Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand: Difference between revisions

History of the Christian Brothers

The Christian Brothers were founded in Waterford Ireland in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice who was beatified in Rome in 1996. He was a wealthy committed Catholic businessman noted for his charity towards the poor. The death of his wife shortly after the birth of a handicapped daughter was a catalyst in his life. It deepened his spirituality which made him more aware of the needs of the marginalised especially young boys who lacked education in faith, literacy, numeracy and often lacked the basic necessities of life. He established schools for these boys despite the fact he had no teacher training and was in his early forties. Gradually other men, often businessmen like himself, joined him inspired by his charity and compassion. Other schools spread rapidly throughout Ireland. By the time of his death in 1844 his considerable fortune had been spent in establishing schools. In his own life time schools had been set up in England, and by the turn of the century schools were founded in America, India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Christian Brothers arrived in New Zealand in 1876 and, in that year opened a secondary school in Dunedin, the Christian Brothers School. Schools associated with the New Zealand Christian Brothers are:

• Christian Brothers High School [1], Dunedin
• Edmund Rice College[2], Rotorua
• John Paul College[3], Rotorua
• Kavanagh College [4], Dunedin
• Liston College [5], Waitakere City, Auckland
• Nukutere College, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
• St Edmund's School [6], South Dunedin
• St Kevin's College [7], Oamaru
• St Paul's High School [8], Dunedin
• St Peter's College [9], Epsom, Auckland
• St Thomas of Canterbury College [10], Christchurch

Some notable New Zealand Christian Brothers

• Br Leo Eugene Barry (b. 1935): taught at St Peter's College, Auckland 1957–1960 (Form 3L); transferred to Australia in 1961; taught at St. Patrick's College, Strathfield.

• Br Fursey Bodkin (b. ?): Born in Ireland; leader of the first New Zealand Christian Brothers Community; arrived Dunedin 1876; he founded, and was the first principal of, Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin, 1976 - 1886.

• Br Edward Camillus Boreham (b. 1915) BA: educated Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1942 and 1943; taught in Dunedin from 1942; and again from 1953 until 1959; taught at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1960; in 1961 transferred to Australia; taught at St Patrick's College, Goulburn, New South Wales; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch in 1963; Christian Brother 1932 - 1963.

• Br Paul Alonzo Boyd (b. 1933); educated at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1958, 1959 and 1961 - 1963; at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru in 1960; was teaching at St Peter's College, Auckland in the 1980s; taught at Edmund Rice College Rotorua 1970s/1980s (?); member of the Auckland Christian Brothers Community in 1995.

• Br Breach: taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1939-1944; transferred to Sydney 1944; joined staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1954; returned to Australia; in 1960 was teaching at St Kevin's College, Toorak, Melbourne.

• Br F Cameron: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland.

• Br J C Carroll, BA, MusB: One of the five foundation Christian Brothers of St Peter's College, Auckland; he had been teaching at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru from 1935; in 1960 he was " .... at Manly, New South Wales after a number of years at Oamaru".

• Br Ian Robert Carroll (1939-2000): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1950? - 1957?); was a foundation Christian Brother at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1961 - 1962 and also taught there in 1964 and 1968; taught at St Peter's College, Auckland 1963; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in 1963 and 1967 - (?); between the years 1968 and 1976, he went to Papua New Guinea, teaching at Fatima Vocational School, Banz (Western Highlands Province) and there carried out work with the local equivalent of "street kids"; " ... made a significant contribution to the Brothers' work in Papua New Guinea."; he remained in Papua New Guinea for 26 years.

• Br Richard Ignatius Carroll (b. 1942: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1953 - 1958; Christian Brother 1959 - 1974; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1965-1968; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in period 1965 -1973(?)

• Br Marty De Porres Connell (b. 1946); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1957 - 1964; Christian Brother 1964 - 1976.

• Br Raymond Bonaventure Connolly (1918-1992) MA: educated St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1945; left the college in 1952; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1960 - ; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in the 1960s/1970s (?); died at the age of 73, buried at South Hill Public Cemetery, Oamaru.

• Br Simon Germaine Coughlan (1920 - 1993); educated St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; a member of the first Christian Brothers Community at Nukutere College, Rarotonga; died aged 72 in 1993; buried at the South Hill Public Cemetery, Oamaru.

• Br Vincent Nicholas Cusack: educated at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; went to Strathfield to became a Christian Brother in 1933 and remained in Australia until 1961; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland; taught at, and was otherwise associated with, St Peter's College for 37 years (1961–1997), died aged 91 in 2004 (buried South Hill Public Cemetery, Oamaru)

• Br Andrew Dawani from Papua-New Guinea; teacher at Nukutere College, Rarotonga from 2007.

