Saint Bonaventure's College
Encyclopedia
St. Bonaventure's College (commonly called St. Bon's) is an independent kindergarten to grade 12 Catholic
School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. John The Baptist
.
The school was founded by the Franciscans in 1857, and from 1889 was administered by the Irish Christian Brothers
. In 1999, St. Bon's became an independent Roman Catholic School in the Jesuit Tradition. In 2003, St. Bon's became a member of the Jesuit Secondary School Association.
to sell more than 30,000 building stones from Waterford
, Ireland
, which had been imported to build the local penitentiary. The Catholic Bishop of the day, Right Rev. John Thomas Mullock, took advantage of plans to build a smaller penal institution and purchased sufficient surplus stones to construct a Franciscan monastery. (The building was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure on May 15, 1989 by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
and is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places
.)
In April 1857 the bishop laid the cornerstone of the college named after the Franciscan Order's most scholarly and famous theologian, St. Bonaventure. A year later, in March 1858, the new facilities opened. Dormitories were installed upstairs as the institution operated as a seminary. Seven years later in 1865 the college began to admit secular students and, in 1889, the Irish Christian Brothers assumed administrative responsibilities for the school.
The school was closed in 1998 due to the end of denominational education in the province. In 1999, the school was reopened with the Society of Jesus
offering administrative help; it is now the only K-12 private school, and the only Catholic school, in the city.
Some of Newfoundland's greatest political and cultural leaders were educated at St. Bon's. Among its graduates are many Rhodes scholars, Jubilee scholars, two lieutenant governors, three chief justices, five archbishops and six regular Bishops. In addition, Newfoundland prime minister
s Sir Edward Morris
and Sir Michael Cashin
were both St. Bon's alumni. Former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams
, also attended St. Bon's, although he graduated from nearby Gonzaga High School (which was named the city's overall best High School in 2009 by the Telegram).
The school was also a perennial leader in sports and was the first educational institution to institute an annual sports day. The prestigious Boyle Trophy has a long association with the school.
The school is now well known for its excellence in music. Under the direction of Vincenza Etchegary, the school now has more than seven bands, has won numerous awards, and has traveled to MusicFest Canada to compete in competitions, winning several awards there. In 2004, St. Bonaventure's College Wind Ensemble won the CBC Radio 2004 Provincial School Band Competition for Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2007, the Wind Ensemble traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the All American Band Festival, and took home many awards, including Most Outstanding Band. The school's choirs have also achieved success in many local competitions under the direction of Kellie Walsh; the Senior Choir won the 2006 Kiwanis Rose Bowl, and the Treble Choir won the same award in 2007.
In April 2009, the Wind Ensemble, Senior Jazz Band and the Treble Choir of the school travelled to Anaheim, California, to participate in the Heritage Music Festival, winning the top awards.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
School in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located in the historic centre of North America's oldest city, adjacent to the Roman Catholic Basilica of St. John The Baptist
Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador is the metropolitan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's, Newfoundland and the mother church and symbol of Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland....
.
The school was founded by the Franciscans in 1857, and from 1889 was administered by the Irish Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. In 1999, St. Bon's became an independent Roman Catholic School in the Jesuit Tradition. In 2003, St. Bon's became a member of the Jesuit Secondary School Association.
History
In 1855, there was a public auctionPublic auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
to sell more than 30,000 building stones from Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, which had been imported to build the local penitentiary. The Catholic Bishop of the day, Right Rev. John Thomas Mullock, took advantage of plans to build a smaller penal institution and purchased sufficient surplus stones to construct a Franciscan monastery. (The building was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure on May 15, 1989 by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador is a non-profit organization which was established by the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1984 to stimulate an understanding of and an appreciation for the architectural heritage of the province...
and is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places
Canadian Register of Historic Places
The Canadian Register of Historic Places is an online, searchable database that includes listings of historic places important to communities, cities, provinces, territories, and the nation...
.)
In April 1857 the bishop laid the cornerstone of the college named after the Franciscan Order's most scholarly and famous theologian, St. Bonaventure. A year later, in March 1858, the new facilities opened. Dormitories were installed upstairs as the institution operated as a seminary. Seven years later in 1865 the college began to admit secular students and, in 1889, the Irish Christian Brothers assumed administrative responsibilities for the school.
The school was closed in 1998 due to the end of denominational education in the province. In 1999, the school was reopened with the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
offering administrative help; it is now the only K-12 private school, and the only Catholic school, in the city.
Some of Newfoundland's greatest political and cultural leaders were educated at St. Bon's. Among its graduates are many Rhodes scholars, Jubilee scholars, two lieutenant governors, three chief justices, five archbishops and six regular Bishops. In addition, Newfoundland prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
s Sir Edward Morris
Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris
Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris was a lawyer and Prime Minister of Newfoundland.Born in St. John's, Morris was educated at the University of Ottawa, joined the bar in 1885, and was a counsel for the British government during the North American fisheries arbitration in 1910 receiving a...
and Sir Michael Cashin
Michael Patrick Cashin
Sir Michael Patrick Cashin, KBE was a Newfoundland businessman and politician....
were both St. Bon's alumni. Former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams
Danny Williams (politician)
Daniel E. "Danny" Williams, QC, MHA is a Canadian politician, businessman and lawyer who served as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador between November 6, 2003, and December 3, 2010. Williams was born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...
, also attended St. Bon's, although he graduated from nearby Gonzaga High School (which was named the city's overall best High School in 2009 by the Telegram).
The school was also a perennial leader in sports and was the first educational institution to institute an annual sports day. The prestigious Boyle Trophy has a long association with the school.
The school is now well known for its excellence in music. Under the direction of Vincenza Etchegary, the school now has more than seven bands, has won numerous awards, and has traveled to MusicFest Canada to compete in competitions, winning several awards there. In 2004, St. Bonaventure's College Wind Ensemble won the CBC Radio 2004 Provincial School Band Competition for Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2007, the Wind Ensemble traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the All American Band Festival, and took home many awards, including Most Outstanding Band. The school's choirs have also achieved success in many local competitions under the direction of Kellie Walsh; the Senior Choir won the 2006 Kiwanis Rose Bowl, and the Treble Choir won the same award in 2007.
In April 2009, the Wind Ensemble, Senior Jazz Band and the Treble Choir of the school travelled to Anaheim, California, to participate in the Heritage Music Festival, winning the top awards.