Page 31 - The Gonzaga Record 1985
P. 31
There are very few schools in Ireland now where Greek is taught. Possibly one
could count them on the fingers of one hand. This at least can be said for such
schools: they clearly are doing it for educational reasons. At a time when there is
such pressure on schools to think purely in terms of jobs and material rewards, it is
refreshing to meet such stout independence.
THE BUILDING OF THE BOYS' CHAPEL
With the building of the Hall there was some relief to the problem of a place
where the whole school could assemble. In a sense, it was too successful: the hall
was in almost continuous use. It was a gymnasium; an examination hall; a theatre,
a refuge from the rain when it fell at lunch hour, and of course, it had to serve as a
school chapel. The stage was used to site a movable altar for First Friday masses,
and for any other masses and prayer functions. During the previous years
Milltown Park had shared its chapel with Gonzaga whenever requested. And it
was so requested again and again and again. The building of the hall gave some
relief all round. But as far as providing the proper functions and atmosphere of a
school chapel, it couldn't begin to do it.
Fr John Hughes, SJ appointed Rector
In the Summer of 1959 Fr John Hughes, SJ was appointed Rector of Gonzaga
College. The school had now been in existence for nine years. From the first day of
its foundation, and through those difficult first years, Fr Charles O'Conor, SJ had
been totally identified with the new College: first as Superior for three years, then
as Rector for six years. This was the first experience the school had of a change of
Rector. For the boys, for the parents, and for many of the teaching staff it was
quite an experience.
Older colleges, of course, were quite used to this sort 6f change; but for
everything there is always a first time; and for Gonzaga it was, if one can so put it,
the first steps away from childhood.
Fr O'Conor had carried ~he burden of founding the College, of s~ruggling with
the finances, of equipping St Joseph's as a school, of building the new Hall, and in
general, do the worrying from 1950 to 1959. He had every reason to feel a sense of
achievement and satisfaction at a work well done. Still, it is a wise provision of
Canon Law which ordains that Superiors of Religious communities be changed
after about six years, except in exceptional circumstances. It means handing over
to someone less tired of the ever present problems. Fr O'Conor became Provincial
of the Irish Province of the Jesuits. No way could it be regarded as a rest from
administration but, at least, the problems were different.
Fr John Hughes, SJ came to Gonzaga from being Rector of St lgnatius's
College, Galway. In Galway the Jesuits had a public church beside the school. For
Masses, confessions and all religious functions, the pupils had just to cross the yard
to the church. Fr Hughes certainly felt the change from these favourable
circumstances to the make-shift arrangement of a movable altar on a stage, and all
the accompanying trucking of chairs to and from the hall for every Mass. It is no
wonder then that the first priority of his Rectorship was the provision of a proper
school chapel, however it was to be managed.
23
could count them on the fingers of one hand. This at least can be said for such
schools: they clearly are doing it for educational reasons. At a time when there is
such pressure on schools to think purely in terms of jobs and material rewards, it is
refreshing to meet such stout independence.
THE BUILDING OF THE BOYS' CHAPEL
With the building of the Hall there was some relief to the problem of a place
where the whole school could assemble. In a sense, it was too successful: the hall
was in almost continuous use. It was a gymnasium; an examination hall; a theatre,
a refuge from the rain when it fell at lunch hour, and of course, it had to serve as a
school chapel. The stage was used to site a movable altar for First Friday masses,
and for any other masses and prayer functions. During the previous years
Milltown Park had shared its chapel with Gonzaga whenever requested. And it
was so requested again and again and again. The building of the hall gave some
relief all round. But as far as providing the proper functions and atmosphere of a
school chapel, it couldn't begin to do it.
Fr John Hughes, SJ appointed Rector
In the Summer of 1959 Fr John Hughes, SJ was appointed Rector of Gonzaga
College. The school had now been in existence for nine years. From the first day of
its foundation, and through those difficult first years, Fr Charles O'Conor, SJ had
been totally identified with the new College: first as Superior for three years, then
as Rector for six years. This was the first experience the school had of a change of
Rector. For the boys, for the parents, and for many of the teaching staff it was
quite an experience.
Older colleges, of course, were quite used to this sort 6f change; but for
everything there is always a first time; and for Gonzaga it was, if one can so put it,
the first steps away from childhood.
Fr O'Conor had carried ~he burden of founding the College, of s~ruggling with
the finances, of equipping St Joseph's as a school, of building the new Hall, and in
general, do the worrying from 1950 to 1959. He had every reason to feel a sense of
achievement and satisfaction at a work well done. Still, it is a wise provision of
Canon Law which ordains that Superiors of Religious communities be changed
after about six years, except in exceptional circumstances. It means handing over
to someone less tired of the ever present problems. Fr O'Conor became Provincial
of the Irish Province of the Jesuits. No way could it be regarded as a rest from
administration but, at least, the problems were different.
Fr John Hughes, SJ came to Gonzaga from being Rector of St lgnatius's
College, Galway. In Galway the Jesuits had a public church beside the school. For
Masses, confessions and all religious functions, the pupils had just to cross the yard
to the church. Fr Hughes certainly felt the change from these favourable
circumstances to the make-shift arrangement of a movable altar on a stage, and all
the accompanying trucking of chairs to and from the hall for every Mass. It is no
wonder then that the first priority of his Rectorship was the provision of a proper
school chapel, however it was to be managed.
23
