Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius

from the rector
Entering the foyer outside The Great Hall, one passes by
a number of honour boards which record the various
Duxes, Presidents, Captains, School Heads, and the
like, over this College’s one hundred and twenty seven year
history. It is an impressive record. In recent years we have
had Gap Students working here from the Jesuit boarding
school in England, Stonyhurst College. It is a little older than
St Aloysius’, having its beginnings four hundred and fourteen
years ago! I recall once visiting it, and being impressed with
just two honour boards which were displayed at the school’s
entrance. One listed Old Boys who had been awarded the
Victoria Cross. There were seven names there. Adjacent to
this was a list of Old Boy martyrs and Old Boy saints. There
were twenty two Old Boys who died for their faith. Seven
are Blesseds, three are canonised Saints.
I wondered what it would be like to have a martyr in
the Aloysius’ family. One who was prepared to surrender
their life for what they believed in. Then a couple of months
ago, Fr Michael Head SJ, whom many readers would
remember with affection as a former teacher at St Aloysius’,
wrote to me. He is now in charge of the Jesuit Archives in
Melbourne, where all our ancient letters and documents
are housed. To my surprise and great delight, his letter
informed me that he discovered we did, indeed, have our
own martyr.
Fr Vicente Guimerá SJ was a Spanish Jesuit. He was
trained as a Physics and Chemistry teacher, and first worked
in Jesuit schools and colleges in Spain and the Philippines.
In the 1920s, Fr Guimerá was sent to a plantation in New
Guinea, to help find a solution to some territorial problems
after German missionaries had left New Guinea following
the First World War. He then came to Sydney where he
lived and taught here at St Aloysius’ during
1924 and 1925. We have few records
of his ministry here, only that he was
much liked by all, taught classes,
did local work as a priest, and
was recovering from malaria during
some of the time.
St Aloysius’ College
A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879
Returning to Spain, Fr Guimerá
was put in charge of fund-raising
for the Missions in Micronesia
– the same place where two of our
graduating Year 12 boys
now serve each year
for twelve months. Fr
Guimerá must have made
some journeys himself to
Micronesia, because
the National Library in
Canberra contains
some works of
his describing the
islands and their
customs.
In 1935, due to
the Civil War in Spain, his Mission Office was transferred
to Belgium. But when religious persecution began in Spain,
he wanted to return to his home country. He knew there was
an increasing need by the people for priests to minister to
them. He knew God’s Word must be preached. He also
knew the dangers. Typically, each day he would say Mass
in one place, eat in a second and sleep in a third house,
so as to avoid arrest. As the persecution strengthened he
moved to the house of his brother. Soon he was joined by
his sister, a nun who had been expelled by the Republicans
from the College in which she taught.
The concluding lines of a letter written to Fr Austin Kelly SJ at the
College on a tiny piece of paper, less than a year before Fr Guimerá’s
martyrdom.
Things in Spain are running behind: we are separated again and
without seeing any precise light on the horizon. Pray for us.
I came back to the Aragon Province a month ago. Here, we work a lot:
help us with your prayers.
Pass on my salutations to the Fathers I know.
Yours in Christ
Vicente Guimerá, SJ
Because of the perils of being a priest, he was given
money to buy ordinary clothing. But shortly afterwards, the
house in which he lived was raided by the police. Vicente
and his brother were taken into custody. People brought
him food and blankets in prison, but it is said he gave them
away to sick and dying prisoners.
Vicente was executed by firing squad on 30 September
1936 by the Republican forces. One hundred and twentytwo
Jesuits were martyred in that war. The first day of our last
holidays was the seventieth anniversary of his death. He
was sixty-seven years old. The morning after the execution
one hundred and five bodies were found and, though a list
of them was taken, no attempt was made to identify where
they were buried two days later.
So why now remember a man long-dead? Why hail
a martyr? Why bother with such an old tale from the
College? Because this school draws strength and identity
from its traditions, and in its history. It shapes who we are. It
constantly reminds us of values worth holding on to. Vicente
a l o y s i a d / p a g e 2