• Br John Stanislaus De Courcy (b. 1950): taught at St Peter's College, Auckland in the 1970s; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in late 1970s(?); Christian Brother (1967–1981).

• Br Noel Cuthbert Doherty (b. 1936) BA: educated at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru, taught at St Peter's College, Auckland from 1960 (transferred from St Edmund's College, South Dunedin); taught at {St Thomas of Canterbury College]], Christchurch 1970, 1972 and 1980; seventh principal of St Peter's College (1975–1980); taught at Liston College in the 1980s (?); Christian Brother 1954–1991; now retired from teaching.

• Br Grahame Gonzaga Donaldson (b. 1933); educated by the Christian Brothers at Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin and at St Kevin's College, Oamaru; taught in Australia for some years before he was transferred to the new vice-province of New Zealand in 1960, coming from Christian Brothers' College, Bundaberg, Queensland; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1960 - 1965; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1967-1973; taught in New Zealand until 1990; from 1992 until 2007 was the Catholic chaplain at Dunedin Prison.

• Br William Hofbauer Dowling (b. 1939): joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1962; transferred to St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch in 1963; returned to St Peter's College in 1964; 26 years teaching at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1976-2002; now teaching at / Edmund Rice Sinon Secondary School, a Christian Brothers School in Arusha, Tanzania.

• Br William Hofbauer Dowling (b. 1939): joined the staff at St Peter's College in 1962; 26 years teaching at St Thomas of Canterbury College 1976-2002; now teaching at a Christian Brothers School in Arusha, Tanzania.

• Br D Drake: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland.

• Br James Eamon Duffy (b. 1932): attended St Peter's College, Auckland (1943? - 194?); taught at St Peter's College at various times from 1967 (coming from Rockhampton, Queensland); finally stopped teaching at St Peter's College in 1992; taught at Liston College in the 1980s.

• Br Dunne (b. ?): born in Ireland (?); member of first New Zealand Christian Brothers Community in Dunedin from 1876; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin, from 1976.

• Br Denis Francis Edgar (b. 1941); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1953 - 1957; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1963; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1968-1971 and 1977; Christian Brother 1960 - 1977.

• Br Michael Paul Follas (b. 1954); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1965 - 1971; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1980 and 1981; also taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua.

• Br Eric Evangelist Fraser (1909-1964): taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1935 and 1936; taught at Waverley College, Sydney in the 1930s; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1949; transferred to St. Kevin's College, Oamaru in 1955; returned to St Peter's College in 1960; and remained there until he died aged 54 in 1964 (buried at St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, Panmure, Auckland)

• Br Michael Angelus Frost (1937–1965): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1949 - 1951); taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1960-1965; died aged 29 in 1965 as the result of a climbing accident; buried at the Anderson Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

• Br Gettons Rector of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru late 1930s.

• Br Anthony Eugenio Gherardi (1938 - 1998) BA, Dip.Ed: Educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1949? - 195?); taught at Nukutere College, Avarua, Cook Islands; Director of Catholic Education, Cook Islands (1989–1987); died aged 60 in 1998; buried at the Old Cathedral cemetery, Avarua.

• Br Norman Campion Gillies (1939-2007): educated Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1965 - 1969; deputy principal at St Peter's College, Auckland in early 1980s; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in 1980s (?);sixth principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College 1988-1994; principal at Nukutere College, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (1998 - 2000); established a charitable trust at Nukutere College to ensure regular income for the college; at the time of his death on 21 November 2007, was a member of the Murupara Christian Brothers Community; funeral was on Saturday, 24 November 2007 at Murupara and he was buried in the Rotorua Public Cemetery.

• Br Gyger: Principal at St Mary's Cathedral College, Sydney 1938 - 1942; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1949; transferred in 1957; he returned to Australia; in 1960 was at Toowoomba, Queensland.

• Br Hardisty, BA: joined the staff of St Peter's College, Auckland in 1940; taught at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru from 1942; transferred to Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin in 1944; returned to Australia?

• Br Micheal James Benignus Hanrahan (1877 - 1953): Born in St Bathans, Otago, New Zealand; educated at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; founded, and was first headmaster of, St Patrick's College, Strathfield, Sydney in 1928; Provincial for the Christian Brothers in Australia and New Zealand in 1930s; visited New Zealand in 1936 (and subsequently); he negotiated the establishment of St Peter's College, Auckland with James Michael Liston, the seventh Catholic Bishop of Auckland.

