St Thomas High School - Aquin Yearbook (Houston, TX)

Page 16 text:

i 5 i FR. T. P. o'RouRKE, c.s.B. FR. w. DWYER, c.s.B. FR' 5- '-YNQHi C-5-Bi Religion Assistant Principal R9l'9'0 ' Religion - English 0l 'w ctr:- FACULTY MEMBERS NOT APPEARING W'T H C MSS E5 ..,, . ' ' ' 'ff - 5 ' rw- as gin. NIR ii on 1' Qi, ' 'Iam if 'ri' N. ' 'R-ni i N C, G Q 4 as Q ,Q 'ffa X' If 4' 6 ,ie J 5 13.38. i2'? '5 ' . if ,- . ,: yi y MRS M E WALKUP MiSS A, M. HELFRICH Diefifiiin Se et 'y i-Q. 5 im. . ii. MR. L. JAMES MR. T. DRISCOLL MR. W. COX Music History Study

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Q Several years ago, as we glanced down the Communion rail, we saw our Bishop for the first time. As we walked away from the rail we wondered why, during the Ceremony of Confirmation, His Excellency gave each boy and girl a slight blow on the cheek. Later on in the Ceremony the Bishop addressed the newly confirmed and explained the Sacrament. His address was the first heard by many of us, but was not, by far, to be the last. ln explaining the question that puzzled us we remember that Bishop Byrne told us that the slight blow was to remind us that we must endure many things for our Blessed Lord. In all his subsequent addresses to us in grade school and high school he has continued to stress this same theme. As the years passed on we would often hear the parish priest read a letter addressed to the people from the Bishop. In these letters we found expressed the wishes of His Excellency. As Chief Shepherd of the Diocese Bishop Byrne must do many things which would try a young priest-writing letters to the parishes, traveling many miles to give talks, and presiding at numerous religious ceremonies. lt was altogether fitting, it may be remarked, that the sermon at the funeral rites of John Cardinal Glennon in Saint Louis should be delivered by his life long friend, our own Bishop of Galveston. lt is a common belief that when a person reaches a certain age he can no longer maneuver about and carry on the activity of his younger years. In deliberate defiance of this assumption our Bishop continues to shepherd his flock unassisted and as a full time occupation content that He Who feeds the birds of the air and has care for the lilies of the field will not cease to be provident. Now on the threshold of manhood it is a comfort to know that He Who was our shepherd at birth continues still to exercise his paternal care. William Pittman

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2 el'llel'l'l el' . FATHER HIGGIN Kenneth Porche FATHER A. L. HIGGINS, C.S.B. Principal 1938-1943 Father Alfred L. Higgins served as a member of the Saint Thomas Staff for eight years during most of which he was Principal. Born in Buffalo, New York, he moved to Detroit when very young. Assumption College, Windsor, provided him with much of his early training. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in l935. His higher education was continued at the Universities of Toronto and Houston. Dark complexion and a fascinating smile helped add to an already attractive personality. Large in frame Father Higgins took part in all sports, even coaching the Basketball team in his last year here. Football, however, was his specialty, and many an hour he passed on the pigskin ground. As teacher Father Higgins had a good understanding of boys. He would walk and talk with boys and even give a friendly punch on the arm. Religion he taught both here and at lncarnate Word Academy. From him students learned that doing God's will is the all important thing in life. As Principal and Superior Father merited the friendship and esteem of all, lt has been said that he never put an order to his fellow priests, but the work of the School went on nonetheless. The Priesthood was, of course, uppermost in his thoughts. The ability almost to freeze a person to his seat at a sermon will be remembered as an outstanding characteristic of Father Higgins. Since leaving Saint Thomas our former Principal has been a Chaplain in the Air Corps of the United States Army wherein he serves both God and Country. He has wider scope now for his priestly zeal and interest.