Sacred Heart Convent Galle History, Highlights of the European Sisters Era

Sacred Heart Convent Galle History, Highlights of the European Sisters Era

Sacred Heart Convent Galle History, Highlights of  the European Sisters Era (Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary)






The Background

In Nov. 1895, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Van Reeth S. J. from Belgium arrived in Galle to take up duties as the Roman Catholic Bishop of Galle with 3 other Fathers & 1 Brother, who was a Jesuit Architect/Builder. One of his first endeavours was to set up a School & in due course it became St. Aloysius College , Galle.

Bishop Van Reeth's sister, Rev. Mother Mary Bernadette, was, at this time, the Mother Superior of the  St. Joseph's Hospital for women, run by the Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary (SCJM), in Ghent, Belgium. (Many years later she herself was elected Superior General of the SCJM.) At the same time, Rt. Revd. Joseph Janssens S. J.   the Belgian Provincial Superior of the Jesuits too had a sister in the SCJM.

The SCJM was an organization set up in 1803 & its aims were to carry on works of charity in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul: education, pastoral work, nursing, social service etc.  It originated in Belgium, & its first chapter outside Belgium was set up in England in 1888.  It commenced missionary work in the Congo in 1892. 

Even before his departure to Ceylon, Bishop Van Reeth had identified the need to set up a School for the education of young girls in Galle & requested the Superior General of the SCJM through his sister, Mother Bernadette to make arrangements to send a few Sisters. In due course, the SCJM selected five Sisters for the mission.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Van Reeth S. J. Bishop of Galle

The Beginning

The information given below about the Sisters is extracted from a report titled " THE BEGINNING OF THE MISSION OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF JESUS AND MARY IN CEYLON, 1896." prepared by Mrs. Kaat Leeman, Coördinator Erfgoedhuis | Zusters van Liefde J.M. & kindly made available to the Compiler of this document.

1896
27 Oct.  
Farewell ceremony was held in the chapel of Terhagen for the five Sisters due to leave for Ceylon. The Bishop of Ghent presided at the ceremony. The chapel was crowded with Sisters, family, friends, and relations of the five missionaries as well as religious dignitaries of SCJM. 

4 Nov. 
The Sisters left Brussels  for Paris, where they were joined by Fr. Peter D'Herde S. J. & Fr. Augustus Standaert S. J. of St. Aloysius College, Galle, who were to accompany them to Ceylon.

8 Nov.
They left in the Ville de Ciotat which sailed directly to Ceylon. There were 10 other Sisters & 22 Fathers who were also missionaries.  

23 Nov.
The ship arrived in Ceylon & the 5 Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary & the 2 Fathers who accompanied them were met by Fr. Joseph 
Cooreman S. J. of St. Aloysius College, Galle who was in Colombo to receive them. 
The Sisters were, Rev. Mother Amelia Janssens (the first Mother Superior of the Sri Lanka chapter), Rev. Sr. Mary William Brennan (the first Principal), Rev. Sr. Alexandra Cooreman, Rev. Sr. Marcia Bossaert and Rev. Sr. Alberta Donny.

24 Nov.
Picture below shows the arrival of the Sisters near Mount Calvary in Galle in horse drawn carriages, called phaetons, which were a mode of transport then. They arrived in Galle by train.  


1896 photo of arrival of Belgium Sisters to establish convent in Galle

 
Mother Amelia Janssens & Sister William Brennan on arrival in Galle to set up Galle convent

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

Bishop Van Reeth was at the Railway Station to receive them along with several others. The Sisters were given a warm welcome & escorted to Mt. Calvary Hill, where they were formally welcomed at the Cathedral premises by Chevalier William Abeysundera, a prominent person & Roman Catholic in the community. Five girls presented flowers to the Sisters. One of them was little Grace Abeysundera (she was the daughter of Fred Abeysundera, a son of Chevalier William Abeysundera) who presented flowers to Mother Amelia Janssens They were then escorted by the girls to the Cathedral & the building earmarked for their residence / the school, where another girl, the first student-to be, Lavinia Abeysundera (she was a daughter of Chevalier William Abeysundera ) made a welcome speech.

