Greetings from St Bede’s College.

We have had a week without the seniors, after we farewelled them last Friday. Year 9s and 10s had retreats on Monday and Tuesday as we begin the last stanza of the school year.

During the week, Mr John Callaghan, old boy and long-serving member of various governing bodies at St Bede's, passed away. His family have been connected to the College for most of its history, and two of his grandsons are current students. The Rosary for John is at the College on Sunday night at 6.00pm, and the funeral will be held on Monday 11 November, at St Teresa's Catholic Church in Puriri Street, at 11.00am.

Leavers’ Day began with the breakfast which is subsidised by the Old Boys’ Association. It is the custom that a father and a mother of two of the leaving Year 13s speak at the breakfast. I thought I would share excerpts of their speeches with you (see below).

Mrs Trish McKendry is the mother of Jacob who left last week and Tyler who came through the College in recent years. Mr Damien Fahey, an old boy himself, is the father of Chris who finished last week as well.

Until next week,

J.G. Boyle 

Excerpt from Mrs Trish McKendry’s speech (Leavers’ Breakfast 2019)

“The Ryan family connection with St Bede’s College began in 1919 when my grandfather William Ryan (of Ryan Brothers Roading Contractors) was engaged to form the grounds of the new St Bede’s College, which was transferring from Ferry Road. William and his gang of men had just completed forming the grounds for St Andrew’s College in Papanui Road and were paid well for it, so he was definitely keen for another project in what were challenging times economically. Unfortunately, after he had completed the St Bede’s College grounds, the Rector informed him that they were unable to afford to pay him for his work and so as a method of recompense the Rector offered to educate three of his brightest sons (he had six) and one of them (the runt of the litter) was my father – Joseph Michael Ryan, who began at SBC in 1944. He biked from New Brighton every day for three years until his school certificate papers were torn up, by the acting Rector, in front of the School Assembly.
My brother Peter attended St Bede’s between 1983 and 1987 and luckily had an improved experience of being a Bedean, he had two extra years than his father and he was a prefect in the 7th form. His significant memories are of playing handball, touch out in the front field and hiding during class, up in the skylights in the classrooms in Brodie. He remembers opting for the cane in summer shorts instead of detention because it was over and done with a lot quicker! He still speaks very highly of certain teachers and sports coaches whose words of wisdom he remembers today. He has fond memories of Father Brian Cummings who was a great English teacher and sports coach. Peter still catches up with his Bedean brothers whether its playing old man’s soccer (because rugby is too tough at his age) or a drink on a Friday night.
Our boys Tyler & Jacob have had an outstanding education at the modern day St Bede’s. They are very different boys and had different strengths and interests. The vision of St Bede’s College however was evident at all times ‘We are all encouraged to reach our potential through our faith and by our actions, while knowing we are valued, safe and supported.’

Excerpt from Mr Damien Fahey’s speech (Leavers’ Breakfast 2019)

“My name is Damien Fahey, father of Chris - and I have been asked to speak to you as a father and an Old Boy.
Chris is the Third Generation of our Fahey family to attend St Bede's - starting with my father in the late 1930's, my tenure during the 1970's as the College teaching staff was transitioning from priests to the laity, and Chris commenced his Bedean journey in 2015 - along with the rest of the young men in this room.
The Faheys have been stunningly average at College - no 1st XV caps for us; the 1st XI cricket was only a pipe dream - but I did manage a season in the other 1st XI, in the early days of St Bede’s football. No captains of industry, or Olympic or commonwealth medalists in our mob; nor any knighthoods or politicians which St Bede’s seems to churn out with monotonous regularity.....no late developing Black Caps or All Blacks.
In fact, the school years that my brothers and I left St Bede’s in Yahtzee parlance would comprise a short straight - John left in the fourth form; Tony in the fifth; Tim in the sixth and I managed to get through to the seventh form.
So does mediocrity rule the Fahey clan? Absolutely not! My siblings and I and our respective wider families are by and large contented, well nourished, we have roofs over our heads and we have forged strong bonds with great mates and/or God. No criminal convictions, no bankruptcies or liquidations (at this stage anyway), no marriage splits and on balance, a bunch of reasonably well adjusted offspring.
So what's our secret?
When we left St Bede’s we knew, and mostly chose, right from wrong, respect over abuse, and fairness over inequity. Our moral compasses have been strongly shaped by our Catholic upbringing and our Bedean schooling through the most formative years of our young male lives.
When considering secondary schools for Chris, my hope and desire was that he would want to attend St Bede’s - despite us living over 20kms from the College. He duly made that choice with only gentle persuasion from his parents.
I am convinced that the pastoral care and teachings provided to, and learned by our sons, thru their Bedean experiences, is far more important.”