Congratulations Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny

‘Old girl’ Catherine McVane reminiscing on the early days of SJC

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny (SJC) culminated the 150th anniversary of their arrival in St. Lucia with a number of activities which ran from May 16th- 10th July, 2004. Sisters came from Ireland, Guadelopue, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Also present were principals, students and members of the board of management of several schools run by the Sisters throughout the Caribbean. The Provincial, Sr. Gabrielle Mason was present at all the principal events. Many local old girls and some from overseas were also present for the celebrations. It was an opportunity to renew acquaintances with such Sisters as Sr. Marie De Lourdes Moran who came from Ireland with her blood sister, Claire; Sr. Emeria Grace and Sr. Claire Joseph.
The activities included a Mission Fair (May 16), a School Exhibition (1-2 July), First Induction Ceremony into the SJC Hall of Excellence (July 2), Dinner and Masquerade Ball (July 3), Anniversary Mass at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (July 4), Regional Educational Symposium of SJC School Boards (5-6 July), Boat Ride (July10).

They Came 150 Years Ago

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny with SJC old girl, Dame Pearlette Louisy, after 150th anniversary Mass at the Minor Basilica, Castries, 4 July 2004

“One need only look around this society to be aware of the significant contributions that past pupils of this school have made to the development of their homeland. The Sisters and teachers, of St Joseph’s Convent continue to demonstrate their commitment to the task of providing an education of the highest quality for our children..”
Hazel Simmons-McDonald

Even as we stand proud of the prominent persons in our society -(past pupils of St Joseph’s Convent) whose names appear in the media we need to acknowledge and to single out the contributions that our humble teachers make to the society. I say humble because quite often the dedication and commitment of their tasks go unrewarded. St Joseph’s Convent has and continues to produce educators for our community. Many of the teachers serving at primary and secondary institutions are graduates of SJC.

In acknowledging the works and contributions of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny we must reiterate the words of our principal Felicia McFarlane - “The Sisters have taught us the need for orderliness and commitment not only by what they taught but also by their practice. They maintain high expectations and set goals sometimes which may seem impossible to achieve, they have today left us a legacy to follow, placing Divine Providence at the centre of all the school’s activities.
We congratulate you SJC Sisters on this 150th anniversary and welcome you as the first inductees into SJC’s Hall of Excellence.

150 Years and Counting

From France to Africa and then to the West Indies
What do we have to show as women of SJC, women of the African Diaspora? Women of the West Indian Diaspora?
As women we must work for our own future
We must overthrow the status quo which honours us and we must no longer submit to it
Like men we must use literature as a
non-violent but effective weapon
We no longer accept the nostalgic praise to the African Mother, who, in her anxiety, woman confuses with Mother Africa
Within African literature, room must be made for women....room we will fight for with all our might
We are victorious - We Women of the SJC Legacy

RATIONALE

The emphasis of the times that we live in is very much on the self - a strong individualism that is more and more alienating person from person, people from people, thus breathing into our existence an insularity that destroys collaboration and good will. We are faced with a kind of control and competition, which results in a divisive and detrimental rivalry.
It is to counteract this threatening reality that the Central Administrative Body of the Cluny Sisters in the West Indies (its Council and Central Management Board) has taken this initiative to link all our Cluny directed schools under a common umbrella. We hope by this to strengthen and deepen the true meaning of education by our working together to build unity and to give a sense of belonging to all our institutions. This we trust will ripple throughout the different nations that we are privileged to serve.
The Constitutions of the different islands - Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Lucia, all give the Cluny flavour, its philosophy and ethos, but are presented according to the originality of each of our Management Boards.
This is truly symbolic of our desire to direct each island, each school, each person to experience their individual uniqueness yet blending with the flow of union and communion in the entire region. By this we hope to promote the interdependence of life and to fulfil the Lord’s will that we may all be one as he and the Father are one.
Sr. Gabrielle Mason
Chairperson of the Cluny Central Board of Management
July 2004

SJC’s Class of ‘79 Celebrates
25th Anniversary

Sunday, June 27, 2004, marked exactly to the date, 25 years, when a group of 90 young ladies, Class of 79, graduated from, the hallowed halls of St Joseph’s Convent.
The group, now comprising accomplished women in various fields of endeavour, (legal, management, marketing, advertising, insurance, banking, nursing, teaching) came together on that day, in celebration and thanksgiving of their Alma Mater, which also celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. The celebration commenced with a thanksgiving Mass at the Benedictine Monastery, Mount of Prayer, Coubaril, officiated by Monsignor Patrick Anthony. In attendance, was Her Excellency, Dame Pearlette Louisy, who accepted the invitation to join the Class of 79, as one of their earliest educators.
A brunch immediately followed, with a special blessing offered by Monsignor Anthony. It was a wonderful time of interaction of teachers and past students, reminiscent of days spent at SJC, 25 years ago. Amidst the joy of the occasion, the gathering took time to remember their classmates, teachers and nuns who have passed away.
The Class of 79 will long remember this day and sincerely thank all who made it possible, including family members who joined in their celebration. Class of 79 looks forward to celebrating, with God’s help, its golden anniversary in 2029!