Merle Williams, a Distinguished Old Girl describes their arrival as follows:
"After a rough sea voyage, the five valiant sisters arrived at Colombo port. The first night was spent with the Good Shepherd Convent nuns in Kotahena before setting off by train to Galle the following day, accompanied by two Jesuit priests. When they arrived in Galle, they were enthusiastically greeted by a crowd who had been awaiting their arrival at the station. They were led to Mount Calvary, passing through an archway that had been constructed at the foot of the hill, made from palm leaf, with a welcome sign, adorned with the Belgian flag. They were given a warm welcome by the Bishop and the priests, then taken in a procession, up the path to the Cathedral. The path was lined with children who would later become the pupils of SHC and St Aloysius College. "

30 Nov. 
Within a week of their arrival, they set up a day-school with 36 mixed students run by the 5 Sisters. It is recorded that on the first day there were 11 girls & that Sisters Alberta & Alexandra took charge of the younger students, while Sister William took charge of the older students.
The school was housed in a benefactor’s home near St. Mary’s Cathedral on Mount Calvary. "The building contained one large room that could be used as classroom for about 40 pupils, five big and three small rooms, a verandah with a small garden attached to it, a courtyard, a kitchen and of course the baths and the sanitary facilities. " 

The Foundresses 

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

Seated: Sisters, Alberta Donny, Amelia Jannsens,  William Brennan, 
Standing: Sisters, Alexandra Cooreman, Marcia Bossaert, 

.

Mother Amelia Louise Janssens, born in Belgium on 9 Jan. 1845 was 51 years old & Mother Superior of St. Theresa's at Beerlegem when she was selected to head the Mission to Galle, Ceylon. She had been a Sister for 25 years in Belgium & was sent to Holly Mount Convent & Poor School in Tottington, England for five months to learn English prior to her arrival in Ceylon on 23 November 1896.
She hailed from a family of religious dignitaries: her uncle was the second Superior General of the Congregation; her brother, John Jannsens succeeded her uncle as Head of the Congregation; another brother, Joseph Janssens was the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits at the time; & one of her elder sisters, Sister Pacifica replaced her as Mother Superior of Beerlegem. On arrival in Ceylon, she became the first Mother Superior of the local Chapter. She guided the Convent in the early stages, for several years, & passed away on 25.12.1904 at Galle, having contracted tuberculosis. She was only 59 years of age at the time, 


Sister William Brennan was born in Dublin, Ireland on 18 Sept. 1874. She entered the Congregation on 10 Apr. 1893 at Ghent, Belgium. She was attached to the Holly Mount Convent & Poor School (SCJM) in Tottington in England, at the time she was selected for the Ceylon mission. She was only 22 years of age at the time of her arrival in Ceylon on 23 Nov. 1896. She functioned as Head Mistress / Principal of the Convent from 1896 to 1941, according to School records. She relinquished duties as Principal after 45 years & passed away in Galle on 3 Jul. 1953 at the age of 79 years due to old age. 


Sister Alberta Donny was born on 28 Jan. 1862 in Belgium. She joined the Congregation on 23 May 1889 & from 1891 to 1896 was a teacher at an institute for blind & deaf children in Brussels when she was selected for the Ceylon mission, at the age of 34 years. She too was sent to Holly Mount Convent & Poor School in Tottington, England for five months to learn English, prior to her arrival in Ceylon on 23 Nov. 1896. She was at the Convent till Jan. 1901, when she was posted to Sacred Heart Convent in Dalhousie, India. She passed away in Ghent, Belgium on 14 Jan. 1944 of pneumonia.


Sister Marcia Bossaert was born in Belgium on 29 Oct. 1870. She joined the Congregation on 9 Apr. 1894. She was attached to the Mother House in Ghent & was planning to join the mission in Congo, when she was selected for the Galle mission. She arrived in Ceylon on 23 Nov. 1896 & was 26 years of age. She served the Convent till 19 Jan. 1901 when she was posted to St. Mary's Convent, Multan. She passed away on 13 Dec. 1944 of Parkinson's disease at Eeklo.


Sister Alexandra Cooreman was born on 25 Nov. 1870.  in Belgium. She joined the Congregation on 4 Sept. 1893. She was attached to a civil hospital in Ronse & was familiar with Nursing at the time she was selected for the Galle mission, although she too had planned to go to Congo.  She was 26 years old at the time of her arrival in Ceylon on 23 Nov. 1896. She appears to have been posted to St. Joseph's Convent, Kegalle sometime after her arrival in Galle & had continuously served there, possibly, for a period of over 50 years until she passed away on 13 Aug. 1950 at Kegalle as a result of congestion.  It is relevant to mention that there were two others named Cooreman in Ceylon at the time. Fr. Joseph Cooreman S. J.  was one of the founders of St. Aloysius College, Galle in 1895, & Fr. Paul Cooreman S. J. was the founder of St. Mary's College, Hambantota in 1903. It is likely that they were from the same family.

The Congregation itself had raised the funds for the mission, but the Bishop paid for their housing & also provided whatever else was needed & the Jesuits also paid the travelling expenses of the Sisters.

The SCJM Crest



The Gothic-styled crest is coloured red and gold – red symbolizing love and courage, and gold denoting faith and wisdom.

