Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception - Annual Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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To inculcate pious ideals and to mold priestly char- acter, in 1921, weekly spiritual conferences were held, the practice of an annual retreat was begun, and the first of extracurricular societies was born. To cope with the increase, plans were made for new facilities, including a combination auditorium-gymnasium, three new classrooms and a Chemistry-Physics labora- tory. At the same time, Bishop McDonnell decided to provide living quarters for the faculty at the College and purchased a four-story building on the corner of St. james Place and Atlantic Avenue, immediately adjacent to the College. Plans were also formulated to erect a convent, apart from the new wing, as a home for a community of Dominican Sisters who would attend to the domestic needs of the faculty house. Rev. Thomas J. O'Rourkc: First Ordained Alumnus Bishop Charles E. McDonnell In August of 1921, Cathedral's founder, Bishop Mc- Donnell died. He was succeeded by the Most Reverend Thomas E. Molloy, Cathedral's former Spiritual Director, who had been since October of 1920 Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese. 286 students began classes in the Atlantic Avenue building in 1921. The convent was completed and six nuns took up their duties. The convent chapel was equipped with three altars to provide for the daily cele- bration of Mass by the resident professors. Late in September of 1922, Bishop Molloy an- nounced the transfer of Dr. Reichert, Pro-Rector, to the pastorate of St. Nicholas Parish, and Rev. john R. McCoy, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Cutchogue, to the Rectorship of the College. By the year 1926, the student body had grown to 365. In October, Fr. McCoy assumed the pastorship of the Church of St. Anthony, Greenpoint, and the Rev. Edward P. Hoar, administrator of St. james Pro- Cathedral, was appointed Rector of the College. 'i 'i A '.' 'T

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Classes in major subjects lasted an hour. The students reported at 8 :15 A.M. to attend Mass. The day included six one-hour classes, one .recreation and lunch period, and a study period from four to five as a prepara- tion for homework. Thursday was theoretically a holiday, but it was often sacrificed to finish the second book of Caesar before the end of the first year. On December 8, 1914, the feast of our patroness, Mary Immaculate, in the presence of the first Rector, Bishop Mundelein, the faculty and student body, ground was broken at the junction of Washington and Atlantic Avenues. In September of 1915, Bishop McDonnell blessed the first section of the building. In the Flemish-Gothic structure, which comprises the main wing of the present building, the first and second classes commenced their studies. In November of that year, His Holiness, Pope Bene- dict XV, honored Bishop Mundelein with the Arch- Mr. George Duval George Cardinal Mundelein bishopric of Chicago. The following March, Rev. james J. Higgins, D.D. from St. Anne's Parish assumed the Rectorship of the College. Upon the entry of the United States into the First World War, in response to the Bishop's call for chap- lains, two members of the faculty volunteered and saw active service. Several students joined the armed forces and two were called upon to make the supreme sacrifice. In October of 1918, the College suffered the loss of its Rector, Father Higgins, in a tragic automobile accident. Father Reichert, a member of the original faculty and then Prefect of Studies, was designated Pro-Rector of the College. At this point the College was confronted with the problem of providing classrooms for the ever-increasing number of students. Accordingly, in September, 1920, ground was broken for a new wing fronting on Atlantic Avenue. The original enrollment moved upward to 248 students.

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' Q-212 1 ,W ww W 5 s i '.. West Wing and Faculty House The Gymnasium 'if ' H . In X- L-L ai- . , N ' ' I 1 X Y' V , E : 'A ' ' ' V :ix -. rl 1' -if The Laboratory