Saint Mary's College, Mauritius

The Saint Mary's college is a college in Mauritius well respected for its standard of education.

Saint Mary's College currently has its headquarters in Rose-Hill, and has opened two other colleges: Saint Mary's Bambous and Saint Mary's west

History

Bishop Daniel Liston, C.S.Sp. set his heart on having a Catholic College to serve the needs of the people within the region of Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. He approached the Brothers of the Irish District while on holidays in his native country in 1951. Making Brothers available at this time was difficult because of the great expansion of the schools of the Brothers in Dublin, especially the opening of Mount La Salle, Ballyfermot. Nearer home, on 24 March 1951, Bro. Columban, Director of St. Joseph's College complained to the Provincial of Ireland, Bro. Aloysius O'Brien, about the shortage of good teaching Brothers in his school.

On 7 May 1951 Bro. Aloysius wrote to Bishop Liston, 'As regards the proposed secondary school in Rose Hill, I can say that I am wholeheartedly in favour of this project. I shall do my utmost to implement the wishes of your Lordship in this matter. I guarantee to send at least two University Graduates from Ireland'.

On the 30th of the same month Bishop Liston replied, 'I have just bought a site of 3 1/2 acres, 3/4 of a mile from the centre of Rose Hill, next to the railway station, bus route and the Church. It is a stone house. I regret that nothing is available nearer Rose Hill or the Montmatre area.

My heart is heavy as the Brothers say goodbye today to their fine school in Port Louis. I shall see Bro. Columban about the site of the new school in Beau Bassin/Rose Hill'.

On 19 July Bro. Aloysius expressed his concern to the Bishop, “I must confess that the speed with which you have moved has resulted in my being left a little behind. I had not planned to have Brothers sent out so as to open the school in January 1952. I cannot see how the new College can be underway before January 1953. Finally, your Lordship need not worry about the staff'.

Evidently, Bro. Boniface, Assistant Provincial in South Africa, with residence in East London, had been brought into the negotiations because Bishop Liston wrote to him on 24 October 1951, "I am grievously disappointed that the Brothers’ College in Rose Hill will not open in 1952 - it is so badly needed that every moment counts. I gather that the project has been held up by the Irish Provincial by the absence of a signed contract; this is something that I just simply cannot explain because on 16 April of this year in Bro. Columban's room I signed what seemed to be an all-embracing contract and gave a copy of it on the spot to Bro. Columban.

The new site for the College is not more than 5 minutes walk from the Parish Church and from the present St. Enfant Jesus School. This latter should be retained as long as possible, both on account of the excellent work it does for souls and also as a very useful feeder for the new College'.

An explanation is needed here. The original site mentioned earlier by the Bishop '3/4 of a mile from the centre of Rose Hill' was Summerfield in Beau Bassin, later taken over by the Congregation du Bon et Perpetuel Secours to establish a secondary school for girls. 'College du B.P.S.' still flourishes there and is doing excellent work.

The 'new' site mentioned above by the Bishop is at the corner of Ambrose and Gordon streets, Rose Hill, behind the Plaza and Municipal grounds. The first classrooms were erected along Gordon Street, and later the hall with classrooms above along Ambrose Street, thus exposed to the noise of heavy traffic. Many of the teachers have expressed the opinion that the far corner of the 4 1/2 acre site would have been better.

Contract

In the archives in Castletown there exists a copy of a proposed contract submitted by Bishop Liston on 17 October 1952 and marked 'Submitted to the Regime, 26 March 1953'. The Principal clauses are:

1. The Bishop of Port Louis invites the Brothers to open a secondary school at RoseHill.

2. The Bishop has procured 4 1/2 acres for the purpose. The present dwelling house on the property will serve as a temporary school, with alterations at the cost of the Diocese. This should serve for about 4 years.

3. The Bishop undertakes to build a new College with a residence for the Brothers before the end of that time. The ownership of the house and College and of the property remains vested in the Diocese, but building and property will be given rent-free to the Brothers.

