Marist Convent in Levuka to mark 125th anniversary
Marist Convent School in Levuka will mark its 125th Anniversary at the school ground on November 17 to 18. Head teacher Sister Rosemary Simon and event co-ordinator said the theme is ‘Celebrate, Innovate and Rejuvenate’. The celebration commemorates the arrival of the Marist Sisters to Levuka and the start of the school in 1892. The Marist Sisters are an international congregation or order of Roman Catholic women. The Marist Sisters recognise Jeanne-Marie Chavoin as their Foundress and JeanClaude Colin as their founder.
Sister Rosemary said the first sisters to arrive were Mother Melanie from England, Sisters Martha and Sebastian from Ireland.
“We acknowledge their innovation, creativity in teaching new skills such as music and art and sewing and we take the opportunity to rejuvenate and be happy for what we have achieved,” she said.
History
The first Marist Sisters to arrive in Levuka travelled from England who were welcomed by the Catholic Community of Levuka led by Bishop Vidal who was residing in Cawaci. Levuka Covenant School started at that time and the building was already established in 1882.
The school was first known as Sacred Heart School and after some years boarders were accepted and the school numbers increased.
Sister Rosemary said many young women around Fiji and the Pacific such as Kiribati and Tonga joined the school.
The school, now with a roll of 286 students, will also see ex-scholars gathered at the Post Office next week to march through the old capital to the school grounds.
Sister Rosemary said the event would also mark the Bicentenary celebrations of the Marist Sisters 200 years ago of when their work began in France and to other parts in the world including Fiji.