Holy Cross College, New Zealand: Difference between revisions
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==Holy Cross College at Mosgiel== |
==Holy Cross College at Mosgiel== |
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In August 1900 work began on a new chapel for the college. It was blessed and opened on 3 May 1901. Its architect was [[Commanditori Leonardi]], the papal architect for [[Pope Leo XIII]] and a friend of Verdon's. Built in true Roman style, with semicircular windows, marble alter, guilded copper ceiling and classic ionic pilasters, the chapel was an important part of Verdon's attempt to recreate at Mosgiel the spiritual atmosphere of Rome. The first ordination in the chapel occurred in 1902 when Patrick O'Neill was ordained a deacon. In 1902 the enrollment had doubled to 22.<ref name="Norris"/> Holy Cross Seminary was a apologetic institution. New Zealand had a largely Irish clergy serving a largely working class Catholic population who were imbued with stories of the English and Irish martyrs. The institution was seen as an anti-Protestant bulwark. New Zealand society at the turn of the century was strongly secterian. Catholics encountered serious difficulties providing their children with a good education and securing jobs for themselves. The curriculum taught at Holy Cross was designed to equip priests to minister within an established minority community and to preserve the identity of that community.<ref name="Norris1">Peter Joseph Norris, pp. 143-145.</ref> The seminary gave to its students a monastic type formation. Only by separating people from the world and giving them a new vision would they be able to re-enter the world and save people from it.<ref name="Norris1"/> Over the next 50 years the College became even more like a monastery. Even though it was located near the bustling city of Dunedin, it was yet set apart in relative isolation. It became an oasis of prayer, study and seclusion. The gradual establishement of various institutions like a printery, bindery, butchery, darkroom and farm separated it from the life of the surrounding community.<ref name="Norris1"/> |
In August 1900 work began on a new chapel for the college. It was blessed and opened on 3 May 1901. Its architect was [[Commanditori Leonardi]], the papal architect for [[Pope Leo XIII]] and a friend of Verdon's. Built in true Roman style, with semicircular windows, marble alter, guilded copper ceiling and classic ionic pilasters, the chapel was an important part of Verdon's attempt to recreate at Mosgiel the spiritual atmosphere of Rome. The first ordination in the chapel occurred in 1902 when Patrick O'Neill was ordained a deacon. In 1902 the enrollment had doubled to 22.<ref name="Norris"/> Holy Cross Seminary was a apologetic institution. New Zealand had a largely Irish clergy serving a largely working class Catholic population who were imbued with stories of the English and Irish martyrs. The institution was seen as an anti-Protestant bulwark. New Zealand society at the turn of the century was strongly secterian. Catholics encountered serious difficulties providing their children with a good education and securing jobs for themselves. The curriculum taught at Holy Cross was designed to equip priests to minister within an established minority community and to preserve the identity of that community.<ref name="Norris1">Peter Joseph Norris, pp. 143-145.</ref> The seminary gave to its students a monastic type formation. Only by separating people from the world and giving them a new vision would they be able to re-enter the world and save people from it.<ref name="Norris1"/> Over the next 50 years the College became even more like a monastery. Even though it was located near the bustling city of Dunedin, it was yet set apart in relative isolation. It became an oasis of prayer, study and seclusion. The gradual establishement of various institutions like a printery, bindery, butchery, darkroom and farm separated it from the life of the surrounding community.<ref name="Norris1"/> The college was staffed by secular clergy and others until 1934 and then by the [[Vincentian]] order. In the 98 years that the College was at Mosgiel (1900-1997) it had 1302 strudents. Of those 648 were ordained.<ref>Peter Joseph Norris, p. 157</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 21:31, 22 December 2010
Holy Cross College or Holy Cross Seminary is the national Roman Catholic seminary of New Zealand for the training if priests. It was first opened in 1900 in Mosgiel and was relocated to Auckland in 1997.