The upper section exhibits the wounded Heart of Jesus surmounted by his cross. These epitomize his love and self-giving.

Central to the crest is a golden band upon which are three red roses. These indicate the different fields in which our love finds expression: teaching, nursing and missions.

The lower section shows a lily surrounded by twelve stars symbolizing the Virgin Mary and purity of life. Her name, incorporated in the title ‘Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary’, denotes our loving union with her.

At the base of the crest are the words Cor Unum Anima Una – One Heart and One Soul. (Acts 4:32)
These words express both the spiritual and apostolic ideals of our lives.

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

The Growing )Up Years

Rev. Sister Mary William Brennan, SCJM, Head Mistress / Principal 1896-1941



Rev. Sister Mary William Brennan was the Founder Head Mistress / Principal & functioned in this capacity for 45 years. She was, perhaps, the only Principal of a School in Ceylon to hold the position for such a long period. Her dedication & commitment to the cause of educating young girls was unique & she transformed the School into one of the leading schools for girls in the Southern Province.
A statue of Sister William has been erected at the Convent premises by a batch of grateful 1994 Sacred Heartians, who would not even have known her, but who would have realized the invaluable contribution she made as the Founder Principal of the Convent. 

1897
■ A separate Girls School was started & it was named Sacred Heart Convent. A member of the Abeysundera family, Mabel, became its first student. 
School children at  Mt. Calvary
Children & Sisters posing in front of the Cathedral

(Courtesy, "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”

■ The School Boarding was opened with 04 boarders & soon expanded to accommodate more as the demand increased.
Prominent boarders at the convent in the early years were the 6 daughters of Lokubadu Jayasuriya Patabandige David Mendis Jayasuriya of Weligama, a Buddhist & Mrs. Jayasuriya, also a Buddhist. They were Doris, Jocelyn, Grace Ann, Aida, Beatrice & Charlotte.  Read about them here:

■ A Vernacular School was opened.
■ An Orphanage for girls was started. The picture below is a reflection of the love & care bestowed on the orphans by the Sisters.

■ An Industrial School was opened & training in pillow-lace making was introduced for children from poor families. Galle was famous for pillow lace even then. 

1898-1900 
■ Mount Calvary was a hive of activity during this period. The Jesuit Fathers & the Sisters of Charity had already set up a Boys' School & a Girls' School in a small way in available or make-shift buildings, & their dedication/commitment to the cause of education soon became noticed & parents were seeking to enroll their children in these schools. As a result, construction work on the future St. Aloysius College began on Mount Calvary itself, while the future Sacred Heart Convent was coming up a short distance away. Brother Polydore Verbrugge was in charge of construction work.

1899
■ Arrival of Sister James. She later became the Head Teacher of the Primary School.

1901

■ The new school building in the present premises at Templer's Rd. Kaluwella, Galle was partly completed & the School shifted there from Mount Calvary. Since then it has been a Girls Only Convent.

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

An Early Class Room


(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)


The School Boarding


(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

  The Orphans in 1901


(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)
The Orphanage 
(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

The Vernacular School 


(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

The Industrial School

Lace making Class

Trainees & Lace Making Pillow
   (Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

Merle Williams sums up the progress made up to 1901 as follows:
"Within five years of its beginning, with Rev. Sr. William Brennan as the principal, the SHC, Galle had opened an English School and a Vernacular School, a Cambridge Examination Class, a hostel for girls, an orphanage and a lace-making class. Under these pioneering nuns it became a hive of activity and an institute that served the needs of the country. The school’s direction was maintained under the guiding principles of Christian values."

1902
■ Few students sat for the Cambridge Junior Examination & all of them were successful. Subjects offered were: English, French, Arithmetic, History, Geography, Physiology & Hygiene, Art, Music.
■ Primary School was started in the new building under Sister James.

1903
■ 6 students sat for the Cambridge Junior Examination & all of them were successful.

1904
Ceylon Pavilion at St. Louis Exhibition 
A World Fair was held from 30 April to 1 December 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, & Ceylon too exhibited a variety of its products in a colourful pavilion. Among the exhibits were hand -made laces produced by the Lace Making Unit of the Convent Industrial School which won a Gold Medal in recognition of the high quality of the exhibits.


(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

1906
■ There were now 15 European Sisters & 3 native Sisters.  
■ Lace from the Industrial School was exported.



(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

■ The School had over 100-day scholars & 70 boarders.
■ The Orphanage accommodated about 50 orphans.


Orphans

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)


1908
■ Arrival of Sister Cuthbert. She joined Sister James at the Primary School.

1912
■ First School Sports Meet was held.
■ Students sat for the Trinity College of Music Examination, and all were successful.