• Br John Hay: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland; made final profession as a Christian Brother on Christmas Day, 1959.

• Br Healey (b. ?): born in Ireland (?); member of first New Zealand Christian Brothers Community in Dunedin from 1876; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin, from 1976.

• Br Hede: joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1944; transferred in 1956; returned to Australia; " ... appointed Superior of Young, New South Wales early this year [1960] ... ".

• Br Francis Placidus Henery OBE (1912 - 1987): taught at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1940s/ early 1950s (?); taught at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1955 and 1956 (?); at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1957 - 1979(?); at Liston College in 1980s until 1986/1987 (?); died aged 75 in 1987 (buried at St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, Panmure, Auckland)

• Br Desmond Azevedo Hill (b. 1931): educated Christian Brothers College, Dunedin; Christian Brother 1950 - 1984); taught at Liston College in 1970s/ealy 1980s (?)

• Br P C Hill: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland.

• Br Jerome Timothy Hughes (b. 1943) BA: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland(1954? - 1960?); taught at St Paul's High School, Dunedin 1964 and 1965; taught at St Peter's College from mid-1967; Christian Brother (1961-1976).

• Br Reginald Edward Humphries (b. 1939): Christian Brother (1954-1961); taught at St Edmunds School, South Dunedin, in 1960; taught at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1961 (Form I Blue); retired school administrator living in British Columbia, Canada.

• Br Terry Felix Hunter (b. 1940): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1951? - 1958?); taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1962; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch, 1963 and 1964; taught at St Peter's College 1965; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in period 1966 -1971(?); Christian Brother (1959 - 1977).

• Br Walter Frederick Ives (b. 1934): educated Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1956; transferred at the end of 1959 to St Edmund's School, South Dunedin; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1969 - 1976; teaching at Liston College in 1983 (?)

• Br Anthony Dominic Johnston (b. 1946): educated at St Bede's College, Christchurch; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College 1982-1990s(?).

• Br Vincent Innocent Jury (b. 1933) B.Sc (Hons) (in pure and applied mathematics) (Sydney); M.Sc (Otago?)(1962): spent his boyhood at the city end of Remuera, was an altar boy at the nearby St Michael's church, Remuera; attended St Peter's College, Auckland from 1944 to 1948; in 1948, two weeks after his 15th birthday, he embarked on a flying boat in Auckland harbour and flew for seven hours to Sydney to train as a Christian Brother; he did not see his family again for nine years; taught at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1957 - 1966; taught at St Peter's College 1967 - 1974; Deputy Principal at St Paul's High School, Dunedin (later incorporated into Kavanagh College) 1975 - 1981; fifth Principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1982 - 1988; and was founding Principal of Kavanagh College, Dunedin (1989 - 1992) (he was the last of 23 Christian Brother principals at the Rattray Street site (from 1876); pastoral worker, Christian Brothers outreach in Murupara, Bay of Plenty (1992 - 2008). " ... [Brother Jury wrote] of the Brothers' work in Murupara: 'the Brothers Community is involved in four main area of activity: working with Maori Youth, energising Parish activities (there is no resident priest), the Edmund Rice Programme and General Community involvement' "; in February 2008, Bro. Jury celebrated his diamond jubilee as a Christian Brother with a thanksgiving Mass at St Michael's, Remuera. This was followed by a gathering in the parish hall for family, friends and Christian Brothers; he is a keen tramper, loves travelling, especially by train, and has a love for New Zealand's forests. "Generations of boys remember him playing his saxophone at school liturgies, college balls and at any other opportunity".

• Br Paul Kikisi from Paua-New Guinea; teacher at Nukutere College from 2006.

• Br Killian: One of the five foundation Christian Brothers of St Peter's College, Auckland; transferred to Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin in 1942; transferred to Sydney in 1944.

• Br Lathey: joined the staff of St Peter's College, Auckland in 1940; he returned to Australia; in 1960 was at Toowoomba, Queensland.

• Br Brian Joseph Lauren (b. 1942): taught at St Peter's College from 1964?; Rector of St Kevin's College, Oamaru (1979-1995); Province Leader of New Zealand and the Cook Islands (1996 - 2007); Member of the Leadership Team of the Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers (2007- ); in 2007, Chairman of the New Zealand Catholic Education Office Board, the Association of Proprietors of Integrated schools and the Steering Group for New Zealand Catholic Tertiary Education.

