Holy Cross College is an independent Roman Catholic secondary day school for boys, located in the Sydney suburb of Ryde, New South Wales, Australia. It is administered by Catholic Schools New South Wales, with an enrolment of 736 students and a teaching staff of 55, as of 2023. The school serves students from Year 7 to Year 12, and was originally conducted by the Patrician Brothers.
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History and tradition
In 1808, Bishop Daniel Delany established in Ireland the Congregation of the Brothers of St Patrick and sought to have the youth of his native land instructed in the principles and lifestyle of the Gospels.
The Patrician Brothers arrived in New South Wales in 1883, opening a Boarding College at Ryde in 1891, and by the end of 1892, the college had an enrolment of 20 students.
The College moved to its present site in 1896, and was set to open in 1897, but the building was not completed until June 1898. The official opening and blessing occurred on 3 July 1898.
The great sandstone edifice which is now a landmark of the district gradually rose on the heights above the Parramatta River. It celebrated 125 years in 2016.
Motto and crest
The Crest was designed in the early 1900s, and was installed in a stained glass window of the Oratory in the Monastery building. In 1959, a larger replica was installed in the new College Chapel. The Crest features the Waratah and Shamrock entwined, symbolising the shared Patrician Apostolate of Australia and Ireland. In one adaptation, the Harp is replaced by the Southern Cross. The overall design of the Crest is technically termed "Quarterly per Cross" and "Cross Fillet". The stars indicate the Southern Cross. Clockwise, from top left, the Quarters symbolise:
The Bishop's Mitre, for Bishop Daniel Delany, founder of the Patrician Brothers (and the Brigidine Sisters).
The Heart, as the universal symbol of love of God and mankind.
The Book of Learning (education), as the embodiment of the Scriptures, the humanities and the sciences.
The Harp, as the national emblem of Ireland, the country of origin of the Patrician Brothers...
Sport
Holy Cross College was previously affiliated with the Metropolitan Catholic Colleges Sports Association (MCC).
Principals
The following individuals have served as Principal of Holy Cross College:
Notable alumni
Chris Anderson – boarded and attended 6th form (Yr 12) 1971 while playing reserve and first grade for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Mark Beaven – rugby league footballer
Paul Beaven – rugby league footballer
Luke Brooks – rugby league footballer for Wests Tigers
Matt Cecchin – former NRL Referee
Darren Clark – former Australian 200m and 400m sprint champion and dual Olympic Representative at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games
Joseph Clark – Federal Parliament Member for seat of Darling for 35 years from 1934 to 1969.
Paul Clarke – rugby league footballer
Peter Clarke – rugby league footballer
Greg Cox – rugby league footballer
Bradley Deitz – rugby league footballer
Ignatius John Doggett – Catholic Bishop
Benny Elias – formerrugby league footballer for Balmain Tigers, NSW State of Origin, Australian Kangaroos
Anthony Fisher – Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, 2014
Maurice Fitzgerald – rugby league footballer
Dr. Maxwell Foran —prominent Australian and Canadian academic