1914
■ Plans for a new chapel were approved but no progress was made, possibly due to the intervention of World War 1.
■ 6 students sat for the Cambridge Examinations & all of them were successful.

1918
■ 9 students sat for the Cambridge Examinations & all of them were successful.
■ Mathematics, Sinhala, Pali, & Science subjects were also now being taught to students. 

1919
■ Domestic Science Class began.

1920
■ Foundation stone for a new chapel was laid, 6 years after the plans were approved. 

The Chapel

■ Convent now had over 500 students & 30 teachers.
■ The Department of Education recognized the School as a fully-fledged Secondary School.

1921
■ The Convent celebrated its Silver Jubilee.




(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

1923
■ Rt. Rev. Joseph Van Reeth, the Bishop passed away in Galle.
■ Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop of Trincomalee appointed Apostolic Administrator of Galle (1923 – 1933) 

1924
■ The House System was introduced & Houses were named as follows: Kings Own, Queens Own, Nazareth & Caritas.

1926
Home for the Aged
■ A Home for the Aged was started as there was a need to care for the elderly. The inmates of the Home were looked after by the Sisters. The Home was named after the late Bishop Van Reeth.




(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

Benefactor of Ward in the Van Reeth Home for Elders 



School Photographs in the mid 1920s


Staff & Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop of Trincomalee and Apostolic Administrator of Galle (1923 – 1933)



Senior Girls & Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop of Trincomalee and Apostolic Administrator of Galle (1923 – 1933) 


Junior Girls & Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop of Trincomalee and Apostolic Administrator of Galle (1923 – 1933) 


Primary Children & Staff & Rt. Rev. Dr. Gaston Robchez SJ, the Bishop of Trincomalee and Apostolic Administrator of Galle (1923 – 1933) 

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

1931
■ Placed first in the All Island Singing Competition.

The Years of Progress

The Sisters from Belgium & Ireland laid special emphasis on the need to get the girls involved in extracurricular activities & introduced a number of activities from the beginning. 

Sports

Tennis, Croquet, Netball, Annual Sports Meet, Indoor Games, Physical Training



(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

Drama

Some scenes from Stage Plays performed in the early years appear below:


(Courtesy, "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)

Some scenes from Stage Plays performed in the 1950s appear below:
 





(Courtesy SHC Records)

Other  Co-curricular Activities by Savitri de Alwis

Poetry, Oratory, Debating, General Knowledge , Spelling etc. Western Music, Singing & Dancing , Annual  English Day 

Savitri de Alwis, whose three sisters & little brother studied at the Convent, recalls some of the activities during her time at the Convent:
"English drama and poetry were fundamental to our education. We loved the annual English Day celebrations enjoying Shakespeare drama, poetry, oratory etc. under the keen eye of Miss Orlene de Silva a doyen of English teaching. It was the skillful Senior School production of Robert Browning’s mythical Pied Piper of Hamlin that clinched us the first prize in the Galle District Inter School English Day celebrations in 1969. A bevy of charming teens narrated the poem animatedly as the mystical Pied Piper, the writer, stormed the stage for her pound of flesh; a thousand guilders! And as we played out the story with aplomb our parents watched us with pride at the Galle Town Hall. There were other triumphant productions we took on in our stride – Oliver Twist, Twelfth Night and Pride and Prejudice. To this day the thought of Ranmalie de Zilva’s perfect fit as a proper little Mrs. Bennet on and off stage evoke fond memories."

 1935
■ The first Head Girl of the Convent was appointed & she was Annette Floor.

1936
■ The Primary School was shifted to a building down Templer's Rd. Boys were also admitted to the Primary School. Sister Cuthbert managed the Unit.
■ 5th Galle Girl Guides Company was inaugurated.
■ Parents' Day held for the first time.

1937
■ Miss Dorothy Anghie from Kandy joined the staff after a chance meeting with Sister Mary Paul. She taught Latin, English Language & Literature in the upper classes & was also heavily involved in Literary & Dramatic activities. She joined St. Aloysius College in the 1950s, 
■ Friendly Netball Match: Southlands College vs Sacred Heart Convent.

1939
■ 6 students sat for the Cambridge Examinations & all of them were successful.

1940
■ Marion B. Misso obtained a First Division Pass at the Cambridge Examination & was placed 3rd in the Island.
8 students sat for the Cambridge Examinations & 7 of them were successful.

1941
■ Sister Mary William Brennan retired as Principal after 45 years of devoted service.
■ Sister Mary Paul took over duties as Principal.

Class Photos

Standing: Peace BeeBee, Amelia De Silva, Lorna Wijesurendra
Sitting LR: Irene Rathnavibushana, Iris De Sliva, ? 

