St. Mary's College, Trincomalee - 150th anniversary:

A great tradition of spiritual and educational values

by Joseph Isidore Rosairo

The 150th jubilee celebrations of St. Mary's College in Trincomalee fell on April 4. It was indeed a strange coincidence for a school to be set up when such a proposal was, perhaps, not even thought of at the time, let alone a dream.

Strange as it may, the then Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Dr. Semaria, had a vision or a dream of establishing a school in Trincomalee. But God works in strange ways. The Bishop happened to meet by coincidence, an Irish couple, Flannagen, a warrant officer and his wife who happened to be there at the time.

The bishop invited them to start a girls’ school in Jaffna, which they gladly commissioned in 1862.

In the same vein, he requested the couple to construct another school, this time, in Trincomalee which they gladly undertook to comply.

The school was opened on April 4, 1864. The Flannagens constructed not one but two schools, one for English and the other for Tamil medium. The schools are today living memorial to the generosity and selflessness of Flannagen and the schools appropriately dedicated to Mother Mary, the Star of the Sea.

Spontaneity

Bishop Semaria, who was greatly moved by the spontaneity of the Flannagens, was now looking at the running of the schools, which job he entrusted to the Sister of the Holy Family, who were already running the school in Jaffna.

Accordingly, Sisters Dmelis Johnson, Stanislaus and Francis Machmever, joined the teaching cadre of St. Mary's in Trincomalee. There were the usual ravines and precipices that the Sisters had to encounter at the inception. With the continuous support extended by the bishop, the navy and the people of Trincomalee, the Sisters could overcome the obstacles and sail smoothly, even producing good results, which were well appreciated and applauded by the authorities.

In 1886, three European Missionaries and three native sisters conversant in both English and Tamil joined the staff. They prepared children for the First Holy Communion and started other religious activities, which eventually gave a tremendous boost to Catholicism. However, the expectations of the people were short-lived since the sisters, who had already established themselves, had to suddenly bid farewell in 1889.

Teaching process

The then Bishop Lavinge, in a bid to save the school and the teaching process, made a quick visit to Pondicherry, to request the Mother Superior of the Convent of St. Joseph of Cluny for teaching sisters. The response was spontaneous and within a short time three Sisters, including Sister Mary Joseph, a native of Trincomalee arrived.

Humanitarian mission

The school had grown beyond all expectations so much so children of other religions were seeking admission. All the while, the Cluny Sisters worked tirelessly and devotedly, manning orphanages and training children in various domestic skills. After a dedicated service the sisters were recalled to France, perhaps, due to a shortage of personnel there. After the departure of the Cluny Sisters, the new Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Robichez, S.J. Approached Mother-General of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation, Mother Aloysia, in India, as a final bid for Sisters to continue the work of education in Trincomalee.

Father Dupont, S.J., also approached the Mother-General, with headquarters in Mangalore, on behalf of the Bishop.

The A.C. Sisters headed by the Mother-General, Sr. Aloysia, accompanied by Mother Scholastica set out on their humanitarian mission to the North-East of the island, on January 24, 1922. In February of the same year the chosen pioneers arrived in Trincomalee.

Incidentally, the A.C. Congregation was confirmed by Pontifical Proclamation in 1926. Rev. Sister Lourdes was appointed Superior of the A.C., and its First Principal of St. Mary's College.

The teaching of the English Language took centre stage with children excelling in the language in a big way.

With the introduction of Grade 10 the school was upgraded and classified as a Senior Secondary School, with Senior Cambridge Classes being introduced in 1937.

The children came out in flying colours, while the results were 100 percent. This position was maintained for three consecutive years with multifaceted activities including sports thrown in for good measure.

We must remember in a special way, Rev. Sister Ludwina, who was responsible for starting clubs, musical groups and introducing elocution which considerably helped the students in their pursuit of the English Language.

Sister Therese Ranee, another principal, was an able administrator who was responsible for new constructions.

She encouraged students to participate in educational projects and competitions.

Tradition

To all predecessors we owe much for having established a great tradition of excellence where spiritual and educational values shaped the lives of those who passed through the portals of this great Institution.

St. Mary's College in Trincomalee has come a long way with a record-breaking 150 years.

She has today, over 2,000 students. She is proud of having produced professionals, religious and lay leaders, educationalists and above all good, law abiding citizens.

May she march forward seeking new vistas and bright horizons and raising a new generations of love, peace, joy, justice and truth.

May Mary the Patroness, guide her for ever more, as she had guided this college from its inception, till now a staggering 150 years. Ad multos annos.