7. The Brothers of St. Enfant Jesus School shall be free to form one Community with the Brothers in the new College.

9. On their part the Brothers guarantee to provide an efficient staff to carry on the work of the College.

Over the following 20 years many of the Brothers who taught in St. Mary's College had heated discussions among themselves concerning paragraphs 3 and 9 of the above contract. The date also gave rise to difficulty because in Castletown there exists an original of the same contract, signed by Bishop Listen on 27 October 1952. To complicate the matter further still, the name of the College in this document is given as 'St. Philomena!' (It will be remembered that this poor lady was officially removed from heaven a short time later).

Opening

Bro. Benedict Lynch (assisted by a Mr. Le Chartier) received 31 boys on the opening day of the College, 25 January 1954. In describing the event to Bro. Aloysius, Provincial, at the end of the month, Bro. Benedict mentioned that it was a good thing that the classes had started in 1954 and not 1953. The extra year had given time to turn the 'luxurious jungle and quarry into a football field'.

Approval

In a letter dated 29 January 1955, Ref. No. B/157, from the Education Office, Rose Hill, Mr. E. Lefebure, for Director of Education, wrote to Bro. Benedict, “I am willing to grant St. Mary 's College approval as a secondary school, with effect from January 1955”.

Inauguration

The College was officially inaugurated on 20 April 1955 by Lady Scott, wife of the Governor, Sir Robert Scott. A synopsis of the Governor's speech was published in Le Cerneen two days later and the full text can be found in the Calendrier du Diocese du Port Louis (1956) page 217 et Seq. A short extract was used by Bro. John Towey in his 'Irish De La Salle Brothers in Christian Education', page 373. 'It is only in the achievement of a right sense of spiritual and moral values together with and inseparately associated with such mundane matters as may assist mankind, that education has any justification'. Two years later, after a thorough inspection, the Education Office gave full official recognition to St. Mary's College.

ite Improvement

The Diocese of Port Louis paid for the building of the school but there was little or no money available for the development of the grounds. Fortunately a number of the Brothers in the earlier years spent much time on the job. These included: Bro. Peter Foster (1954 to 1959) and Bro. Augustus Morgan (1959 to 1965) both supplied by the now separated District of England. From Ireland came Bro. Patrick Byrne (1957 to 1962) and Bro. Martin Keane (1958 to 1964).

It is related that one day Bros. Benedict and Patrick nearly outdid the Russians in space exploration. They were using explosives to remove some large rocks. They set the charge, lit the fuse and retired to a sheltered spot. They were aghast to see a dog ambling over to inspect the work, eventually sitting down on the charge. Fortunately the fuse burned out, otherwise a stray Mauritian cur might be mentioned in the history books instead of Laika.

taffing difficulties

On 26 September 1958 Bro. Benedict wrote to Bro. Aloysius: 'After 5 years the College has no Graduate. Also, the teaching of Science is not adequately catered for. Failure to provide a Science teacher for the College is a violation of the only obligation which the Brothers contracted in undertaking the direction of the College '.

It is important to understand the situation:

Very few teachers were available locally at that time for private secondary schools. Higher salaries coupled with overseas leave and pension provision made the State Schools much more attractive to applicants. The Irish Provincial had opened secondary schools in Beneavim and Kilmacud, Dublin, in 1956 at the insistence of Archbishop J.S. McQuaid, and was preparing to open St. John's, Ballyfermot. In Johannesburg, De La Salle College, Victory Park, opened in 1958. Graduates and especially Science teachers were very much in demand. To ease the situation Bro. John Cashman, B.Sc. traveled to Rose Hill by bus after his classes at St. Joseph's College Curepipe. Also, boys who did well on the Classical Side in St Mary’s in the Cambridge School Certificate were given priority when filling vacancies in H.S.C. at St. Joseph's.

Early teachers

Bro. Peter Foster, born in St. Helen's, as mentioned above, taught in St. Mary's from 1954 to 1959, from 1965 to 1969 and again after taking out a degree at the University of Cork, from 1972 to 1974. His chief contribution was the organisation of the Classical Side of the College, apart from music, drama and laying out of the grounds.