Iris De Silva, Peace BeeBee, Irene Ratnavibushana, Mallika Abeygunawardena  
Courtesy: sbarrkum.blogspot.com 

Rev. Sister Mary Paul, SCJM, Principal 1942-1953




Sister Mary Paul faced the formidable & challenging task of maintaining the high standards set by the Founder Principal & she did so in an exemplary manner. It was a period of consolidation & further progress. 

1942 
■ School Magazine was published for the first time. Miss Dorothy Anghie edited the Magazine.
■ The Cambridge Examination was held for the last time & Chitra Sahabandu obtained a First Division Pass.

1943
■ Little Brownies Pack was formed.
■ Senior School Certificate & Higher School Certificate Examinations were introduced for the first time. 

1944
■ The Old Girls Association was formed.
■ Sister William, in retirement, was felicitated by the School Community on her Golden Jubilee. At a simple function, a golden crown was placed on her head, Violet  Sethukavalar presented a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the OGA, Mrs. E. G. P. Jayatilleke, formerly Grace Abeysundera, presented a gift, & Mrs. F. R. Alles, formerly Lavinia Abeysundera, made a speech thanking her for the noble services rendered.  It was Grace Abeysundera who presented a bouquet of flowers to Sister Amelia , & Lavinia Abeysundera who made the welcome speech when the Sisters first arrived in 1896.  (Roberts, 1993).


School Song composed by Miss Dorothy Anghie.


Ring out Oh bells of Lanka.
Ring out, and wide proclaim.
The honor of our noble school
The worth within her name,
Sound bravely o’er the island,
Let naught our worth defame,
The message of our heritage,
Shall glorify our aim.
Come rally round our banner.
Cheer for the red and white.
Let’s play our part with willing heart.
And always do the right
And when these days are over
And school a memory
The torch of learning be our guide
To Truth and Charity
Class Photos


Standing: LR: Peace BeeBee, Rupa Wettasinghe, Estelle Roberts,?
 Seated LR: Orlene De Silva? Miss Gnana de Silva (History Teacher),? White, Mallika Abeygunawardena 
Standing LR: ?, Peace BeeBee, Rupa Wetthasinghe, ?, ?,?
 Seated LR:?, Paramaswery Seevaratnam (Teacher), Muharam Dole
 Ground LR:?, Sheila Jansz

Courtesy : sbarrkum.blogspot.com 

The Years of Success

1945
■ Students sat for the Senior School Certificate Examination in the English Medium from this year. All 16 students who sat for the examination passed. 

1946
■ The Convent celebrated its Golden Jubilee. Prize Giving & Variety Entertainment was held.

■ Amelia de Silva passed the Higher School Certificate Examination & became the first Heartian to qualify to enter the Ceylon University, but she opted to pursue further studies in India. She later joined as a teacher & served the convent till retirement.

1947
■ 3 students entered the Arts Faculty of the University of Ceylon for the first time. They were Orlene de Silva, Rupa Wettasinghe & Estelle Roberts. Orlene de Silva too joined as a teacher & served the convent for a long period, & also worked as a teacher at John Henry Newman School, Stevenage, UK.

Orlene, Rupa, Estelle

■ Jasmine de Silva, who produced excellent results at the Senior
Dr. Jasmine Nanayakkara 
School Certificate Examination, was admitted to St. Aloysius College as she desired to sit for the Higher School Certificate Examination in Science subjects. Eventually she gained entry to the Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon & passed out as a Doctor, becoming the first Heartian to obtain MBBS qualifications. She later acquired DCH (Eng), FRCP (Edin), FCCP, FSLCPaed qualifications & was Associate Professor of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ceylon. 

It is significant that three of the best students of that period, Amelia de Silva, Orlene de Silva & Jasmine de Silva were sisters.

1948
■ Prescribed School Uniform was made compulsory.

1949
■ Stage Play: Prince Vijaya & Kuveni; Padmini de Silva acted as Vijaya & Eileen Abeysundera  as Kuveni; play was produced by Miss Trixie Perera.
■ Badminton & Ring Tennis introduced. 

1953
■ Sister Mary Paul SCJM relinquished duties as Principal to take up duties as Principal of St. Joseph's Convent, Kegalle & she functioned in this capacity till 1965. 
■ Rev. Sister Conleth assumed duties as Principal.
■ Rev. Sister Mary William Brennan, the first Principal passed away.

Rev. Sister Conleth, Principal 1953 - 1956



■ Rev. Sister Conleth held office as Principal for a short period of 2 years. She continued to maintain the high standards set by her predecessors & enjoyed the confidence of the staff & students.

1953-1954
■ 9 students entered the Arts Faculty of the University of Peradeniya during this period. (Names not available) 

1954
■ First Sinhala Play for the general public staged.


