Preference of enrolment is given to students who have established a link with the Catholic Church through baptism or membership of a parish.
[5] The College participates in many sporting codes including Athletics, Cricket, Futsal, Rowing, Swimming, Orienteering, Tennis, Touch, Handball, Triathlon, Mini Volley, Volleyball, Waterpolo, Cross Country, Badminton, Basketball, Curling, Football, Hockey, Mini Hockey, Miniball, Netball and Rugby.
[8] The college emphasises cultural accomplishment including drama, dance, kapa haka, debating and participation in a Technical Team.
Each year, all Trinity College students are given the opportunity to participate in the annual musical in the cast, in the band, or as technical crew.
[7] 49 ex-students of the Christian Brothers died in World War II and these are all listed in a roll of honour displayed in the College.
[16] Further redevelopment in the 1990s saw the completion of a biology laboratory in an extended science block,[17] the construction of a new auditorium accommodating 420 people[18] and remodelled library, music studios and offices.
That building (on the corner of York Place) has a historic connection with the important New Zealand artist Colin McCahon as that was where he was trained.
[19] The silver jubilee (25 years) of the establishment of the merged college was celebrated on 25 October 2014 with a well-attended Mass at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
This was also a celebration of the sesquicentennial of Catholic education in Dunedin (150 years), with each of the city's parishes and schools participating.
This followed an investigation in which the church found Bishop Kavanagh "failed to take appropriate action over claims of abuse" and "had previously let survivors down badly".
Bishop Michael Dooley stated that he hoped the blessing represented a beginning in the darkness which will work its way into the light.
[22] Bishop Dooley said earlier that "the new name for the college affirmed the Christian belief in the Trinity which is God revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a community of love."
“This name reaffirms the Christian values and faith in God that are at the heart of the school’s mission.”[4] The Otago settlement was established in 1848 and had an overwhelmingly Presbyterian character.
In 1864 the Catholic population of Otago was estimated at over 15,000; chapels (many of them rough and ready) sprang up in the diggings and main towns, and schools came into existence.
"Father Moreau took a great interest in the schools and was constantly among the children in the playground, always wearing his cassock which was green with age; he knew every child and was loved by them all.
[26][27] The college existed in architectural splendour until 1976 being attached to the neo-Gothic St Dominic's Priory (completed 1877), one of leading architect Francis Petre's "earliest commissions and one of his finest works"[28] and being adjacent to Petre's St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin (completed 1886).
[28] On the morning of Sunday, 2 April 1876, four Irish Christian Brothers arrived in Dunedin at the invitation of Bishop Moran to establish a secondary school for boys.
"They were met by Bishop Moran and a group of Catholics and driven rapidly to Dunedin where, at 11.00 am Mass, Brothers Bodkin, Dunne, Healey and McMahon were introduced to the people.
[30] Rapidly rising rolls in the 1950s led to the diocese purchasing properties in both Rattray and Tennyson Streets and converting them to classrooms.
"[29] It was clear that the rebuilding of Christian Brothers High School was not sufficient and that a more permanent solution was called for.
[33] The school was established by two Irish Jesuits, Joseph O'Malley and Thomas McEnroe, and had 15 boarders and 6 day pupils.
"It also had to be taken into account that the buildings at St Dominic's in Rattray Street were deteriorating and the cost of repair or renewal was considerable."