Sacred Heart College, Auckland, Celebrates the Opening of the Fergus Science Centre & Archives, with Br Darren Cutting the Ribbon

Friday, 6 March 2026, marked a landmark day for Sacred Heart College, Auckland. In a ceremony bringing together civic leaders, clergy, and the wider school community, the College officially inaugurated the Fergus Science Centre & Archives - named in honour of Br Fergus Gilbert. The new facility was built not only to meet the demands of modern science education but also as a tribute to the Brothers who established the school.

Dignitaries and Distinguished Guests

The inauguration drew a distinguished gathering of civic, ecclesiastical, and educational leaders. Among those in attendance were Erica Stanford, Minister of Education; Monsignor Bernard Kiely, Vicar General of the Diocese of Auckland; and Br Darren Burge, Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province.

Also present were Brooke van Velden, MP for Tāmaki; Warren Long, Director of Sacred Heart College Limited; and Matthew Harris, Presiding Member of Sacred Heart College Board.

Dawn Ceremony and Official Proceedings

The day began at 6:00am with a dawn ceremony honouring Māori traditions and acknowledging the land on which the College stands. The solemnity of the occasion was felt from the first light, as the community gathered in a spirit of gratitude.

At 10:00am, the official ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by addresses from Headmaster Patrick Walsh, Minister Stanford, Warren Long, and Matthew Harris. The homily was delivered by Fr Stephen Berecz.

Purpose, People, and Legacy

In his address, Patrick reflected on the years of planning and dedication that brought the facility to life. He paid tribute to Anna Mortiaux the Head of Science and Brigitte Owers the Business Manager for their meticulous attention to every detail of the building. He made particular reference to the colour scheme, the placement of power points, the striking centrepiece display table, and the choice of prominent scientists whose portraits now line the walls to inspire students.

Patrick also acknowledged the wider science department, who endured years of inadequate classrooms with efficiency and without complaint, clearing and relocating considerable equipment and resources while continuing to teach throughout the construction period.

He extended his gratitude to the Board of Trustees, the Development Foundation, the Old Boys Association, and the Parents' Association - groups he described as reliable supporters of any cause that benefits the education of the College's young men.

Reflecting on the school's history, Patrick acknowledged that the success of Sacred Heart College was built upon the foundations laid by the Marist Brothers, who established the school in 1903. He spoke of Br Fergus Gilbert as a man who exemplified a passion for boys' education and for science, and whose personal and professional sacrifices - made through his religious vows - helped form generations of young men who entered the college to learn and left willing to serve.

"My hope and prayer, and my message to the young men here at Sacred Heart College, is that the Fergus Science Centre becomes a place of educational excellence - where science and faith collide to produce young men with a love of Christ and Mary, and an understanding of the natural world that God created. Scientific curiosity and the probing of your faith are not so different," Patrick said.

Do Not forget to Give Back  

Minister of Education Erica Stanford offered warm praise for the school, describing Sacred Heart College as one of the rare institutions that excels not merely in one domain but across the board - academically, musically, and athletically. She cited alumni including several great musicians, and former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick, as testament to the breadth of the College's achievement.

Addressing the students directly, Erica spoke of the enduring value of the education they are receiving - not just the academic grounding, but the values of excellence, ambition, and hard work that the College instils. "Those are things you will carry with you for the rest of your life," she said. "They will set you up for success."

She encouraged students to remain connected to the school after they leave - to come back, give back, and remain part of the alumni community. "This school is giving you an incredible opportunity that will change your life," she said. "Don't forget this place."

The Spirit of Br Fergus Gilbert

Board Chair Matthew Harris delivered a moving tribute to the man whose name the building now bears. He described Br Fergus's remarkable journey from humble origins on the West Coast to becoming a member of the University's Court of Convocation and of the New Zealand Institute Museum - and earning recognition as one of the most distinguished science educators in the country.

Matthew also highlighted a lesser-known chapter in Br Fergus's life: during the devastating 1918 influenza epidemic, he was present at the Emergency Hospital in Auckland, located in Vermont Street in Ponsonby, working alongside the Sisters of Mercy as the city's schools and halls were converted into wards for the dying. "It's a small detail in the historical record," Matthew observed, "but it tells you something about the man, and about the community he served."

He also emphasised that naming the building after Br Fergus was not mere sentiment. It was, he said, a statement about what the College believes science education is for. "We are not building laboratories to produce technicians. We are building them to produce young men who can think - who can form a hypothesis, test it against evidence, revise their view, and begin again. That habit of mind - the ability to say 'I don't know yet, let's find out' - is one of the most important skills we can teach young people today."

He went on to argue for an integrated education in which scientific rigour and humanistic understanding are held together. The student who masters chemistry, he said, should also grapple with Shakespeare; the engineer of tomorrow should know something of history, art, and faith. Br Fergus, who combined scientific distinction with a life of service, understood both those truths instinctively.

Ribbon-cutting, Blessing, and Haka

As the morning's formalities drew to a close, the gathering moved to the building entrance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Br Darren and Erica jointly cut the ribbon, while Monsignor Kiely blessed the new building. The moment was made even more memorable by a stirring haka performed by students - a performance that held the assembled guests completely transfixed

Guests were then guided through the building by College prefects, who proved thoroughly well-versed in its features and history.

A Proud Community

Speaking after the ceremony, Br Darren reflected that the day had been a wonderful expression of community - holistic and integrated in its blending of faith and science.

"What it brought back for me as a former teacher was the importance of inspiring young people to shoot for the heights. A new facility like this has the capacity to inspire, because it encourages new thinking and new ways of doing things."

He spoke warmly of the dawn service and its expression of Māori tradition - the spirit of place, the sense of family and community it conveyed. He was equally struck by the students he met during the day, describing them as impressive, humble, and proud of their school. "Two of the boys I spoke with want to go into medicine," he said, "and one has his sights set on a career as a professional musician."

"They have got a warmth about them, and a real sense of family spirit," he said. "And there was a clear and evident warmth towards the Brothers - I found that quite striking."

Fergus Science Centre & Archives now stands as both a modern educational facility and a living tribute to the Brothers who built this school - men who believed, as Br Fergus did, that rigorous inquiry and religious vocation are not in tension, but deeply complementary.

About Br Fergus Gilbert (1874-1945):

Br Fergus, born Matthew Gilbert in 1874, went to Hunter's Hill Novitiate, returned to teach Aotearoa New Zealand for a short time, and in 1895 was back in Australia for 10 more years. In 1905 he was appointed to Sacred Heart College, Auckland, where he remained for 15 years and where he pursued a very successful science course at Auckland University. In later years his little geological rock hammer became his constant companion, even in South Africa where he was on transfer during the early '30s as he tapped his way round the environs of Johannesburg. After his return he taught for a short time before taking up the unenviable work of fundraising among our Old Boys during the Second World War.

Br Fergus had a brilliant mind and would have graced a university science faculty; as it was he was somewhat above the heads of school pupils, living in a rather different world. He loved engaging in debate and he and Br Leo Tracy enjoyed frequent witty verbal jousts, always dispassionate and a treat to hear. Like many of his!-contemporaries he seemed to fit religious faith easily into scientific thinking, or vice versa; his own piety and regularity were untiring. His death occurred in the Mater Hospital, Auckland, following a stroke shortly before. He was 71 years of age. After a Solemn Requiem Mass in St Patrick's Cathedral presided over by Bishop Liston, Br Fergus was buried in the Panmure cemetery.

More pics to come