1955
■ 5 students entered the Arts Faculty of the University of Peradeniya. They were Elizabeth Senanayake, later Vice Principal, Geetha Wickremasinghe, Joyce Pearl Suriyaarachchi,  Padmini Warnakulasuriya & Winifred Rupasinghe.


1956
■ Domestic Science Section inaugurated.

The Years of Uncertainty

The Sinhala Only Act had been passed, & the importance of English in the School Curriculum declined, at a time when the reputation of the Convent was at its highest, but the Sisters & the Staff navigated the transition successfully with the passage of time.
Nevertheless, there were other concerns as agitation for the take-over of denominational schools receiving aid from the state, continued & finally it did take place. 
At this stage, the Convent   along with a few other schools opted to remain a private fee-levying school. All such schools faced a difficult & uncertain future, mainly because a restriction was introduced that denominational schools could enroll children of their own denomination only.

Rev. Sister Adrian SCJM, Principal 1957 to 1975




Rev. Sister Mary Adrian Doran arrived in Ceylon in 1950 & was a teacher at the Convent before her appointment as Principal in 1957.
She graduated from London University (Bedford College) with an Honours degree in French and also obtained a Higher Diploma in Education before embarking on her teaching career at St. Francis College, Letchworth, Herts, England. 

Read Sister Adrian's  Memories (Courtesy LK Hettiarachchi )
https://www.facebook.com/groups/566116480237396/permalink/2526782727504085

Mayanthie Jayasinghe, a Distinguished Old Girl writes as follows about Rev. Sister Adrian:
"During my years in the middle and upper school, Rev. Sister Adrian was the principal – an Irish nun who adopted Sri Lanka as her homeland. She was a rare personality; beautiful, kind and compassionate with an ability to reach out to young adolescents. Under the soft exterior was a tough and extremely observant personality. She knew when we had something to hide and what it was too. "

Neelani Wickrema Wijesinghe, another Distinguished Old Girl pays the following tribute to Rev. Sister Adrian:
"She was soft-spoken, yet strong. She was kind, yet firm. She was simple, yet awe inspiring. The radiance she spread around mirrored the inner beauty of herself. She was devoid of anger, hatred and malice. She was endowed with a witty sense of humour and the music in her heart broke out in the form of song on her lips.
She gave generously her time and guidance, spiritually and materially, to those who sought. She never denied those less fortunate children the facilities enjoyed by those who could afford it. Nor were they made to feel any less important than the others. Nor did she let others know about those who were helped. All were equal in her eyes. She was there to fulfill a mission she undertook as a servant of the God she worshipped."

■ During this time the School produced very good results at the Senior School Certificate Examination & the University Entrance Examination annually.  Some of the outstanding students who desired to follow the Higher School Certificate Examination were admitted to St. Aloysius College. Myrna Perera, Celine Gunaratne & Lalitha de Silva were three such students who entered the Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon & passed out as Doctors.

■ In view of the rising demand to follow the Higher School Certificate Examination in Science subjects, a Science stream was launched in the 1960s & many Heartians entered the Universities to follow Medical, Engineering, Bio Science, Physical Science courses. Later, a Commerce Stream was also launched.

1959
■ Winners of the Do You Know Contest organized by the Galle Junior Chamber.
■ Winners of the Radio Ceylon Spelling Bee Contest.

1960
■ Winners of the Southern Province Netball Championship.
■ Winners of the Southern Province Athletics Championship. 

1967
■ Western Band was formed with 4 members under Miss Malini Senanayake, the Music Teacher.

1971
■ Amidst uncertainty about the future the Convent celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.
■ School Song was sung in Sinhala for the first time.

The End of an Era


1975 
■ Rev. Sister Adrian retired & the responsibility to manage the Convent passed on from European Sisters to Rev. Sister Rosina Nanayakkara, a Sri Lankan, of the SCJM. Sister Adrian passed away in September 2008.



1977
■ The School was handed over to the state, six years after St. Aloysius College was handed over.

Religious Sisters serving the School

In the early stages there were 15-20 European Sisters at the School & they were involved in teaching, administration, religious activities, disciplinary duties, extra-curricular activities, looking after the Primary School, the Boarding, the Vernacular School, the Industrial School, the Orphanage, the Sisters' Residence & later the Home for the Aged. Some of the European Sisters were assigned to other Convents within & outside the country from time to time. 

From the early days, many Heartians & others joined as Novices of the SCJM & later took their vows as Sisters. They were trained under the European Sisters & therefore were fully aware of their duties & responsibilities towards the Convent & were able to maintain the same standards & traditions & work with the same dedication & commitment, when the European Sisters were no longer there. The transition was carried out smoothly & with utmost acceptance by the local Sisters.

