ARCHBISHOP PETER CHONG’S HOMILY AT ST THE JOSEPH’S SECONDARY SCHOOL 65TH ANNIVERSARY ON THE 2ND OF DECEMBER 2021
Renowned historian Gordon S. Wood said “we read or study history because it has something to say to us. If history has nothing to say to us, then it makes no sense to read or study or more so celebrate our history. History for a society is like memory for an individual. Without memory, the individual is isolated, cut off from where he has been and who he is
History gives us a sense of where we have come from and how we became what we are. Historical awareness gives us the best guide for shaping the present and the future.
History of Cluny Sister and SJSS
1888 Bishop Vidal invited the Cluny Sister to Fiji. 3rd December opened a school for 15 peoples
1890 three small cottages were bought in Pratt St for sisters – used for boarding and day school
1904 St Joseph’s Convent was built and primary and secondary school
Social Context
The social context of the Church was the second decade of colonial rule (1894-1914).
Four important events:
- Indirect rule policy and the Native Administration were abolished and direct rule was introduced.
- Fiji’s population began to decline: due to several epidemics, in 1875 measles followed by small pox (1888) and influenza (1916). The influenza epidemic infected 80% of the I Taukei and Indo-Fijian population and 40% of the European community. 8,149 people died from influenza.
- 1911, the European community and the colonial government endorsed segregated education and this continued for the next four decades. The colonial government also enforced other forms of racial discrimination in other areas of Fijian society.
- 1920, the colonial government abolished the indentured labor system.
Cluny Sisters mission in Education – was in a very challenging context.
1920-1030 sisters in Namosi.
1932 Cluny’s replaced the SMSM sisters in Nadiri School Kadavu
1934-1960 taught with SMSM in Lomeri
1938 Mother Ursula opened St Philomena’s Secondary School on the third storey of St Anne’s School in Pratt Street.
1956, the secondary pupils from St Joseph’s and St Philomena’s School, Pratt Street, were transferred to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Waimanu Road.
65 years, St Joseph’s School and the Catholic Church has served a basic human need in Fiji – Education. St Joseph has produced girls and women to become worthy Fiji citizens making a good contribution to the people of Fiji, leadership, economy, politics, education, private sector, and in the Catholic Church.
SJSS has formed good and honest women, raising virtuous children for the future and have been good role models as parents, building good and loving families.
Finally, many are already in heaven, still praying for us as they look upon us continuing the tradition that they went through.
As a country we thank the Cluny Sisters who courageously accepted Bishop Vidal’s request to come to Fiji. Yes courageous, fearless, committed, missionary women.
Thanksgiving to God
We are called to give thanks to God for all that had happened, for we know that history is not just the product of man but the work of grace. God is working in the world, right from the big bang to this day. God goes ahead of missionaries. Without the grace and blessings of God, we cannot transform children into great women and men.
This is what the first reading from Isaiah reminds us. “Let me sing the praises of the Lord’s goodness, and of his marvelous deeds, in return for all that he has done for us and for the great kindness he has shown us in his mercy and in his boundless goodness.
Yes, we must thank God for the marvelous work he has done. We cannot claim credit for all that we have done, for we know that it was only by His grace alone, that SJSS was able to produce so many young women who have become the movers and shakers of society, making a difference in the lives of our people.
CHARTING THE FUTURE OF SJSS AND CATHOLIC EDUCATION
However, if this celebration just ends with the past, recalling what had taken place, and our current successes, then we would not be celebrating this anniversary meaningfully. Glorifying the past is not an invitation to rest on our laurels or merely have a good celebration, and not engage with the challenges of real world.
As historians say, celebrating the past is always in view of the future. This is why the other more important aspect of this celebration is an invitation to chart the future. We honour the past so that we can learn from it as we prepare for the future. This is why we study of history in school. History is not primarily concerned with the events of the past, but with how these events can help us to formulate our vision for the future.
History is also very important for the growth of any institution or nation. History is our teacher. If we forget our past, then we will be doomed to repeat the same mistakes of our forefathers.
So as we celebrate 65 Years Anniversary of SJSS we might reflect on the strengths of SJSS as an educational institute. Some of you can list the strengths.
Catholic Character of Catholic Schools
One of the strengths of all Catholic Schools is Catholic Character, ethos, culture of the education.
Education is Christ-Centered, based on divine revelation, in dialogue with the contemporary world, and its service to truth.
In the 60-80s, the Catholic Character of Catholic Schools was taken for granted because most of the teachers were nuns, brothers and priests.
They ensured that children were taught the Christian values of love, compassion, care for the poor, gentleness, humility and patience.
Catholic Education holds that education must be holistic, not only academic – total human development, academic, human, spiritual, social.
The Marist founder, Jean-Claude Colin said “We contribute to God’s work in a real way in forming a person. We must form his heart, his virtue. That is what education does. Nothing is loftier. You give a person, as it were, a second creation.”
We could list the weakness – what we can learn from history.
Why no Cluny sisters?
Catholic Education Today
Catholic Education today is at a challenging junction.
Today Secondary Schools – 19 and 43 primary but we do not have the Catholic personnel.
Keeping the Catholic Character is the challenge that we have to rise up to, to be courageous in our decision making, to fearless in our commitment.
One of the ways that the Catholic Education Office will face up to this challenge is that each school will have a Catholic Character Team. Their responsibility is to promote the Catholic Character of the School. Regardless of who the principal is or the teachers – we have a team to protect the Catholic Character.
Let our prayer then, be that of the psalmist:
Sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. May God still give us his blessing till the ends of the earth revere him.”
Without God, we cannot succeed and build a new generation with gospel values. Let us recover the Catholic meaning of education and reinforce the values and traditions that we have inherited all these years, whilst adapting to new situations, remaining faithful so that we will always be relevant for many years to come.