Bro. Patrick Byrne, born 3 August 1920 in Co. Carlow, taught in St. Mary's from 1957 to 1962, and at St. Joseph's from 1963 to 1975. Besides having a full teaching schedule he was the 'handyman' at St. Mary's putting up blackboards and notice boards, painting the old dwelling house, fixing taps, lights and switches at strategic points, mending doors, windows and partitions. He did 'everything' before, during and after the annual Fancy Fairs. He devised a water spraying system which made the football field what it is. All this took time.

The MARIAN, St. Mary's College magazine of 1963 recounts the address given in July 1962 by Head Boy, A.Dustageer, on the occasion of the departure of Bro. Patrick for Ireland. ' He was amusingly ignorant of the topography of Port Louis due to his reluctance to make any excursions outside the walls of the College. He went nearer to disturbing the peace of Mauritius than anyone else when every night the dog Rover took him for a walk! He had a genius for organising, using saw, hammer and other tools to great effect. We so often think that pupils do not notice!'

The property of St. Mary's is surrounded by a boundary wall and the guard dog Rover took charge at night and during holiday periods. He, or more correctly a succession of Rovers, had police training, and posed no threat to life or limb, but fortunately intruders did not know this. One afternoon a young man who had picked up a 'lost' chicken took a short cut through the College grounds. The man managed to get up on the wall with the chicken in his arms but Rover made sure that he did not move. When the police arrived they wisely sent for Bro. Augustus before rescuing the chicken. Well over six months later, at the court case, the Brother was shown a hen and asked, under oath 'Is that the chicken?'

Another not so amusing story is told about Rover. One morning a man was found pinned to the wall by the dog. He was within three metres of the open office window, and a number of articles from the office were strewn around his feet. He was not prosecuted because 'there was nobody to give evidence that it was he who had removed the articles from the office!'

"FROM HERE ON MOST OF THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN GATHERED FROM THE ANNUAL HISTORY SUPPLEMENTS PREPARED BY ST. MARY'S COMMUNITY AND SENT TO ROME)"

Bro. Benedict Lynch set out to return to Ireland via South Africa on 31 March 1959. Less than an hour before he left the results of the 1958 School Certificate arrived, 9 passes out of 10. This was the first group of pupils who joined the College when it opened in January 1954. Bro. Remi Carosin moved from St. Joseph's College to become Director of St. Mary's on the following day and continued the development of the College until 1970.

Bro. Peter Foster left for England in July and was replaced by Bro. Augustus Morgan from the District of England.

Bro. Remi did not waste any time. A start was made on the extension of the buildings at 9 am on 3 November 1959.

Cyclone Alix on 19 January 1960 blew down the verandah of the Residence, an old wooden colonial house, and weakened the whole building considerably. Cyclone Carol on the last day of February 'devastated everything in its way - houses, churches and schools'. The College reopened only on 7 March. The work on the extension was delayed and in January 1961 it was decided to build two stories of classrooms above the hall which was being constructed along Ambrose Street.

In 1961 Bro. Remi, accompanied by the Principals of four other Colleges, met the Minister of Education on 22 June and 10 July and discussed the possibility of 80% grant towards the salaries of three Graduates. Due to legal and financial difficulties it was not agreed to until July 1962, retrospective to January of that year. Up to that the College had subsisted on fees, the proceeds of Fancy Fairs, with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Louis assuming responsibility for capital expenditure. Pupils were not lacking. One January Bro. Remi told a Rose Hill businessman, ‘I cannot admit your son as there is not a single vacant desk or chair’. It is well known that the following morning the father arrived carrying a new desk and the son, in full College uniform carrying a chair!

Extension

Statistics for the resumption of studies on 16 January 1962, are given as: 355 pupils, 7 Brothers (including 2 in St. Enfant Jesus Primary School) and 7 lay teachers. On the 13 March the first pass in the H.S.C. was announced, and a week later 56 S.C. passes. The extension of hall with classrooms above was officially opened on 2 May. Hon. A. Beejadhur, Minister of Education, cut the tape and Bishop Liston blessed the building. On 9 October Mgr. J. Margeot, V.G. blessed the library in one of the rooms in the extension.

