St Aloysius College in Glasgow

St Aloysius' College's senior and junior pupils with Cardinal Keith O'Brien and Bishop Peter Moran at the school's 150th anniversary celebrations PlC: PAUL McSHERRY

SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTI1SH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday September 18 2009 By Martin Dunlop 150 not out for St Aloysius' College MASS and a civic reception have been held to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Aloysius College in Glasgow. The college, founded in 1859 by the Society of Jesus, was originally situated in the Bridgeton area of the city before moving to its current location in the city's Hill Street. As a Jesuit school, St Aloysius' College shares in a tradition of educational excellence which is almost 500 -years-old and is part of a worldwide network of schools and universities whose mission, in the words of St Ignatius Loyola, is 'the improvement in living and learning for the greater glory of God and the common good.' The year of celebrations began on June 21 with an anniversary Mass being celebrated by Bishop Peter Moran, of Aberdeen Diocese, a former pupil of St Aloysius College. Last week's celebrations began with Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow celebrating Mass for the Junior School on Thursday September 10. The following morn­ng the Senior School began a day of events with Mass concelebrated by Cardinal Keith O'Brien and Bishop Moran and the Jesuit Provincial Fr Michael Holman, SJ. The liturgy featured two original musical works, including Serenity specially composed by James MacMillan and Let all the People Praise Thee, O Lord by college music director Liam Devlin. In his blessing Cardinal O'Brien said that the 'whole people of Scotland join in thanksgiving for the college,' saying that the name of the college and those associated with it are revered throughout the country. Reflecting on the leadership role that the school has played over the past 150 years, he asked pupils and staff to 'continue to look out to the world around them and to those who are poor and afflicted.' In his homily, Fr Holman spoke of the college 'not merely as a good or fine school, but as an outstanding school.' He emphasised his pride in the 'energy, enterprise and foresight' of the Society of Jesus in establishing St Aloysius' College which has con­tributed so much to the society of the West of Scotland. Mass was followed by pupils, staff and parents gathering at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall for the annual prize giving where an address was given by the Right Hon Lord Gill, Lord Justice Clerk, a past pupil of the college. In his address, John Stoer, head master of St Aloysius, noted that the college had had a very successful year academically, with the best A-C pass rate at Higher of all the independent schools in Glasgow. He went on to note that while academic success is important, 'the aesthetic, emotional, social and spiritual development of pupils is key to developing the God given potential of each individual.' A civic reception for the college was hosted by Glasgow City Council at the City Chambers on Saturday. In his welcome Baillie Gordon Matheson, on behalf of the Lord Provost, looked at the contribution that the college has made to Glasgow and the West of Scotland, noting the commitment of the Society of Jesus to provide the academic and spiritual benefits of education through both the best and worst of times over the past 150 years. Mr Mathieson spoke of 'looking forward to a bright and confident future in St Mungo's city and a renewed partnership between Glasgow City Council and tangibly closer links with the college.' martin@scottishcatholicobseNer.org.uk