Marist Brothers' School, Napier

New Zealand Tablet, 3 September 1908, Page 14

Marist Brothers' School , Napier

The blessing and opening of the new Marist Brothers' School, Napier, a brief account of which appeared in our last issue,took place on Sunday, August 23. " The ceremony (says the Daily Telegraph) was made the occasion of a great Catholic demonstration. A procession was formed at St. Patrick's Church and paraded through the principal streets of the town to the school in Shakespeare road. The procession was headed by the Battalion Band, and "included the children attending the Marist Brothers' School and the Convent, membeis of the Hiber-

nian Society, the Catholic Club, Old Boys' Football Club, and the general body of the Catholic community and the clergy. The procession was received at the school gate by Brother Phelan. In addition to his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington,

who officiated, there were also present Very Rev. Dean Smyth (Hastings), Rev. Fathers Goggan and O'Connor (Napier), Rev. Fathers Tymo'ns and H. McDonnell (Meanee), and Brothers Phelan, Virgilius, and Fidelis. At the conclusion of the cere- > mony of, blessing and opening the school » his Gf ace Arch- . bishop addressed ithe -gathering from a-raised platform,;- on which were' seated Rev. Father Goggan, -S.M., the Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown), and Mr. Westall (a member of the Napier High Schools Board of Governors). •" Amongst other gentlemen present' were" Messrs. S. Carnell, j/ B. Fielder, W." J. McGrath, P. G'lecson, .R. P. Clarkson,, and. M. ',L.- Glceson. ■*.'->: •.' His Grace, in- the course' of his address, 'said: -' lam proud to be here to-day before this vast' assemblage' and -to see the "very large body of Catholics who formed'that" splendid -procession through the city of^ .Napier. ;4Jt was a profession^ of your faiih ■ and an expression of your -conviction of -the necessity .and great importance of a- truly perfecfc'rCKfistian "education. '.This fine schjool .which' has been erected is.an example of ,whatlis being done by every' Catholic body,_jor what can be said of this ci«v * can be said of. many- others throughout >the whole This school is only, a specirriea'of hundreds,. "of others. What have those, schools cost? _ They- have cost very lau(!ge ( ,sums of money. ■ From whose pockets lias that money come? It has I come from the pockets of the C/atholic^body, and<'yery often - it -had come from the pockets of the poor. In many cases 5t has been the hard-earned wages of the workman. This expenditure of money is a proof, and the strongest proof, that can be given of the sacrifice and the faith and conviction that exist regard,ing the importance of" a perfect Cathoilc education.' Continuing, his Grace said that great efforts supported great causes.^ The erection of schools by Catholics implied their , affection for their children and the desire that , their little ones should be so trained as fully, to realise and perform the whole duties of 'nanhcod and womanhood — so trained in the principles of the noblest and " strictest nv.raliry as to- fit them not only for this world, but for the world to come. This principle had actuated thsm not only in this Dominion, but throughout Australia and the great Republic of America-, where 'they found magnificent schools and convents built by. the Catholic body^ in order to perfect a religious education combined .with it secular one. They wanted the whole man to be -formed- They wanted to shape .their young people, so that they might be capable sMof the business of this world and happ) r in the world"- to corns, r hat, was the problem .of Ihe Catholic Church," and was it no' a- 1 perfect one? A short time ago a fire had' destroyed" the Marist Brothers' School here, but the Catholics of' Napier.- had shown what they could do by erecting a new one. - He '-desired to congratulate- them upon their achievement, and also, to express ; his appreciatidn-of the efforts of the parish/priest (Fattier Goggan). He .wished" also to. extend his congratulations to the architect, - Mr. W. P. Finch, arid- to the contractor, Mr. John "Griffin.- He desired to acknowledge the sympathy of. others who were not of the same persuasion as themselves, and r drew -attention to -the presence with them of his Worship the Mayor 'of Napier, ', who was shortly to address the "gathering. ' .; His Grace concluded by reading the following- telegram sent from Wairoa by Mr.- A., L. D. Fraser, M.P., to the, Rev/ Father JGoggan :—' lt" is <wilh considerable regret that I am unable . to-, accept- your invitation to be present at the ceremony of opening , your- new and. extended school. ' May I be permitted to . congratulate you; and 'ritho'se ' associated with you on the self-reliance^ courage, .and,.patriotism displayed in the great arena of > education— an "arena .that must solidify- and mould the" futuro of Churclv and Sjtate, and" be to . the glory of .the great Creator.!.. ' " " • . ■; -' The' Mayor said that it gave him very great pleasure Ito 'be present at the. opening of the- splendid -new ..Marist ■ Brothers' School. He was there in his position-as "Mayor of the city, "and desirgd to congratulate the Catholics of Napier, not only on the splendid, building they had erected, but also on' the fact that they had erected it so speedily. It seemed but a few months ago- that the old school was partly -burned down, and the prompt ' erection of the new building showed how earnestly the woiit had been taken up by the Catholic people. Everybody knew that the Catholics had shouldered responsibilities that no "other denominations did; they had to do so because of the present state" of the law. They l.ad assumed these responsibilities, and the result was already to be seen. In this city they had proof of tha education received by, me.njn the town from the Marist..

Brothers. These men held various responsible positions in Government departments, on the Harbor Board, and County Council, and they all carried out their work creditably. Mr Brown, concluding, _said he desired that his donation of £5 5s should be distributed in prizes for regular attendance amongst the classes in the day school and also in the Sunday school. He con-

Sorrell, Photo, Napier." gralulatcd them upon (he opening of their new school, and hoped the Catholics of Napier would long continue in the good worn which they were doing. Mr. J. C. Westall said that he recognised the great selfsacrifice Catholics made in what they considered it was their duty to maintain. Future generations would look upon this

Sorrell, Photo. Napier. building in the years. 'to 1 ' come, and -they would know that the Catholics of this time were people with the courage of their convictions, who had shown proof of their courage by putting their hands into their pockets and this splendid building. (The fact of the large attendance there that day -was a speaking proof of how deeply in their hearts the work of the school was,

' and people whether of the Catholic persuasion or not honored them for it and appreciated their work. The Catholics in Napi?.r were not able to create an institution like St. Patrick's College in Wellington, where so many high official and professional men in the Dominion had received their education. For this reason they had a right to ask, as they had done in the past, that tho

doors for free place scholars at the high schools should be thrown open to their children. He was pleased to say that Catho'ic children were welcomed at the Napier High Schools, and they were wanted there. It was known that they wcie childrei who had been previously educated soundly. Proceeding, Mr. Westall referred to the high positions in the Dominion held by

former pupils of Catholic schools, and mentioned as an example the Prime Minister and others who held honored places in the, various professions. _ Xt the conclusion of the speeches^ his Grace made an appeal . 'to those present* (o assist in liquidating the debt on' the building, which cost about ,^The collection realised a sum of £60.