St. Mary's had now become a well established College with adequate buildings and grounds (and presumably desks and chairs). The ageing flamboyant trees on the property had been retained, a tennis court provided and playing fields and ball courts laid out. Four of the Brothers were accommodated in the rather dilapidated wooden building and three in a tiny concrete house from which issued the rich baritone voice of Bro. Benedict Brunnick, B.Sc., who had arrived from Ireland on 4 September 1961. The nuns and orphans next door were treated to many a recital. On 18 July 1962 a letter from the Ministry of Education granted St. Mary's College 'A Status' for both Classical and Science studies. The following day Bro. Donard Fergus returned to Mauritius and joined the staff of St. Mary's, having already taught for 6 years in St. Joseph's. He had an immediate effect on the stability of the classes for the younger pupils.

Old boys

The first meeting of the Old Boys Association took place on 3 February 1963, and the first Staff Dinner on 18 May. HSC results showed 3 passes and the SC 28 passes.

The history for 1964 records that 25 January was another milestone in the history of St. Mary's College. "On that day we had our first Annual Prize Giving, and it was a tremendous success. We were honoured to have His I.ordship Mgr. l.iston with us for the occasion. Also present were the British Council representative and his wife; the President of the French Alliance: the College Chaplain Father Vandewalle S.J., and Bro. Anthony, Director of St. Joseph’s College. Bro. Director welcomed all the guests and the very numerous gathering of parents. He spoke in glowing terms of Mgr. Liston’s fatherly interest in our College, and he added that he owed His Lordship a deep debt of gratitude. Mgr. Liston presented the prizes to the various laureates".

Bro. Remi certainly knew how to do things well and how to recount his deeds. He omitted to mention that he had hired the Plaza for the occasion and during the interval provided a lavish reception for the guests and parents while the pupils waited. All during his career he had a vision which left those who came after him blessing him for imposing buildings, spacious classrooms and excellent traditions. While Bishops Liston and Margeot were grateful to him and backed him to the hilt Bro. Remi never let on to hear their pleas to go easy on the spending of Diocesan funds.

Exam results are given as HSC 5/14 and SC 32/36 The first Parent Teacher Association meeting was held on 14 July although the election of a Committee was postponed to the following year. Bro. Dermot McLoughlin arrived on the same day and was immediately christened 'MacDermott' after the Manchester United footballer. During his 15 years at St. Mary's he did wonders for athletics in the College and became the acknowledged master trainer for the High Jump.

The College reopened on 13 January 1965 with 440 pupils. Another impressive Prize Giving was held in the Plaza on the last day of the month. On 14 February St. Mary's Dramatic Society under Bro. Benedict Brunnick presented L'Avare by Molière in the Plaza. The Governor General Sir John Rennie and his wife attended the Gala performance. Exam results are recorded: HSC 7/13 and SC 45/52.

Athletic meeting

On 19 March, Feast of St. Joseph, St. Mary's lost by just five points, 113 to 118, at an athletics meeting with the much longer established St. Joseph's College. Bro Dermot was making his mark. Bro. Augustus left by boat for England on 15 July and Bro. Remi recorded that St. Mary's had 'lost a wonderful teacher'. Fortunately he was replaced a month later by the return of Bro. Peter Foster. Bro. Benedict's choir recorded carols which were broadcast on radio on Christmas Day. The year ended with Bro. Peter's Junior Football team winning the Quatre Bornes Tournament open to 42 teams.

The first HSC Classical class commenced on 11 January 1966 and received encouragement when 90% success was announced in March for SC. Bro Allen Richard McNamee, newly elected Assistant Superior General paid his first visit and made his first promises to the Brothers in Mauritius: to keep in mind (i) a new residence for the Brothers in Rose Hill, (ii) more Brothers for Mauritius. Bro. Peter produced Christmas Carols on Radio and TV.

In 1967 the exam results for the previous year were given as: HSC 40%, SC 80.2%. Bro. Victor left after 12 years and Bro. Donard after 5 years, leaving 'a big gap'. In July Bro. Benedict produced L'Alouette, the Governor and Chief Justice attending.