Among the local Sisters, Rev. Sister Eustace Tillekeratne, is one who joined the Novitiate at the Convent in 1964, during the time of the European Sisters, took her vows in 1966 & completed 50 years in 2016. She had her early education at the Convent & later served the Convent as a teacher & finally as Section Head of the Primary School for a few years prior to retirement. However, she continued to serve the Congregation for many years in various capacities. Link under Web References.

Members of the Lay Staff

At the inception much of the teaching which was confined to the three R's was done by the Sisters themselves. As the school curriculum expanded lay teachers were also recruited to prepare students for the Cambridge Junior & Senior Examinations in different subjects. From 1945 onwards students were prepared for the Senior School Certificate Examination & later, the GCE OL Examination & the Higher School Certificate & later, the GCE AL Examination. 
Some of the lay teachers served the Convent loyally & faithfully throughout their working life. There were many such teachers who served the Convent with distinction.  Some were recruited from outside, while others were past students.  In later years, many of the teachers recruited were past pupils of the Convent, who had graduated from the University.   

Family Members at the Convent

Mention must be made of groups of sisters of the same family who studied at the Convent, some of whom later served as teachers for varying periods of time. 

de Silva family from Gintota 

Girls in the family were Gnana, Sirima, Sumana, Piyaseeli, Kusuma & Lalitha. All of them studied at the Convent, & Gnana, Sumana, Piyaseeli & Kusuma taught at the Convent for varying periods. No information is available about Sirima, while Lalitha qualified as a Doctor.

de Silva family from Kaluwella/Kitulampitiya

Girls in the family were Ratna, Manel, Amelia, Orlene, Jasmine & Swarna. All of them studied at the Convent. Amelia & Orlene taught at the Convent for a very long period while Jasmine qualified as a Doctor. No information is available about Ratna, Manel & Swarna.


Senanayake family from Upper Thistle Court, Galle.

Girls in the family were Elizabeth, Malini, Marian, Chitra, Hiranthi & Deirdre. All of them studied at the Convent. Elizabeth & Malini taught at the Convent continuously till retirement. No information is available about Marian, Chitra & Deirdre. Their mother too was a Heartian.


de Alwis family


Wickremasinghe family from Magalle

Girls in the family were Geetha, Neela, Lalani, Ramani & ........? All of them studied at the Convent. Geetha graduated from the University of Ceylon. Details of others N/A. 

Writer apologises for any omissions.

Prominent Teachers


Among the prominent teachers were Miss Dorothy Anghie , Misses Sethukavaler,  Miss Trixie Perera, etc. & later, Miss Amelia de Silva Nagahawatte, Miss Orlene de Silva, Miss Elizabeth Senanayake, Miss Malini Senanayake, Miss Padmini de Silva, Miss Iris de Silva     & several others, including Muslim/Tamil teachers, whose names need to be recorded. Sadly, the contributions made by the teachers of the early period are also not available in the public domain.
Tributes paid to Miss Dorothy Anghie, Miss Elizabeth Senanayake & Miss Malini Senanayake by old Heartians are reproduced below:

Miss Dorothy Anghie by Dr. Jasmine de Silva



Dr. Jasmine de Silva Nanayakkara refers to her as follows :



Link to tribute paid to Miss Dorothy Anghie by Dr. Jasmine de Silva Nanayakkara appears under Facebook Pages, below.


Miss Elizabeth Senanayake by Wathsala de Silva

Miss Elizabeth Senanayake 
 
Wathsala de Silva pays the following tribute to her:
"Elizabeth Senanayake was the Vice Principal and a teacher during my schooling (1979 to 1992) at Sacred Heart Convent, Galle. She was identified as “irreplaceable” long before she was no more. Elizabeth was never short of respect, admiration and applaud, not just from her students, but from the parents, community and the society she belonged to, for, she was a rarity in the highest form of integrity. To the people who knew her closely and dealt on a regular basis, she was an epitome of boldness, perseverance, dignity, dedication and on most times the quintessence of drama – the very essence of her character that made her a larger-than-life figure."  
Links to tributes paid to her by Wathsala de Silva & the Past Pupils Association appear under Web References & Facebook Pages below.

Miss Malini Senanayake by Niloo Rupasinghe

Niloo Rupasinghe writes about her as follows:

"She always insisted that Convent girls were special. She believed that conduct was what differentiated us Convent girls from the rest. So, we were repeatedly reminded by her to think, speak and behave in superior ways to others. Her constant command “chins up, buttocks together and tummies in” still ring in my ears!"
Link to tribute paid by Niloo Rupasinghe appears under Web References.

