Sydney, accompanied by the Rev. Father I. Briand, S.M., and arrived at Sydney on December 27, 1887. It was not the intention of the Brother Pro- j vincial to make the new foundation for I some months after the arrival, but, j yielding to the opinion of the Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais. S M., j who deemed it fitting that the Bishop should introduce the Brothers as one of his first acts in his. new. diocese, the Brother Provincial returned to Christchurch immediately after the re- j treat at Auckland. Having arranged the preliminaries, the Rev. Brother Joseph was instructed to leave Napier by the first steamer to take over the direction of the new establishment. Brother Provincial and Brother Joseph represented the "Mirist Brothers on the occasion of the Bishop's reception, and the' Other members of the staff arrived a few days later. The school was opened on February 13, 1888, the following Brothers comprising the Community: The Rev. Brother Joseph (director), the Rev/ Brothers Pius. Fran-da-Borgia, Alfred, and Bernard. Such is the foundation history of the order in Christchurch, and it is . this history and the subsequent development that the present celebrations will commemorate. The celebrations are being planned by the following sub-committees: Jubilee ball, to be held at the Winter Garden on October 19. chairman. Mr Peter CConnell; secretary, Mr St. J. J. Dunne; reunion banquet at the Caledonian Hall on November 2, chairman, Mr H. J. Gillespie; secretary, Mr J. """ Flood; fun fair at the' parish hall on the afternoon and evening of. Saturday, November 5. chairman, Mr Alan Wills; secretary, Mr Phil Kortegast; jubilee communion breakfast at the Caledonian Hall, November 6, chairman. Mr Frank Smythe; secretary, Mr Cordon Bundle; public concert, November 7, and general entertainment, chairman, Mr L. T. J. Ryan; secretary, Mr Harold Shaw; general publicity and jubilee journal, chairman. Mr Harry- Mullins: secretary, Mr Peter George; woman's auxiliary, assisting all committees, oronisers, Mrs T. Aspell jind Mrs W. Rodgers; secretary, Mass Freda Khouri. The executive has established headquarters at Warden's Buildirigs, Cashel Street, and the box number is 185. Old boys are invited to send for full IsgHculars and these will be dis-