• Br John Laurence Ledger (b. 1942); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1953–1959; Christian Brother 1960 - 1964.

• Br B H Louisson: educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (in 1940s?); in 1961 located at St Francis Xavier Post Primary School, Bundralis, on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea; " ... [has made a significant contribution to the Brothers' work in Papua New Guinea. [He] has been in the country since 1952 and has held positions of responsibility in the administration of what is now the Papua New Guinea region [of the Christian Brothers?], including Regional Superior.

• Br James Bonaventure Lynch (1908—1995) BA: important New Zealand science teacher; born Queenstown; educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1944; transferred from the college, joined staff in Dunedin in 1945; and was Principal 1948-1950; transferred to St. Kevin's College, Oamaru in 1951; arrived back in 1957; died aged 86 in 1995 (buried South Hill Public Cemetery, Oamaru) (the subject of Sam Hunt's poem, "Brother Lynch")

• Br K F Lynch: joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1949 ("to teach the junior classes"); went to Australia; in 1960 was at Yeppoon, Queensland.

• Br Ian Rupert Mahon (b. 1933)(known to students at St Thomas of Canterbury College as "Pluto"): educated Christian Brothers College, Dunedin; foundation Christian Brother at St Thomas of Canterbury College 1961-1965 and also taught there 1968-1972; Christian Brother 1952-1994.

• Br Peter Claver Marlow (1892 - 1965); educated Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; became a Christian Brother in 1908 and made his final profession in 1917, in Dunedin; New Zealand Provincial of the Christian Brothers 1959 - 1965; was a frequent visitor to St Peter's College, Auckland and other New Zealand Christian Brothers' Schools in the early 1960s, for example, "[Thursday 3rd November], Brother Marlow ... addresses the classes on the subject of religious vocations; he tells us of the crying need for Catholic teachers, not only in New Zealand, but throughout the whole world."; died aged 73 on Christmas Day, 1965, buried at Graham's Road Cemetery, Christchurch.

• Br Perry Neri Mason (b. 1931): joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1962 - 1969; taught at Fatima Vocational School, Banz, Papua New Guinea for a period between 1969 and 1975; Christian Brother 1959 - 1975.

• Br Laurence Cajetan McAllan (b. 1900): a member of the Rotorua Christian Brothers community at the time of his death aged 65 in 1965; buried in the Rotorua Public Cemetery.

• Br McCarthy Rector of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru ealry 1940s.

• Br James Ignatius McClintock (1910—1985): educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; became a Christian brother in 1924; taught in Melbourne and Sydney; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1944; taught at St Kevin's College, Oamaru in the 1950s; in 1960 was at Waverley College, Sydney; was foundation principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1961 - 66; taught at St Peter's College 1967 - 1985; died aged 75 in 1985 (buried at St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, Panmure, Auckland)

• Br William Gerard McCombie (b. 1942): taught at St Peter's College, Auckland 1964-1966; Christian Brother (1961–1967).

• Brother Terry McErlane: Principal of Nukutere College, Rarotonga 1976 - 1981.

• Br McGee first Rector of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1927 - 1932.

• Br John Paul McKean (b. 1941): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1952? - 195?); taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in period 1965 -1971(?); was a foundation teacher at Liston College. "The College (Liston College) opened on 7 February 1974 with a staff of two Christian Brothers, Br Wellsmore and Br McKean and 72 foundation pupils. The pupils were divided into Form One 'J' and Form One 'M'. These initials stood for Archbishop Liston's Christian names - James Michael. Classwork began immediately and homework was set on the first day."

• Br McMahon (b. ?): born in Ireland (?); member of first New Zealand Christian Brothers Community in Dunedin from 1876; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin, from 1976.

• Br Patrick Aiden McManus(1918–2001) BA, Dip.Ed, (known to the pupils as "Jiggs"): educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; joined the Staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1945; transferred to Dunedin in 1954 - 1961; Rector of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1962 - 1967; died at the age of 83. Buried South Hill Public Cemetery, Oamaru.

• Br Michael Joseph McMenamin (b. 1952); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1963 - 1969; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1977 - 1979; Christian Brother 1973 - 1993.

• Br Robert John McRae (b. 1957); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1968 - 1974; a member of the first Christian Brothers community at Nukutere College, Rarotonga; Christian Brother 1975 - 1976.

• Br Patrick Theodore McSweeney (1914 - 1979): taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin from 1946; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1948; in 1960 he was "in Dunedin"; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch in 1979; died at the age of 64 in 1979; buried at Grahams Road Cemetery, Christchurch.

