End of an era as last priests and brothers leave Daramlan College
Canberra’s Daramalan College was founded in 1962 by the priests and brothers of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
Fifty-seven years later, the last remaining MSC (Missionarii Sacratissimi Cordis) priests and brothers are moving to a retirement home in Sydney and their residence on the site of the school is closing.
It’s the end of an era.
Father Jim Littleton, 89, and Father Harold Baker, 96, at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart residence at Daramarlan College. Picture: Elesa Kurtz
While the school now has a staff of lay teachers, there was a time – in the mid-1970s – when close to 30 priests or brothers were working at the school and living in the residence.
Only three now remain.
Father Jim Littleton, 89, was the principal of Daramalan College from 1971 to 1979.
Father Harold Baker, 96, was the deputy principal, teaching maths and religion and providing pastoral care to the year 11 and year 12 student from 1975 to 2002.
Students also have fond memories of him teaching them social dancing.
Father Jim Littleton, 89, and Father Harold Baker, 96, in the residence at Daramarlan College The building may be demolished to make way for new school facilities. Picture: Elesa Kurtz
“It’s time for me to go,” Father Harold said.
Brother John Walker is the third remaining person living in the residence. He was a registered nurse who worked at Calvary Hospital.
They are retiring to a Sacred Heart monastery in Sydney.
Father Harold leaves next week and Father Jim and Brother John early next year.
“I’m sad to be leaving because I’ve enjoyed living in Canberra,” Father Jim said.
Father Jim said after stepping down as principal, his focus moved from the students to staff.
“Helping them to understand the ethos of the school,” he said.
“That’s is based around a spirituality; helping them to appreciate they’re loved by God.”
Daramalan College principal Rita Daniels said the brothers and priests had made a huge contribution to the school.
The last on staff was Brother Barry Smith, the business manager, who left in July.
“They have left an extraordinary legacy at the school over 57 years,” Ms Daniels said.
“They have been significant in the field of education and supporting young people to be the best they can be.”
Ms Daniels said no decisions had yet been made about the future of the residence building.
“It will eventually be handed over to the school for future development,” she said.
Daramalan board chair Chris Fearon, who attended the school from 1966 to 1973, said he was sad to see the priests and brothers go but Daramalan would “always be an MSC school”.
“They’ve been a great presence, in many ways, as guides and mentors for the students,” he said.
“We recognise things do move on. In reality, I think, people joining the priesthood, the MSC, are not going to be teachers. They want to work in the missions out in the Pacific, PNG. Unfortunately, priests with education as their mission and vocation are becoming fewer.
“But we have a fantastic group of teachers being formed in the MSC ethos and we’ve taken up the challenge.”
This article was first published on The Canberra Times, DECEMBER 14 2019
The departure of the Brothers and Priests from “Dara” reflects the times as vocations to the Priesthood , Brothers and Nuns continue to decline and the Schools and Colleges they founded are taken over by lay men and women .I was taught by the Sisters of Mercy (primary) Marist Brothers (secondary) . I taught with the Christian Brothers, Josephites and the MSC during my teaching career . I will always admire their dedication and the sacrifices that they made for their students and the Church community.
Farewell and enjoy your retirement , you certainly deserve it.
We had two boys at Daramalan College in 1970/71, Michael and Stephen. Three of the original priests were Fr Terry Naughton, Fr Frank Anderson and Fr Brian Gagen. They set up our Daramalan Family Group which met once a week for a home Mass, prayer and religious discussion. They were inspiring priests who changed our lives, for which we shall be forever grateful. Fr Anderson was a a most notable writer of hymns, one of the best known, and our favourite, being Eagle’s Wings.
Fr Baker enjoy happy times in Sydney. My daughters attended Daramalan for years 11 and 12 back in the 80s and 90s, and I worked in the college library from about 1988 to 1998. I lived in a the Sacred Heart parish in Randwick in Sydney for many years, the MSCs helped me through difficult times then. I am very thankful for the MSC influence in my life and that of my family. My daughters have become beautiful, caring young women with with friendships that have lasted beyond the years at Daramalan. It is sad to see the MSCs depart from Daramalan, but we all move on to new fields eventually, happy days to you all.
One of Fr Littleton’s lesser know achievements was his facilitating the entry of ‘Gays’ to membership of the msc thus, removing a long-standing barrier to this section of society.
I am saddened but not surprised at the end of an era of priests at Daramalan. I remember the school being opened; very much with the MSC mission of spreading God’s love through students to the world. Later I had the great experience of having 6 children experiencing the same MSC experience at Chevalier in Bowral.
There is something very special about the MSC educational experience. I pray it continues after the last priests have retired. Judging by my grandchildren who go to Chevalier, it has continued there.
MSC have made a great contribution to our Archdiocese through the education of thousands of young people. In my own family – Van Rooy my brother and two from the second generation of our family have been educated in the MSC Spirituality with a possible third generation in the coming years.
MSC’s contribute to make their spirituality alive in our archdiocese through their pastoral work at St John the Apostle Parish -Kippax and St John’s School – Florey. May God continue to bless the MSC in all they do for the people of God here in Australia and across the world.