The Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School Celebrating the Official Opening of the New Abbey Building Friday 1 st October 2010
Headmaster s Foreword I would like to welcome everyone to the official opening of the New Abbey today. It seems a long time ago since we began to plan for this new school. While the site on Courtenay Hill was a wonderful new building in 1965, an increasing enrolment was matched with increasing accommodation pressures. On reflection I find it hard to believe that we are here and that all the work done by so many down through the years has been rewarded by such fantastic accommodation. I think particularly of the Christian Brothers as previous trustees and members of staff, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, Boards of Governors, support and teaching staff, parents and past pupils all who played a role in making this new school a reality. On behalf of the entire school community we thank the Department of Education for the finance, expertise and support which made this project possible, and the architects and contractors who transformed vision into reality. As we planned today s official opening I was very conscious that what makes the Abbey is not the building but rather the spirit that permeates the building and all that we do here. We have started to make this wonderful facility our own. We have taken the spirit of our school from Courtenay Hill to this new site, just as the Brothers took it from the old building in Abbey Yard to what was then the new school in 1965. When designing this school we were conscious that we wanted it to reflect who we are as a community and what we stand for. I will give you two examples of how we did this. Firstly, the central part of the building at the front is based on the traditional structure of a Monastic Abbey, where the Library, the Community Room and the Chapel were central. In this building the positions of the Library, Staff Room and Oratory reflect this. Secondly, the translation of the Abbey Spirit from one building to another finds its expression in a number of artefacts from the old school which have been incorporated into this building. The doors to the Oratory come from the Monastery Chapel as do some of the stained glass windows which illuminate the bottom corridor. These are a constant reminder to us of the living tradition to which we belong. The most important element of any school community is the pupil who is educated and formed within its tradition. Today we ask God s blessing in a particular way on all who are and who will be educated here. May all who work and study here become part of the community which is the Abbey. Dermot McGovern Headmaster
Abbey CBS Carstands School, 1865-1903 The demand for education by the Christian Brothers was from the beginning immense. In February 1851 the Christian Brothers, responding to an invitation from the Bishop of Dromore, began an uninterrupted span of service of over 150 years to the local community by establishing a school in High Street. Their brief was to educate the poor and the working class of the Newry area. Ample proof of their success can be seen in the footprint of generations of Christian Brothers pupils who have provided the leadership for the development of a small rural town into a vibrant modern city. The demand for education by the Christian Brothers was from the beginning immense. They moved regularly to bigger premises to meet this demand: initially to Kilmorey Street, then to Margaret Street to a large building which was locally known as the Carstands and then in 1903 to premises in Castle Street which served for over 60 years as a home for an increasing number of Brothers and for a rapidly increasing number of pupils. The finance to buy and equip these various premises was provided entirely by the Brothers. Hundreds of black-cloaked young men gave their entire life salaries into their congregation to provide a free educational service to this community. In 1966 the Christian Brothers moved to their former site on Courtenay Hill. The school was scheduled to cater for 375 pupils but over 400 pupils moved in on opening day. The Brothers community had to provide 35% of the total cost of construction and maintenance for this new building. The Brothers, many of whom became legends in the local community, lived in spartan conditions while donating their teaching earnings to maintain the school as the only educational opportunity for their pupils, the majority of whom came from working class backgrounds. However, the financial contribution from the Brothers was but a minor gift to the overall life of the pupils. Exam success at 11+, Junior and Senior Certificate, GCSE and A Level led to university and career success. A continuous stream of confident young men became the leaders in a wide variety of professions and occupations and the Brothers guided and pushed their pupils to believe in and to achieve all their aspirations. Dreams became a reality and success became the accepted norm rather than the exception. The legacy of the work of the Brothers did not rest with academic success. In every expression of identity they encouraged their pupils. Language skills and debating were developed, school shows and drama were regularly produced, art exhibitions were presented, computer clubs were established where new ICT skills were honed. What is more, hundreds of pupils were taught the values of a wide variety of 1