• Br Richard Ligouri McSweeney (b. 1925) BA, Dip.Ed: educated in Brisbane; St Peter's College, Auckland in the 1950s, transferred 1955 to Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; taught again at St Peter's College 1957 - 1959; transferred to Dunedin 1960-1961; returned to St Peter's College finally for the 1962 and 1963 years (Form IVL); returned to Australia in 1964 (to Christian Brothers' College, Warwick, Queensland).

• Br C. D. Mills (b. 1907): joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1942 (transferred from St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; left St Peter's College in 1952; went to Australia; in 1960 was at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.

• Br Gerard Regis Mills (b. 1907) (known to the brothers as "Rardy Mills"): taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College (?); celebrated his centenary in 2007.

• Br Maurice Peter Moloney (b. 1905): educated at Manly, Sydney; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1956; transferred in 1959 to Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; returned to Australia; in 1960 was teaching in Sydney.

• Br Thomas Aquinas Monagle (1928–1983) (MA in French): educated in Melbourne (St. Kevin's College, Toorak (?)); joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1947 and transferred to Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin in 1948; transferred to St. Kevin's College, Oamaru in 1949; returned to St Peter's College in 1952 and remained there until 1966; taught at St Paul's High School, Dunedin 1967; he was the Deputy Principal of Liston College in 1981, 1982 and 1983 until his death; died in 16 February 1983 (Ash Wednesday) aged 54, buried St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, Panmure, Auckland; Brother Monagle was an important teacher at St Peter's College, Liston College and other schools; a leading New Zealand teacher of French; arranged for student visits from Tahiti to St Peter's College and student exchanges; organised the North train boys and travelled on the train each afternoon from the 1960s; mounted a successful campaign for the North train to stop on the St Peter's College boundary, and therefore was the principal creator of the Boston Road railway station; On his death, a newspaper in Papeete published an obituary honouring him by calling him "Un Ami Meconnu" (a little-known friend) of French Polynesia; died in 16 February 1983 (Ash Wednesday) aged 54, buried St Patrick's Catholic Church Cemetery, Panmure, Auckland.

• Br Kevin Flavian Moncur (b. 1949); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1961 - 1967; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch, 1976-1979 (?)

• Br James Alexis Morris (1910 - 1998): educated at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; joined staff at Christian Brothers High School in 1936; second principal of St Peter's College, Auckland (1945 - 1947); in 1951, transferred to St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; in 1960 was in charge of the Training College at Box Hill, Melbourne; returned to St Peter's College in 1961 and taught there until 1964; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in period 1965 -1971(?); died aged 87 in 1998 (buried Anderson Bay Cemetery, Dunedin)

• Br Peter Gregory Mullane: (b. 1941): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1952 - 1958; Christian Brother 1960 - 1964.

• Br Don Magnus Murray (b. 1932): joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1959; transferred at the end of 1963 to St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; spent some time between 1968 - 1976 at Fatima Vocational School, Banz, Papua New Guinea; in 2007, a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru.

• Br O'Conner second Rector of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1933 - 1935.

• Br Michael Joseph O'Donnell (b. 1958); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1969 - 1975; Christian Brother 1978 - 1983.

• Br David Garnier O'Donoghue (b. 1912): educated in Adelaide; joined the staff of St Peter's College, Auckland in 1942: "[Brother O'Donoghue] commence[d] a long period at the school during which he endeared himself to many boys by his earnestness and gentleness, particularly with the backward pupils. Br O'Donoghue began technical work in the woodwork room which was very generously furnished by His Lordship [the Bishop]"; transferred to Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1950-1955; back in Dunedin in 1960s; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1967 and 1968, 1978-1983; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua; transferred to Australia in 1987.

• Br F. P. O'Driscoll: foundation principal of St Peter's College, Auckland (1939 - 1944) and the superior of the foundation St Peter's College Christian Brothers community of five brothers; after he left St Peter's College at the end of 1944, " ... he moved to Western Australia where he was to continue his good work by founding other Colleges and setting them on their feet as he had done so well here in Auckland. Brother O'Driscoll's parting was regretted by many. As one of his ex-pupils, Mr Devon Hearn, has expressed it: 'He combined a wonderful teaching ability with a benevolent yet severe discipline and won our respect and loyalty. Indeed, he won the respect of all those he came in contact with, and obtained for the college a prestige that was out of all proportion to its years of existence'; died in Perth, Western Australia in August, 1964

