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Holy Cross College is an independent Roman Catholic secondary day school for boys, located in the Sydney suburb of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.[1][2] It is administered by Catholic Schools New South Wales, with an enrolment of 736 students and a teaching staff of 55, as of 2023.[2] The school serves students from Year 7 to Year 12,[2] and was originally conducted by the Patrician Brothers.[3]

Quick Facts Location, Coordinates ...
Holy Cross College
Location

Australia
Coordinates33°49′06″S 151°07′10″E
Information
TypeIndependent secondary day school
MottoLatin: In cruce salus
(In the Cross (is) Salvation)
Religious affiliation(s)Patrician Brothers
DenominationRoman Catholic
Established1891; 133 years ago (1891)
FounderAlphonsus Delany
PrincipalPhillip Stewart
Staff~ 66
Teaching staff55
Years712
GenderBoys
Enrolment736 (2023)
Colour(s)Maroon and gold   
Websitehccryde.syd.catholic.edu.au
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History and tradition

In 1808, Bishop Daniel Delany established in Ireland the Congregation of the Brothers of St Patrick and sought to have the youth of his native land instructed in the principles and lifestyle of the Gospels.

The Patrician Brothers arrived in New South Wales in 1883, opening a Boarding College at Ryde in 1891,[citation needed] and by the end of 1892, the college had an enrolment of 20 students.[4]

The College moved to its present site in 1896,[5] and was set to open in 1897,[6] but the building was not completed until June 1898.[7] The official opening and blessing occurred on 3 July 1898.[7][8]

The great sandstone edifice which is now a landmark of the district gradually rose on the heights above the Parramatta River. It celebrated 125 years in 2016.

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Motto and crest

The Crest was designed in the early 1900s, and was installed in a stained glass window of the Oratory in the Monastery building. In 1959, a larger replica was installed in the new College Chapel. The Crest features the Waratah and Shamrock entwined, symbolising the shared Patrician Apostolate of Australia and Ireland. In one adaptation, the Harp is replaced by the Southern Cross. The overall design of the Crest is technically termed "Quarterly per Cross" and "Cross Fillet". The stars indicate the Southern Cross. Clockwise, from top left, the Quarters symbolise:

  • The Bishop's Mitre, for Bishop Daniel Delany, founder of the Patrician Brothers (and the Brigidine Sisters).
  • The Heart, as the universal symbol of love of God and mankind.
  • The Book of Learning (education), as the embodiment of the Scriptures, the humanities and the sciences.
  • The Harp, as the national emblem of Ireland, the country of origin of the Patrician Brothers...
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Sport

Holy Cross College was previously affiliated with the Metropolitan Catholic Colleges Sports Association (MCC).

Principals

The following individuals have served as Principal of Holy Cross College:

More information Year, Principal ...
YearPrincipalNotable Achievements
1891Fintan O'NeillFirst Principal of Holy Cross College
1891–1893, 1899–1904Andrew Dwyer
1894Stanislaus Bergin
1896Louis Hunt
1897Anthony Lee
1898Dominic Rickerby
1905–1907, 1912–1919Boniface Carroll
1908–1911, 1923–1924Beningnus Kealy
1920–1922, 1925Canice Grimes
1926–1928Celsus Daly
1929–1936Austin O'Connell
1937–1939Alphonsus Eviston
1940–1943, 1948–1954Aloysius Hannigan
1944Charles Cody
1945–1947Anthony Phelan
1955–1956, 1960–1965John Gallagher
1957–1959Norbert Phelan
1966–1968Patrick Lovegrove
May 1968–1970Mark Ryan
1971–1980Stephen Aitken
1981–1986Philip Mulhall
1986–1997, 1999–2000Anthony Visser
Acting 1998Frank Malloy
2001–2002Matthew Mahoney
2003–2008Garry WilliamsFirst Full-Time Lay Principal
2009–2016Adam Taylor
2017–presentPhillip StewartSchool Captain of Holy Cross in 1984
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Notable alumni

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See also

References

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