Outstanding Students

From the inception of the Convent many students obtained excellent results at the Cambridge Examinations in earlier years. In later years, many students produced excellent results at the Senior School Certificate/GCE OL Examination & Higher School Certificate/GCE AL Examination. Some of them qualified for admission to the Universities. All of them were known for their fluency in the English Language. There were many Muslim/Tamil students too among them.


Outstanding Past Students 

The School did provide a holistic education to its students, but in earlier times, in keeping with the culture that prevailed then, they rarely opted for employment, other than teaching, & there is hardly any information about prominent past students of that era.
However, one such student deserves special mention. Soma Kumaratunga, a niece of Munidasa Kumaratunga, joined the Convent in the late 1920s & sat for the Cambridge Senior Examination in English, French, Latin, Sinhala, Mathematics, Geography & History. She later obtained a First-Class Honours degree from the University of London in Oriental Languages. She joined the Convent as a teacher, & later moved to Visakha Vidyalaya & finally to Mahamaya Vidyalaya in Kandy where she was the Principal from 1951 to 1972. (Meegama, 2015).)
In later years, however, there have been many Heartians who occupied prominent positions in society locally as well as internationally & they are far too numerous to be named.

Lessons Learnt by Students

Boarding Life  - Merle Williams

Merle Williams refers to life in the Boarding as follows:
"The boarding life was with rigid rules and strict discipline, supervised and supported by the sisters, however there can be little doubt these were outweighed by the values and standards we gained. We lived in harmony true to our school motto: ‘one heart, one soul’, in a family atmosphere with students from diverse backgrounds and religions from all over the island. The Feast of the Sacred Heart was a special day for the boarders. We had our birthday parties and garden parties in style. We enjoyed our coach outings to distant places. We were taught courteous thoughtful behaviour, and good manners, perhaps on par with some finishing schools, that would stand us in good stead in any society in the world."

Moral Upbringing - Mayanthie Jayasinghe

Mayanthie Jayasinghe outlines some of the lessons learnt in school: "School to me was not only about subject matter, which was taught very well. It was also about how we were taught to compete fairly and that it is as honourable to accept defeat and congratulate the winner. The nuns instilled in us little habits that had a big impact on our attitudes. Good manners were practiced so it was second nature to be courteous and polite. Ethnic harmony was a byword within the school premises."

Recollections of Distinguished Heartians 

Daisy Pathirana 

(Maiden Name Perera) Date of Birth: 23.3.1933. Later, teacher at St. Aloysius College for 37 years.


Merle Williams



Merle Williams nee Edirisinghe
https://www.ft.lk/columns/In-allegiance-to-a-glorious-past-Sacred-Heart-Convent-Galle-established-in-1896/4-716963

Mayanthie Jayasinghe

https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210103/education/the-privilege-of-being-a-heartian-sacred-heart-convent-galle-turns-125-426907.html


Savitri de Alwis 6.12.2020


Neelani Wickrema Wijesinghe 6.11.2008

Conclusion

The State took over management of Sacred Heart Convent from the Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary over 45 years ago. The present generation of children studying now at the Convent may not even have heard of them.
Belgium provided the finances & the personnel for the Convent & the buildings they put up have stood the test of time. The Sisters left their kith & kin to come over to Ceylon & initially worked under the most difficult conditions to provide education for the girls, vocational training for the poor, care for the helpless & care for the elderly in keeping with the aims & objectives of the Congregation. News of their dedication & commitment, their kindness & compassion, their even -handed treatment soon spread throughout the island & parents were eager to entrust their daughters to the Convent for their upbringing. The contribution made by the European Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary over a period of 80 years will / should not be forgotten.

References


Wright Arnold, 20th Century Impressions of Ceylon, p. 276. Published 1907.
Roberts Norah, Galle as Quiet as Asleep, p. 149. Vijitha Yapa, 
Published 1993.

Web References
Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary
Sacred Heart Convent History 
SHC Magazine - 125th year
Class Photos
Miss Elizabeth Senanayake by Wathsala de Silva
Miss Malini Senanayake by Niloo Rupasinghe
Meegama I. ,  A closer look at the life and work of Soma Goonawardene, outstanding educationist and Principal of Mahamaya College, Kandy:
Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando, Fifty Years of service to the nation : Rev. Sr. Mary Eustace Tillekaratne

Facebook Pages
An old photo with Baby Austin car & Rickshaw puller

(Courtesy "Heritage Centre Sisters of Charity | Belgium”)


The Compiler of this document was himself a student of the Primary School of the Sacred Heart Convent from 6 Oct. 1943 to 14 Dec. 1944. His mother too was a student from the 1920s to early 1930s. 


A 1944 Kindergarten Report Card signed by Sister Mary Paul




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