On 27 October and 5 November Bro. Remi presented programmes on TV about the canonisation in Rome of Bro. Benilde, a Frenchman, the first Brother so honoured by the Church since the Founder, St. De La Salle in 1900. About 12 have since been added, apart from a larger number who have been beatified.

The year of Independence, 1968, opened with some riots in Port Louis. Schools were closed from 21 January to 1 February.

In May 1969 Bro. Antel, World Organiser of Past Pupils Unions in the schools of the Brothers visited Mauritius. Bro. Peter left for University studies in Cork and was replaced by Bro. Michael Mackey. A new Basketball court was constructed and the Football field enlarged. On 21 December Bro. Michael took over as Director of St. Mary's and Bro. Remi became Director of College de la Confiance. He had been involved in the preparations for the opening of this establishment for over two years.

The question of a new residence for the Brothers in Rose Hill came to a head at the Irish District Retreat held in Navan in July 1970. Permission was given to the Brothers in Mauritius to explore the possibility of collecting the necessary funds but little faith was placed in renewed promises of help from Rome. A suitable site would have to be found outside the grounds of the College belonging to the Diocese. A plot of ground convert|182|ft|m|abbr=on by convert|84|ft|m|abbr=on containing the ruins of three houses existed just across Ambrose Street from the main gate of the College. Enquiries were made and the plot was purchased for Rs. 40 000 on 6 September 1971.

The Community were of the opinion that 8 Brothers were required for the good running of the College so Gustave Rey drew up plans for a house with 9 bedrooms en suite. The Brothers of the three Communities were invited by the Director Bro. Michael to give their views on the proposed plan. When it was agreed to proceed, Bros. Michael and Anthony informed Bishop J. Margeot during the priests' Retreat at Foyer de L'Unité. In July 1972 the foundation stone was blessed. The building was completed and the Brothers took up residence at Easter 1973. The total cost was recorded as Rs. 280 000. For the next three years in the History Bro. Michael acknowledged with thanks financial support from the Irish District and from St. Joseph's Community. The Rose Hill Community reduced their expenses to a minimum, to help to pay off the debt. The small house in the grounds of the College was given over for offices, changing rooms and an Audio Visual Centre.

The College reopened in 1974 with 630 pupils and 23 teachers including 5 Brothers. The subject Biology had to be dropped from the HSC options as no teacher was available. In January the 21st anniversary of the College was celebrated with an exhibition of Photographs, and some new books were purchased for the library of the Community.

tudent unrest

Student unrest caused the classes to be suspended for a while in May 1975. Bro. Michael Mackey left for Ireland in July and Bro. John Cashman, B.Sc. became Principal. Bro. Stephen Farrell arrived to become Director of the Community in August, thus separating the two posts for the first time. Pupils and teachers donated 38 pints to the Blood Bank to help a pupil who was ill.

In May 1976 new equipment was provided for the Science Laboratories, the Audio Visual Room, and for Sports. The announcement of Free Secondary Education in December 1976 came to the rescue of St. Mary's.

January 1977 saw an increase in the numbers of Staff and pupils. Payment by the Government was 'on the basis of 1976 fees' but now every pupil was being paid for in full. More equipment was purchased and repairs were carried out to the roof, electrical installations and to the playground. A lay teacher in the College, Mr. Paul Cheung, became Principal but the Brothers were still responsible with Bro. John Cashman as Manager.

For some unknown reason the sending of Historical Supplements to Rome by the Communities in Ireland and Mauritius ceased in 1977. No later Historical documents have been found. It is known that Father Hervé de St. Pern became Manager of St. Mary's College as from January 1983 when Bro. John Cashman departed to become Principal of College de la Confiance. Mr. Paul Cheung remained Principal of St. Mary's College, thus the changeover was hardly noticed. The Brothers' house was handed over to the Diocese and became Foyer La Source. Stephen, a long time groundsman moved in as caretaker. No doubt, Rover missed the Brothers."To be continued"

External links

* [http://www.collegesaintmarys.com Official site]