The College was opened in 1837 as a second level boarding and day school for Catholic youth destined for the priesthood, professional and business careers. Soon the College developed into a major seminary. In 1842 a philosophical department was introduced and almost immediately an attempt was made to have a theological faculty. A few students were ordained to the priesthood in the late 1840's but the planned major seminary did not materialize at the time. THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE The College struggled to survive during its early decades. Having weathered the twin hardships of the Famine and chronic debt the College gained a new lease of life in the mid 1860's. A permanent theological faculty was established in 1866 and the College was now a major seminary. Annual ordinations to the priesthood have been a feature of College life since 1873 when the first group ordination of fifteen took place in Thurles. Hand in hand with these developments there was a corresponding scaling down of the lay department in the College. No further lay boarders could be accommodated. A small number of extern lay students continued to attend the College until 1907 when the lay department finally closed. MISSION TO THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD The College quickly flourished as a major seminary. Soon Thurles priests were to be found all over the English-speaking world. The early established pattern of serving the Church in the United States, Australia and New Zealand remained substantially unchanged well into the twentieth century. Links with British, especially English, dioceses began to develop during the early decades of the 20th century whereas the trend towards the southern hemisphere slowed down from the 1940's and had practically ceased by the early 1960's. For much of the 20th century the majority of students opted for the United States mission. At present there are about 180 past students serving in the States. During the 1980's small numbers of students of the College were ordained for ministry in Zimbabwe and Iceland. During the past twenty five years the majority of students of the College were destined for service in dioceses throughout Ireland. PAST STUDENTS Over 1500 students of the College have been ordained to the priesthood in Thurles. A considerable number of others have received part of their priestly formation in St. Patrick's College before transferring to other seminaries, especially seminaries in the United States. Past students of the College have given distinguished service to the Church at home and throughout the English-speaking world. Some were pioneering priests and bishops who laid the foundations and paved the way for the remarkable growth of the Church in newly developing English-speaking countries. Less well known, perhaps, but no less important are the many who ministered to the day to day needs of the Church in more established surroundings at home and abroad. Among the past students of the College who became pioneering bishops were Drangan-born Dr. James Byrne of Toowoomba, Australia, Dr. Lawrence Scanlan of Gaile, Moycarkey, first bishop of Salt Lake City and Dr. John Cantwell, first archbishop of Los Angeles, who was reared in Fethard. Bishop Thomas Quinlan of Borrisoleigh spent over four years in the College before joining the newly founded Columban Missionary Society in 1918. He gave sterling service in China and Korea, survived an infamous death march during the Korean War and was later decorated by the President of South Korea in recognition for his service. The long-serving Superior General of the Columban Missionary Society, Dr. Michael O'Dwyer of Holycross, was a member of the College staff when he opted for missionary service in 1920. And there were many more notable past students and staff of the College including Archbishop Morris, Bishops Russell and Lee of Waterford and Dr. Thomas Flanagan, Auxiliary Bishop of San Antonio. The arrival of students from the adjoining Pallottine College in 1909 added a further dimension to the work of St. Patrick's College. From 1909 until 1986 most Pallottine students received their academic training in St. Patrick's College. Through this association the work of St. Patrick's College was extended very widely into the more strictly missionary fields of Africa and South America during the past century. NEW DEVELOPMENTS In 1988 the lay department of St. Patrick's College was once again revived with the introduction of a B.A. Theology degree course. Since that date lay students have graduated each year. An important milestone was reached during the past academic year with the granting of maintenance grants and fees to students of St. Patrick's College. These welcome developments will now facilitate the College's desire to further expand its service to education in the wider community. Rev. Christy O'Dwyer President St. Patrick's College Date: 28 August 2002. |