• Br Arthur Edwin O'Kane: (b. 1927); educated Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin; in Australia until 1960 when he returned to New Zealand; spent time on the staff of the juniorate; was on the staff of Fatima Vocational School, Banz, Papua New Guinea between 1968 and 1976; a member of the Auckland Christian Brothers Community in 1995

• Br John Didicus O'Neill (b. 1936)(also known as J.C. O'Neill) BA, Dip. Ed: educated at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; trained as a Christian brother in the 1950's in Australia; began teaching career in Australia in 1957; taught at Christian Brothers College, Bundaberg, Queensland until 1960; taught at St Peter's College, Auckland from 1961; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in period 1965 - mid 1980s(?); taught at Liston College 1991 - 1994 (while living in the Mangere Christian Brothers Community- the last Christian Brother to teach at Liston College (?)); in 2007 was head of Mathematics and Economics at Nukutere College, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands and (until 2008) Christian Brothers Community leader there; Catholic chaplain at the Rarotonga prison maintaining " ... a vigorous outreach to those who are paying the debt of their wrong-doing."

• Br John O'Shea: Christian Brothers' "Cluster Leader" for New Zealand(2007- present); born in Australia; he was Principal of St Dominic's College, Penrith, St Edmund's College, Canberra and St Patrick's College Strathfield; was a member of the New South Wales Province Leadership Team from 1996 until 2002; from 2002 until 2007, he was a parish assistant in Bungendore Parish in rural ACT.

• Br Francis William Perkins (b. 1938): educated St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College 1974-1978; taught at Liston College after 1978 - early 1980s (?); principal at Nukutere College, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands 2000 - 2004; in 2007 he is in the Philippines " ... currently exploring the establishment of the second [Christian Brothers] community ...".

• Br John Paschal Prendergast (b. 1937): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1948? - 1955?); taught at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1961; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1962 - 1970s (?); eighth principal of St Peter's College (1981-1988) (first old boy to hold the position); Christian Brothers outreach in Murupara, Bay of Plenty (1989-1992); Nukutere College, Avaura, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (1993–2001).

• Br Maurice Venard Quirke (b. 1936): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1947-1953); taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin in 1956 and 1958-1961; at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1962 - 1965; taught at St Paul's High School, Dunedin 1965; at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch in 1966; Christian Brother (1954 - 1966).

• Br Rapp: one of the five foundation Christian Brothers of St Peter's College, Auckland; he came from Sydney; he returned to Australia?

• Br John Virgil Riley (b. 1908): educated in Hobart; joined the staff at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1959; left St Peter's at the end of 1959 to become Vice-Rector at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; died 6 August 1978 aged 78, buried in Rotorua Public Cemetery

• Br Paul Malcolm Robertson (b. 1959): MA (Anthropology - Auckland); last Christian Brother to teach at St Peter's College, Auckland (1982 - 2007 (26 years) - as a year 8 teacher, Director of Special Character and Head of Religious Studies, Dean of year levels including the Senior Deanship, Deputy Principal, Associate Principal and Acting Principal); old boy of St Peter's College (1969 - 1975); attended Christian Brothers Teachers Training College, Melbourne (1976 - 1978); teacher at St Edmund's School, South Dunedin (1979 - 1981); Member of the St Peter's College Leadership Team and the St Peter's College Board of Trustees (1990–2007); In 2007, Deputy Province Leader of the New Zealand Province of the Christian Brothers, he lived in the Edmund Rice Community Auckland, a community for tertiary students from the Edmund Rice Network who want to live a community life, closely associated with the development of the Edmund Rice Network in New Zealand and responsible for vocations promotion, the NZ schools student leadership program, the India Immersion programme and Edmund Rice Volunteers; In July 2007 he left St Peter's College on his appointment as a Member of the Leadership Team of the Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers, located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

• Br Ignacy John Rubisz (1949-2005): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1961–1967); mathematics teacher at St Peter's College, Liston College, Nukutere College, and other schools; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in late 1970s until 1982(?); taught at Liston College 1983 - 1988; member of Edmund Rice Community, Westport (2000? - 2004?); died aged 56 in 2005 (on Sunday, 23 October), buried at the Old Cathedral cemetery, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

• Br Benjamin Everard Ryan (b. 1920): sixth principal of St Peter's College, Auckland (1966 - 1974); first taught at St Peter's College in the 1940s; in 1949 went from St Peter's College to Rome; back at Christian Brothers High School 1956-1960; in 1960 was in charge of the New Zealand Juniorate at Morven, South Canterbury; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch in 1977 and 1980; principal of Nukutere College, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands (1982 - 1988); taught for for a total of 22 years at Nukutere College; from 2004 he did administrative work at Nukutere College; he retired in 2007 and resides in the Christian Brothers community at Nukutere College.