(Click below to view)
Photo Gallery

A Nation Mourns

On Wednesday 7th July, the nation said farewell to
Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles, Saint Lucia’s first Chief Minister who died on 26th June at the age of 88. Sir George, after whom a national airport, a secondary school, a boulevard, and a national foundation have been named, was given a state funeral. His body was exposed at the Castries Market Step and the House of Parliament from 9.00a.m.- 4.00 p.m. on the Tuesday 6th , and in the Parliament Chambers from 9.00 a.m.- 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday 7th, the day of the funeral. The funeral service was held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception with Msgr. Patrick Anthony as chief celebrant and Archbishop Kelvin Felix in attendance.
Before the service there were messages read by Mr.
Lawrence Poyotte on behalf of the trade union movement, and Mr. Douglas Armstrong, a family member. Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony delivered the eulogy. Following the church service, the body was interred at the Choc cemetery with full military honours. This included a parade with uniformed units from the Minor Basilica to the Greaham Louisy Administrative Building at the waterfront. There, family, friends, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and labour party supporters boarded vehicles for the cemetery, the cortege stopping at the George F.L. Charles along the way. At 5.30 p.m. there was a pause in the rite of committal at the cemetery for a nation-wide minute of silence, in memory of Sir. George Frederick Lawrence Charles.
The following is a biography of Sir Charles : George Frederick Lawrence Charles, a man who propelled the Trade Union movement to what it represents today, was born in Saint Lucia on June 7th, 1916. Pursuing his secondary education at St. Mary’s College, Mr. Charles thereafter entered the field of business with his uncle J.Q. Charles in 1934. Four years later after receiving much needed experience, he migrated to Aruba, where he gained employment with the Largo Oil and Transport Company. However, in 1938 he returned to St. Lucia and, one year later, took up a post as a commercial and shipping clerk with Frank H. Johnson and Sons Ltd.
Mr. Charles, who had become a partner in the firm of L.L. Charles from 1942, worked between 1944 and 1946 as a timekeeper during the renovation and extension of Vigie Airport. Two years after he commenced work as a timekeeper, the first militant trade union action presented itself. A strike by the workers on the project brought Mr. Charles (who, by then, had joined the ranks of the St- Lucia Workers’ Cooperative Union) into active involvement with the working class. Later, within that same year, he was elected Secretary of the union branch and a year later became General Secretary, These appointments enabled Mr. Charles to strengthen workers’ affiliations to the union. Subsequent to his efforts in spearheading a delegation to the Free World Trade Union Conference in London, he was appointed president of the Workers’ Cooperative Union in 1952. In the following year he received the title, ‘Justice of the Peace’.
In 1948, whilst still active in the trade union movement, Sir George was elected to the Castries City Council, then known as the Castries Town Board. In 1950, he played a central role in the formation of St. Lucia’s first political party - the St. Lucia Labour Party of which he became the first vice-president. Following the formation of this party, general elections were held for the first time in 1951, based on adult suffrage (one man, one vote). Mr. Charles, having been elected on a Labour ticket to the Legislative Council, strove for the legal recognition of the right to paid leave for the working class.
Determined to improve conditions for the working class, Mr. Charles attained a Certificate of Merit after successfully attending a trade union course at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, in 1954. He was, during that same year, re-elected to the Legislative Council after the St. Lucia Labour Party defeated the People’s Progressive Party a second time. He was, thereafter, appointed the first Minister of Education and Social Affairs, with the partial introduction of the ministerial system in 1956. Following full ministerial government in 1960, he rose to become first Chief Minister, serving in the ministerial post for four years.
Sir George, a ruling political leader in St. Lucia since the St. Lucia labour Party’s inception in 1951, found himself as leader of the opposition after losing the 1964 elections.
Due to internal friction within the Party prior to the aforementioned election year, Sir George lost his seat in the 1974 election. However, his political involvement never dwindled, even though he reverted to trade union activities, becoming head of the Agricultural and Workers’ Trade Union
During his long years of political involvement, Sir George still found time to serve in other areas. He rendered much needed service as a member of the Labour Advisory Board, the Labour Welfare Committee, Central Housing and Planning Authority, Price Control Board and the St Lucia Volunteer Force. He was also a member of the Council of International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and represented the West Indies on the Administrative Committee of the Caribbean Area Division.
Sir George F. L. Charles retired from active party politics in 1974 but continued to play his part in the development and well being of the Caribbean working class. In recognition of his efforts, a secondary school and an airport were named after him and he was knighted in 1998.

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