Sacred heart convent – Galle – Celebrates 126th Anniversary
View(s):Sacred Heart Convent, Galle, a leading girls’ school in the heart of the Southern Province celebrated her 126th anniversary of glorious existence on 24th November 2022 with great solemnity in the presence of respected religious dignitaries.
It was circa 1895 when the Belgian Jesuit Priest Mgr. Joseph Van Reeth arrived in Sri Lanka and took office as the first Bishop of Galle Diocese. Upon his invitation, the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity in Belgium sent five Reverend Sisters to the island in order to initiate the mission of Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary (SCJM) in Ceylon. Their main concern was to establish a school in Galle to enlighten the lives of Southern children. Thus, on Tuesday, 24th of November in 1896, these five missionaries started Sacred Heart Convent on the sacred precincts of Mount Calvary.
Of the Five Foundresses of the mission of SCJM in Ceylon, Rev. Sr. William Brennan was appointed as the first principal and the custodianship of this sacred abode passed among foreign missionaries until the school was handed over to the state in 1978. Under the visionary leadership of the incumbent principal Rev. Sr. Sandya Fernando, Sacred Heart Convent imparts quality education to nearly 2350 girls guiding them to find their niche in life with the highest standards of discipline, civic consciousness and moral rectitude in line with her motto ‘Cor Unum Anima Una’- One Heart, One Soul.
As a multi – cultural and multi – religious school, Sacred Heart Convent has made headway on her 126 years long journey to excellence by creating ample opportunities for children to be a better fit for the fast-paced contemporary world whilst upholding the sacred values enunciated in their school creed.
In commemoration of 126 years of noble service, the Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration was conducted at the Chapel of Sacred Heart Convent on 24th November 2022 with the Bishop of Galle Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe attending as the Chief Celebrant.
This most solemn event was also attended by Rev. Fr. Lakshman Peiris, Superior of the Jesuit Academy, the Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Damian Arsakularatne and some other Reverend Fathers, Rev. Sr. Patsy Nesamalar, Provincial Superior of Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, Rev. Sr. Angela Fernando, Mother Superior of Sacred Heart Convent and the other Reverend Sisters of the community, Principal of Sacred Heart Convent Rev. Sr. Sandya Fernando, teachers and some students.
The Chief Celebrant of this Eucharistic Celebration, the Bishop of Galle Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Raymond Wickramasinghe, in his sermon emphasised the overarching significance of this most hallowed event. He observed that a huge debt of gratitude is owed by all of us to the pioneering Reverend Sisters from Belgium who laid foundation to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary of Sri Lankan Province and Sacred Heart Convent school.
SCJM based in Galle became the centre of the Sisters of Charity in Sri Lanka being the first of such institute in the Southern Province to cater to the needs of multitude of deserving people. As such, those missionaries played a trailblasing role in educating the youth, dispensing charity, caring for the sick and elders, uplifting the lives of differently abled children and reaching out to the most vulnerable in all the apostolates of SCJMs.
Referring to the Heartian spirit, the Bishop highly admired the uniqueness manifested by the girls of this venerated abode. Young Heartians presently at school and the past pupils domiciled world over well stand out from others because of their highest standards of character emboldened by the school creed. It is this distinction that makes the difference in every aspect of their lives.
His Lordship, the Bishop concluded by reminding the students why they should be grateful to the pioneers of the school and the best way of showing their gratitude is sustaining such great values and transmitting them to the future as well.
The Eucharistic Celebration was followed by the 126th Anniversary Celebrations at school with Rev. Sr. Patsy Nesamalar, Provincial Superior of Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary of Sri Lankan Province gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest. This event was also attended by some religious dignitaries including Reverend Fathers and Sisters and some other distinguished guests representing School Development Society, Past Pupils Association, past teachers and well-wishers.
Welcoming the distinguished gathering, the principal of Sacred Heart Convent Rev. Sr. Sandya Fernando reflected the history of the school and stressed the need of students to improve their lives by emulating the magnificent and glorious lives of their ancestors.
The commemorative celebration was solemnised by students paying their gratitude to those who initiated this sacred school and who have helped improve the standards of it bequeathing them with a treasured legacy.
Another significant event taking place at the Anniversary celebration was the launching of the Quasquicentennial Magazine depicting the glory and grandeur of 125 years of magnificent existence of Sacred Heart convent.
This year’s magazine was published on a digital platform conforming with the change of circumstances in the new world order. Thus, the E – Magazine brought a novel experience to the students showing their adaptability to the demands of the new era. The ceremonial launching of the E – Magazine was marked by the Chief Guest of the event Rev. Sr. Patsy Nesamalar.
This Anniversary Magazine could be accessed by logging onto the school website www.sacredheartconvent.lk
It was highly encouraging to see how the children empathised with the requirements of the needy children in society when they donated a large stock of books and other stationery together with some dry rations by avoiding extravagant expenses on lavish bouquets of flowers and decorations.
The Chief Guest of the Anniversary Celebrations, Rev. Sr. Patsy Nesamalar observed in her speech on the significance of amalgamating the traditions and practices with inexorable demands of the new era by citing the example of the E – Magazine. She also lauded the Heartians’ initiatives of blending the past with the present and envisaging the future to be a better fit for the new world.
The event concluded with the Chief Guest extending her wishes for Sacred Heart Convent to forge ahead by going with the 126th Anniversary theme ‘Looking Back, Going Forward …’
Asela Kankanamge
Academic Staff
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