sporting activities which were easily passed into everyday life. In all these areas of school life a tradition of voluntary service to the pupils was established, a tradition which still plays a major role in the ethos of the Abbey today. Central to the work of the Brothers throughout the decades was the importance and values of a religious culture. These values were conveyed to the pupils initially via the formal teaching of the Commandments and practices of the Church, yearly retreats for all pupils and regular celebrations of Mass. In recent times increasing emphasis has been placed on providing care and assistance to the disadvantaged people in our community while formal Pastoral Care and Learning for Life and Work programmes have been initiated as part of the school curriculum. The Christian caring and giving way of life was emphasised as the model to which Abbey pupils should aspire. Although the Christian Brothers are no longer directly involved in teaching in the school, the Abbey still retains in its atmosphere and its practice, this spirit of care and service as the central trust of its educational experience. The ethos of the school Abbey CBS Castle Street School, 1903-1966 under the guidance of its first lay Headmaster, Mr. Dermot McGovern, has continued to emphasise the traditional concept of service service to a community of pupils, parents, past pupils and staff. Abbey CBS Grammar School Courtenay Hill 1966-2009 2
Official Opening Ceremony Introduction Mr. Ronan Ruddy, Vice Principal Procession Laudate Dominum (Jacques Berthier) Welcome Sean Óg McAteer, Chairman of the Board of Governors Opening Prayer and Presentation of Symbols Fr. Joe McDonald, Past Headmaster Bible Football Jersey Zambia Flag Keys Homework Diary Westside Story CD Past Governor Past Pupil Support Staff Caretaker Past Member of Staff Parent Reading from the Life of Edmund Rice Mr. Killian Higgins, Member of Staff Rededication to the Ongoing Work of Blessed Edmund Rice An Extract from the first Eucharistic celebration in honour of Blessed Edmund Rice (Rome 1996) (Blessed) Edmund (Rice) spent himself in raising people, particularly the young and those in need, to their true dignity. He enabled them to grow in their birthright of equality and unity as members of God s family on earth. His hunger and desire to be fed by the bread of life in the Eucharist was matched by his own giving of food, drink, clothing and education to all who hungered for new hope and new life. In this way, he worked for transformation in the human scene and condition. He worked for human transformation as he did that most Godly of works to make all things new (Rev.21:5). As people of the Eucharist, we are called to enter into the vision of Jesus for the world as Edmund did. We are called to be people of good news for our times...(sustained by the bread of life, and)...consumed with a passionate willingness to share that life, especially with those who are most deprived. Like Edmund, we must look to our world today and see where and how we can make a difference. As we mark this new step in the Abbey s journey, let us today rededicate the work of the school to making that difference, through the education provided for our young people, education so much valued by Blessed Edmund Rice. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen. 3
Reflection on Our School as part of ERST Dr. Muredach Dynan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ERST Edmund Rice Prayer Mrs. Lisa McKeever, Head of Religious Education O Lord Hear Our Prayer (Jacques Berthier) O God, we thank you for the life of Edmund Rice. He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice May we follow his example of faith and generosity Grant us the courage and compassion of Edmund as we seek to live lives of love and service We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Reflection on Our School A Student View James O Gorman, Head Boy Scripture Reading Mons. Hugh Connolly, Past Pupil and President of St. Patrick s College, Maynooth The Parable of the Sower (Reading reflects on how the seed sown by Edmund Rice has grown) While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 8:4-8) Reflection on the Parable of the Sower Mons. Hugh Connolly, Past Pupil and President of St. Patrick s College, Maynooth Reflection on Our School Our Tradition and Our Hopes Br. Edmund Garvey, Christian Brothers Irish Blessing (Bob Chilcott) 4
Blessing of the School Bishop John McAreavey, Bishop of Dromore Heavenly Father, we gather today to celebrate your presence among us. Renew in us the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We ask you, through your Holy Spirit, to inspire and guide all the activities in the life of the Abbey: the teaching, the learning, the pastoral care, the friendships, the efforts of staff and students, the praying and the playing, the missionary outreach of the school and all our contacts with people in the wider community. We thank you for the guidance and inspiration you gave us on Courtenay Hill. We pray for your continued presence and guidance in this wonderful new building. We commend to your care all who contribute to the work of the Abbey: our Trustees, our Governors, our Staff, our Students and their Parents. Help them to remain faithful to the example and vision of Blessed Edmund Rice, the Founder of the Christian Brothers. Prayer of Blessing Bishop John McAreavey, Bishop of Dromore Bless this candle as a symbol of your presence which guides our work and which we will place in the Oratory, the soul of our school. May the faith in you which it symbolises guide the lives of all who work here now and in the years to come. We make this prayer though Christ our Lord. Unveiling of the Plaque Br. Edmund Garvey, Christian Brothers Concluding Words Mr. Dermot McGovern, Headmaster Closing Prayer Fr. Joe McDonald, Past Headmaster Procession Candle is taken to the Oratory We Give You Thanks (David Hass) 5
The Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School 77A Ashgrove Road, Newry, BT34 1QN Tel: 028 3026 3142 www.abbeycbs.org