St Augustine High School - Saintsman Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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To the Esteemed Class of '45 A ye.ar ago, June 6, l944, the class of '44 formed their processional to the graduation platform. The date June 6 will be fixed in their memories perpetually, for, coincidentally with their Commencement, the long- awaited D-Day when 'our allied forces established their beachhead and enacted the invasion of the Western European frontiers held by the Nazi, occurred that day. The d.ays leading to our I'-745 commencement are presenting a pan- orama of fast moving world events which shall never be effaced from the pages o-f World l-listory: the death of President Roosevelt, the ignomin- ious end of Benito Mussolini, the reported passing of l-litler, the fall of the word's greatest city, Berlin, climaxed by the unconditional surrender of the Germans, and the greater movement towards Japan all tend to confuse our minds as one finds it difficult to digest so much import.ant news in so few days. But there is nothing more important in the life of a young man than the approach of the events which profoundly affect his personal life, namely, First l-loly Communion Day, Confirmation Day, elementary commencement, then high school graduation! lt is this last great epoch in your young life that will bring you to the school Patio where the mem- bers ofthe Faculty will hono-r you publicly. and present you with a diploma showing you have successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in a Catholic l-ligh School. , The Augustinian Fathers, particularly the writer, -wi-ll: share your re- joicing and the proud satisfaction of your fath.ers'and,.'mp,thers as you wallc away with your prize: a Catholic education ahd trainjlgngma-nd a di- ploma. V W , May l congratulate you, and assure you of my humble prayers f-or your future success. May God bless and protect you wherever you may go. Very Rev. W. Kirlc, O.S.A.

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VERY REVEREND WILBERT R. KIRK, O.S.A

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The Augustinian Order The Order o-f St. Augustine, one of the four Mendicant Orders ofthe Catholic Church, traces its existence back through time to its foundation in Northern Africa in the year 388. and its brethren are the heirs to a cen- turies-old tradition of monastic life radiating from the spirit of the greatest light of the Church, Aurelius Augustine. , The Augustinian, the more easily to reach the perfection of the Gospel, binds himself to the observance of the three vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, whereby he renounces all hope -of family life or possession of worldly go-ods and subjects himself to call ,at any moment from one end of the continent to the other. Since its establishment in the United States during Colonial times by the lrish Friars, John R-osseter and Matthew Carr, the Order has labored tirelessly in the cause and service of Christ, presenting from the beginning an unequalled record of heroism and courage against heartbreaking opposition. In this country the work of the Augustinians is divided among educa- tion of the y-ouing in high schools and colleges, ministering to the spiritual needs of the people in parishes, and the preaching of missions and re- treats. Although the American Provinces of this great missionary Order have not extensively developed the foreign mission field, four men of those Provinces were listed by the Japanese as prisoners of war in Santo Tomas internment camp. Following the example of its founder, the Order of St. Augustine has been active in the defense of Catholic doctrine through the centuries and literally thousands of its members have given up their lives in the confes- sion of that Religion: truly it is the perennial defender o-f Cath-olic Faith and of l-loly Church.