Father Stephen Findlay

Fr. Stephen Findlay, OSB

By 1941, Delbarton School's enrollment had increased to more than twenty students and seemed well and truly launched. During this time, however, headmaster Father Augustine’s health began to fail, and Abbot Patrick became concerned that the school was not becoming a full secondary school rapidly enough. Consequently, in late August 1942, he appointed Father Stephen Findlay to be Delbarton’s second headmaster.

Father Stephen had been ordained only five years at the time and had little school experience. Part of the interval since his ordination had been spent at the Catholic University in Washington earning a doctorate in canon law, and he had taught at St. Benedict’s Prep for several years. Father Stephen recounted later that Abbot Patrick called him into his office and said, “I've decided I’m going to send you to Delbarton.” Before Father Stephan could respond, the abbot added, “You will do it under obedience.”

Inexperienced, and with three weeks to prepare himself for a very different career than he had envisioned, Father Stephen was quick study.  Under his energetic leadership, Delbarton School grew rapidly and would soon earn a place among the most distinguished Catholic independent schools in the country. The tenth grade was added in 1944 but unavailability of science equipment during World War II delayed the upper levels. Finally, in June of 1948 the first twelve secondary school graduates received diplomas from a proud Abbot Patrick.