• Br Patrick Celestine Ryan (1909 - 1995) BA, (known as "Wee Digger" at St. Kevin's College, Oamaru and "Paddy" at St Peter's College, Auckland): Rector of St. Kevin's College, Oamaru 1945 - 1950; Principal of Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1951- 1953; joined the staff at St Peter's College in 1954; fifth Principal of St Peter's College (1957–1965); Provincial of Christian Brothers from 1965 and frequent visitor to the college; returned to teach at St Peter's College in 1980s; died aged 86 in 1995 (buried Anderson Bay Cemetery, Dunedin)); "Has there ever been a better maths teacher than Paddy Ryan? Mind you, he scared the hell out of us in 1961 or 62 when he misread the news on the radio and said that the Cuban missile crisis had lead to war".

• Br Michael Benignus Scanlan: (b. 1935): educated at Christian Brothers College, Dunedin; second principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College (1967-1972); Christian Brothers Community leader at Nukutere College, Rarotonga (2008 - present).

• Br Michael Luke Scott: (b. 1944); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1955 - 1961; taught at St Peter's College 1968 - (?); taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch in 1972 and 1973; Christian Brother 1963 - 1994.

• Br Raphael Gervase Shanahan (b. 1924): educated in Timaru; joined the staff at St Peter's College in 1957; in 1960 was at St Edmund's School South Dunedin; transferred to Australia in 1961.

• Br Michael Alwin Sheahan (b. 1929) MA: born in Victoria, Australia; educated at St Patrick's College, Ballarat arrived in New Zealand in 1949; taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin from 1951 until 1958; taught at St Peter's College, Auckland (1959 - 1961 and 1980 - 1988); taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1962 - 1965; principal of Christian Brothers Juniorate (1966-1967); principal of the Christian Brothers' High School, Dunedin (1968 - 1973); principal of Edmund Rice College, Rotorua (1975 - 1980); at St Peter's College in the 1980s, he taught Mathematics and Accounting, edited the school magazine, organised Housie, helped run the tuckshop, and managed the 1st eleven soccer team; returned to Australia in 1990.

• Br John Henry Shepherd (1939–2000): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1950 - 1957; principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1979 - 1981; taught at Liston College 1983, 1984, and 1987; also at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in 1987; died aged 66 in 2005 (on Sunday, 23 October); buried at Green Park Cemetery Dunedin.

• Br Shoebridge: taught at St Peter's College in 1940s/1950s; returned to Australia; in 1960 he was at Tamworth, New South Wales.

• Br Rex Anthony Sisson (b. 1937): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1948? - 195?); taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1961 and 1962; principal of Edmund Rice College, Rotorua (now John Paul College) (1969 - 1974); principal of Liston College (1980 - 1985)(when Br Sisson became Principal, the roll of Liston College was 380 boys with 28 staff including five brothers).

• Br Skehan: one of the five foundation Christian Brothers of St Peter's College, Auckland in 1939; he came to St Peter's College from St. Kevin's College, Oamaru where he first taught in 1936; he was probably Australian; transferred to Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin in 1949; he returned to Australia in 1949 and in 1960 was " ... Superior at Mt Carmel College, Charters Towers, Queensland".

• Br Anthony Leo Smith (b. 1939): educated at Christian Brothers College, Yarraville, Victoria; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College and at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in the 1960s; transferred to Australia in 1969.

• Br W. R. Smith: taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin from 1944; in 1947 the Christian Brothers High School orchestra was under his direction; third principal of St Peter's College, Auckland (1948 - 1953) (established the first school orchestra); principal of Christian Brothers High School 1954 and 1955; transferred to Australia in 1957; in 1960 was in Ireland.

• Br Ray Clement Stedman (b. 1940): educated at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in period 1965 -1967(?); Christian Brother 1962-1967.

• Br Victor Antonine Sullivan (1921 - 2001): head of the intermediate at St Peter's College 1955 - 1960; first principal of Edmund Rice College, Rotorua (now John Paul College) (1963-1968?); principal of St Edmund's School, South Dunedin for 18 years; taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College (?); died aged 80 in 2001 (buried at the Grahams Rd Cemetery, Christchurch);

• Br Edward John Thorpe (b. 1929): taught (as a lay teacher) at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1965 and 1966 (especially History and English); taught (as a Christian Brother) at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1970-1972; taught at Edmund Rice College, Rotorua in its final year, 1987; Christian Brother (1967–1995); associated from 1991 with the Edmund Rice Youth Support Trust (its aim was to provide appropriate housing and give to give general support to young people who were in trouble with the law but had shown some indication that they wished to change their way of life).