Establishment
In the late nineteenth century, although there were 90,000 Catholics constituting about 14 per cent of the total population, New Zealand had no seminary for training priests[1] In 1850 Bishop Pompallier the first bishop, had established a seminary in Auckland which resulted in the ordination of twenty priests over two decades. Hampered by financial difficulties and personality problems, the seminary closed in 1869.[1] Various bishops, particularly Patrick Moran first Bishop of Dunedin, had expressed concern over the absence of a national seminary. Its lack became pressing when New Zealand was created an ecclesiastical province with Wellington as the Metropolitan See in 1887. Prior to this the New Zealand Bishops were largely influenced by Cardinal Moran in Sydney to send seminarians to his Manly seminary where Bishop Michael Verdon, the second Bishop of Dunedin (1896-1918) had been Rector.[1] In 1896 Verdon expressed the need for local training from a particular perspective when he complained that his "most promising student James Liston" had returned from Manly to New Zealand "undernourished and unwell". Verdon wrote to Dr. Murphy (Verdon's successor as Rector at Manly) complaining that Liston: " ... was in very poor health indeed when he came home in December and his parents were greatly troubled about him. They brought him to the best doctor in Dunedin who forbade them to send him again to manly. His parents will keep him at home for some months and then will probably send him to Ireland to continue his studies".[1] Verdon was determined that New Zealand should have its own seminary and offered to take full personal responsiblity for the venture. The other New Zealand Bishops accepted his offer. The seminary was to be a minor (high school, preparatory) as well as a major (arts, philosphy and theology) seminary. On 12 April 1899 Bishop Verdon purchased a house on a 11 acre site at Mosgiel built in 1878. Verdon thought that he could staff the seminary with Vincentian priests. But was unsuccessful in this and decided to start the college with his own priests. The seminary, with eleven students in residence, and with Bishop Verdon as its first Rector, opened on 3 May 1900, the feast of the Holy Cross.[1]
Holy Cross College at Mosgiel
In August 1900 work began on a new chapel for the college. It was blessed and opened on 3 May 1901. Its architect was Commanditori Leonardi, the papal architect for Pope Leo XIII and a friend of Verdon's. Built in true Roman style, with semicircular windows, marble alter, guilded copper ceiling and classic ionic pilasters, the chapel was an important part of Verdon's attempt to recreate at Mosgiel the spiritual atmosphere of Rome. The first ordination in the chapel occurred in 1902 when Patrick O'Neill was ordained a deacon. In 1902 the enrollment had doubled to 22.[1] Holy Cross Seminary was a apologetic institution. New Zealand had a largely Irish clergy serving a largely working class Catholic population who were imbued with stories of the English and Irish martyrs. The institution was seen as an anti-Protestant bulwark. New Zealand society at the turn of the century was strongly secterian. Catholics encountered serious difficulties providing their children with a good education and securing jobs for themselves. The curriculum taught at Holy Cross was designed to equip priests to minister within an established minority community and to preserve the identity of that community.[6] The seminary gave to its students a monastic type formation. Only by separating people from the world and giving them a new vision would they be able to re-enter the world and save people from it.[6] Over the next 50 years the College became even more like a monastery. Even though it was located near the bustling city of Dunedin, it was yet set apart in relative isolation. It became an oasis of prayer, study and seclusion. The gradual establishement of various institutions like a printery, bindery, butchery, darkroom and farm separated it from the life of the surrounding community.[6] The college was staffed by secular clergy and others until 1934 and then by the Vincentian order. In the 98 years that the College was at Mosgiel (1900-1997) it had 1302 strudents. Of those 648 were ordained.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Peter Joseph Norris, Southernmost Seminary: The story of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel (1900-97), Holy Cross Seminary, Auckland, 1999, pp. 11-15.
- ^ ER Simmons, A Brief History of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, Catholic Publications Centre, Auckland, 1978, p. 89
- ^ Sister Mary Augustine McCarthy OP, Star in the South: The Centennial History of the New Zealand Dominican Sisters, St Dominic's Priory, Dunedin, 1970, p. 156.
- ^ Peter Joseph Norris, Southernmost Seminary: The story of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel (1900-97), Holy Cross Seminary, Auckland, 1999, p. 15
- ^ Nicholas Reid, James Michael Liston: A Life, Victoria University Press, Wellington, 2006, p. 35.
- ^ a b c Peter Joseph Norris, pp. 143-145.
- ^ Peter Joseph Norris, p. 157