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Guyana in 1847 (then British Guiana), when the first
Ursuline nuns arrived in the then Colony, was making
history. The first railway on the South American
continent was nearing completion in the Colony. Only
thirteen years prior to 1847 had slavery been
abolished. Stabroek Market was opened in 1842 and in
1844, Georgetown became a city.
It was to this environment of on-going development
that, in 1847, six Ursuline Religious and two
postulants (women who want to join the convent) came
to British Guiana, even though their families were,
very naturally, alarmed when they heard of this
dangerous undertaking to a far-off tropical country,
and used every argument to dissuade them. They left
the Ursuline Convent in Athlone, Ireland.
The six professed Foundresses were Mothers Mary
Bernard Perry, Mary de Sales Molony, Mary Magdalen
Doyle, Mary Regis O’Brien, superior, Mary Stanislaus
Hearne and Mary Alphonsus O’Beirne. The two
postulants later would be known as Sisters Mary St.
Rose Tierney and Veronica Gavin. Sr. Mary Rose died
only five years later in the Colony, at the age of
twenty-five and Sr. Veronica followed her six years
later. These women often used the railway to
Rosignol, crossing the Berbice river to New
Amsterdam, where the second convent was established
in 1897.
1867 On August 31, the Secondary
School for Girls (St.Rose’s) was opened with 4
students.
1851 St.Ann’s Orphanage was established.
1869 Large three-storied school built
with a dormitory for boarders.
1925 Another three-storied structure was
built as there were now over 500 young ladies
enrolled in St. Rose’s. This structure abutted
St.Rose’s School and contained a fine auditorium
with graded floor and stage designed by Mother St.
Catherine. It was the largest of its kind in
Georgetown for many years. Funds were available
through loans from Rome, England the generosity of
the citizens of British Guiana.
1933 All children regardless of religious
persuasion, race or language were accepted at
St.Rose’s.
1935 First steps to the establishment of
a gymnasium began when hooks and ropes
suspended from the ceiling, vaulting boxes and
horizontal ladders were obtained.
1941 Bicycle stands were provided to
accommodate the increased number of bicycles being
ridden to school.
1941 Students and teachers were no longer
required to wear stockings.
1953 The boarding school was closed and
work began on a new structure to accommodate the
numbers of students requiring admission.
1954 The Marian Wing was completed and
officially opened on May 4.
1967 New Physics and Chemistry labs
built.
1969 Three additional classrooms built
above labs.
1975 Young men were accepted as students
at St. Rose’s.
1976 St. Rose’s and all other schools
became state controlled.
Read
more -- "Through
One Hundred and Fifty Years of History - The
Ursulines and St.Rose's"
(Adobe
Acrobat PDF format; approx. 944 kB)
ABOUT THE
BADGE
The Serviam Badge is a symbol of all Ursuline
schools worldwide. Although St. Rose's is now a
Government school, and is therefore no longer an
Ursuline school, the Ursuline Badge was never
changed, and the following is an explanation of its
meaning.
Pope Pius XI has said that the Badge of the Ursuline
Schools, with the motto "SERVIAM" is a true symbol
of Christian Education.
It bears a field of stars [the constellation Ursa
Minor, in which the Pole Star lies], signifying
the Eternal Heavens to which we must aspire. The
Little Bear “Ursus” recalls St. Ursula, patroness of
Christian Education and special patroness of Ursuline Schools.
Just as the light from the Little Bear leads up
to the brighter light of the Pole Star, so our
Ursuline Education helps us on to the knowledge of
Truth, here symbolised by the Pole Star, and it is
Truth which will guide us on our path through life.
The Ursuline badge bears a cross - whence comes
all grace into the world, to remind us that all
blessings of God flow from the Redemption.
The colour Green represents the virtue of hope,
the colour Silver reminds us to be always genuine
and sincere in all that we do.
Finally, there is the word “Serviam”, I WILL
SERVE, which expresses our loyalty to Christ, and
our desire to serve Him.
Let it be our resolution as Ursuline Pupils to
serve Christ for the whole of our lives. |
The Alumni
Association (Toronto Chapter) Committee (Click
for larger image)
The St. Rose’s Alumni
Toronto Chapter has been active since the first
meeting was held on May 31, 1987. Since the early 1990's the association’s mailing
list has grown to over five hundred. Of these we
have approximately 200-250 financially active
members. (Financial members vary from year to year.)
THE 2007 COMMITTEE Our committee consists of a President, Past
President, Secretary, Treasurer, and eight members.
The committee meets on a monthly basis and sometimes
more frequently. Currently, our committee members
are as follows:
-
Tessa (King) Ng-See-Quan-
President
Cheryl (Surrey) Braz -
Past President -
Alice (Sweetnam) Bhyat
-
Treasurer -
Lynotte Cruickshank
-
Secretary
-
Sheila (Georges) DeGannes
-
Director
Marilyn (Edghill) D’Ornellas
-
Director
-
Terry Kim Katchay
-
Director
Karen Lewis
-
Director
Patsy Russell -
Director
Maureen (Cheong) Webb -
Director
Jennifer (Dummett) Welshman
-
Director
Our “Serviam” choir
performs at our annual reunion and hosts a Christmas
sing-along at various Seniors Homes over the
Christmas holidays. There are about 10 choir members
and they are continuously seeking new members. We
are very proud of their recording of “Serviam”,
which can be heard by clicking
here.
On an annual basis we have four major events. The
last week in April we host an annual Games evening,
a reunion brunch is held in the summer months, the
Last Lap Lime in August and our Pre-Xmas dance
in November.
OBJECTIVE
As stated in our constitution, the Objective of the
St. Rose’s Alumni Toronto Chapter has been and
continues to be:
“To encourage and
foster the interest of the Alumni in the present
day activities of St. Rose’s High School in
Guyana for the purpose of contributing to the
sphere of education to the school by giving help
to it and other related institutions in Guyana.
By collaborating
with other Chapters in contributing to the
aspirations of the school, we maintain the ties
of friendship among St. Rose’s Alumni.
We promote and
participate in community and fund raising
activities in Toronto by using our cultural
skills and background to benefit the school and
other related institutions.”
Following these objectives
we have been able to repair the roof, paint the
125-year-old building, improve the electrical
wiring, provide sports equipment for the students,
send computers for the new computer room and books
for the library.
In collaboration with our
sister chapter in New York, we have built an
air-conditioned, secure computer room equipped with
network computers for the use of the students. We
look forward to the completion of this project by
the end of April, 2004. Funds raised at our annual
Games Evening are sent to two orphanages in Guyana.
They are St. Ann’s (girls) and St. John’s (boys) and
the nuns in charge of these two facilities are
always grateful for any gifts and/or donations
received.
The committee is steadfast
in their loyalty to the members and the Association.
It consciously makes decisions and pursues options
with the intention to solicit and receive donations
for the benefit of the school and other related
institutions and will continue in this capacity
according to our stated Objective. |
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