• Br Desmond Cecelius Waigth (b. 1934); educated St. Kevin's College, Oamaru; third principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch (1973-1978); Christian Brother 1953-1981.

• Br Richard John Walsh (b. 1954): educated Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin; seventh principal of St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch (1994-2000).

• Br K. V. Watson, BSc.: taught at Christian Brothers High School, Dunedin 1951-1953; fourth principal of St Peter's College, Auckland (1954-1956); returned to Australia. in 1960 was at Townsville, Queensland.

• Br Peter Claver Watt (b. 1947); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1958 - 1962? taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1973-1979; Christian Brother 1966 - 1981; taught at St Peter's College (as a Christian Brother) 1969-1972, 1980; current lay teacher at St Peter's College since 1986.

• Br Gary Joseph Wellsmore (b. 1941): educated at St Peter's College, Auckland (1952 - 1957); taught at St Edmund's School, Dunedin, in 1963 and at St Paul's High School, Dunedin 1964 - 1966; taught at Edmund Rice College in 1967 - early 1970s (?); foundation Principal of Liston College (1974-1979). "Brother Wellsmore ... supervised the building programme, the establishment of the curriculae and the development of a unique school spirit. The Christian Brothers' tradition and values underpinned Br Wellsmore's vision for the school. As the school roll grew and the building programme was completed, the college spirit became embedded in the Liston community." taught at St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch 1981-1985.

• Br Whiteman: joined staff at Christian Brothers High School in 1948; transferred to St. Kevin's College, Oamaru in 1951; returned to Dunedin in 1953 until 1957; taught at St Peter's College, Auckland in 1940s and late 1950s(?); went to Australia; in 1960 he was at Gregory Terrace, Brisbane.

• Br Lawrence Hubert Wilkes: joined the staff at St Peter's College in 1956; taught at St Peter's College for 25 years until 1981; then taught for some years at Liston College (?); Brother Wilkes died in Timaru on 03 March 1998, aged 75, (buried Grahams Road Cemetery, Christchurch).

• Br Michael Vincent Wilson (b. 1953); educated at St Peter's College, Auckland 1964 - 1969, Christian Brother 1970 - 1979.

References/Sources

• St Peter's College Magazines, St Peter's College, Auckland, 1960 - 2007 .
• St Peter's College Silver Jubilee 1939 - 1964, Christian Brothers Old Boys Association, Auckland, 1964.
• J.C. O'Neill, The History of the Work of the Christian Brothers in New Zealand, unpublished Dip. Ed. thesis, University of Auckland, 1968.
• 1876-1976: The First 100 Years in New Zealand at Christian Brothers School Dunedin, Christian Brothers School Centennial Committee, Dunedin, 1976.
• Redcastle recollections, A Golden Jubilee Volume, St Kevin's College, Oamaru, 1977.
• St Thomas' Jubilee 1961-1986, St Thomas of Canterbury Jubilee Committee, Christchurch, 1986.
• Graham W.A. Bush, The History of Epsom, Epsom & Eden District Historical Society Inc, Auckland, 2006.
• Paul Malcolm Robertson, Nga Parata Karaitiana The Christian Brothers, A Public Culture in Transition, A Comparative Study of the Indian and New Zealand Provinces, an unpublished thesis for MA in Anthropology, University of Auckland, 1996.
• Liston College, 25th Jubilee Magazine, Liston College, Auckland, 1999.
• Peter Norris, Southernmost Seminary, Auckland, 1999.
• Graeme Donaldson, To All Parts of the Kingdom: Christian Brothers In New Zealand 1876-2001, Christian Brothers New Zealand Province, Christchurch, 2001.
• Bridget (Anderson) Harrod, 100 Years Catholic Education in Rotorua 1903-2003, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Rotorua, 2003.
• Nicholas Reid, James Michael Liston: A Life, Victoria University Press, Wellington, 2006.
• Rick Maxwell, St Peter's College, Auckland, Simerlocy Press, Auckland, 2008.

External links

• Edmund Rice Network
• Edmund Rice Justice, New Zealand
• St Peter's College website
• Catholic-hierarchy website
• Catholic Diocese of Auckland
• Catholic Church in New Zealand