70 years of Catholic education for Delany College

More than 600 people attended the mass at St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta

Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP celebrated Delany's 70th anniversary mass

On Thursday 2 February, Delany College, Granville celebrated their school’s 70th anniversary with a mass celebrated by Bishop of Parramatta, Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, and attended by more than 600 people at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.

Delany College was established by the Patrician Brothers in 1942 and named after their founder Bishop Daniel Delany. The mass was especially significant for the Patrician Brothers who were also celebrating their 204th anniversary since the order’s foundation in Ireland in 1808.

Several Patrician Brothers were in attendance for the mass including Province Leader, Br Phillip Mulhall and Br Aengus Kavanagh. Student representatives from Patrician Brothers’ College, Blacktown; Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield; Holy Cross College, Ryde and All Saints Catholic Boys College, Liverpool, also attended by executive director of schools, Greg Whitby and members of the Catholic Education leadership team.  

The mass was concelebrated by the Vicar General, Very Reverend Peter Williams VG; Episcopal Vicar for Education and Formation, Very Reverend Chris de Souza EV; Reverend Clifford D’Souza MSFS, Holy Trinity, parish, Granville; Reverend Arthur Bridge AM, St Oliver Plunkett’s parish, Harris Park; Reverend Peter Blayney JV, St Patrick’s parish, Guildford and Monsignor Shora Maree from Our Lady of Lebanon, Harris Park.

In his homily, Bishop Anthony drew on the words of Pope Benedict XVI from his address at World Youth Day Sydney to remind students about the importance of their Catholic schooling.

‘Your task is to be a new generation of apostles, to bring the world to Christ,’ said Bishop Anthony.

‘We give thanks for the blessing that Delany College has been to many young people in western Sydney in providing them with a good education, a start in life, and witness to the Providence of God,’ he said. ‘As a son of your brother school of Holy Cross Ryde, I know how important all this is.’ 

Delany’s principal, Peter Wade, said the school is proud of their Patrician history and believed Delany’s foundation principal, the late Br Joseph Tierney fsp, was celebrating with them in spirit.

‘This is a huge milestone for Delany College,’ said Peter. ‘I am sure that Br Joe is looking down with great pride that 70 years after foundation, the college has grown significantly and still holds true to the Patrician Brothers mission in bringing education to young people and helping them to see the face of Christ in everyone they meet.’

Leo Budin, who taught at Delany when it opened 1942, was among past staff and students, and people associated with the school community over the years, invited to address those gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral for the celebration. He recalled the early days of the school and marveled at how it has grown since.

‘Seventy years ago, there were three teachers, one hundred students and one blackboard. Delany has certainly come along way since those days,’ said ninety year old, Leo.

The mass was especially significant for the Patrician Brothers who were also celebrating their 204th anniversary since the order’s foundation

Students from Delany College, Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown; Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield; Holy Cross College, Ryde and All Saints Catholic Boys College, Liverpool were also in attendance

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