Centenary celebrations launched for three Montego Bay schools
by Albert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer · The GleanerWESTERN BUREAU
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says had it not been for the strong will and perseverance of the Franciscan Sisters from Allegany in the United States, Mt Alvernia High School, Chetwood Memorial Primary, and Mt Alvernia Preparatory School could well have folded 100 years ago.
Vernon made the observation while addressing the Mt Alvernia School family Centennial Celebrations launch, in Montego Bay, St James last Thursday when he hailed the school for its resilience and faith-based education.
“This institution has given our city quality wives and mothers, professional leaders. This institution has blazed a trail in the city of Montego Bay. By all rights, you need to celebrate 100 years,” Vernon said.
The three schools, founded in 1925, will celebrate 100 years of resilience, excellence, and service to the wider communities of St James and western Jamaica in a year-long celebration under the theme, ‘A Century of Stars: Illuminating the Future’.
Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox
Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters.
Vernon said this journey, which started in 1925, was made possible by the hard work and commitment to education by the Franciscan Sisters, whose faith founded the three educational institutions, providing a space for easy access to education from the hills of the city.
“It could have been a failure, but by God’s grace, it is not,” said Vernon, in speaking to the century-old trailblazing work of the schools. “It is hard to start something and even harder to maintain it.”
In tracing the history of the Mt Alvernia school family, Vernon said it started as the St James Academy, a small boarding school to provide education for poor Catholic girls from the area by the Franciscan Sisters, and over the years has laid a solid foundation built on the Christian principles of love, discipline and respect for integrity.
Past student Marlene Stephenson Dalley, who is chairperson of the Mt Alvernia Centennial Committee, used the launch to appeal to corporate Jamaica to come onboard in support of three legacy projects, which will see Mt Alvernia Prep School expanding its facilities by adding three classrooms, a library, and additional sanitary conveniences.
Stephenson Dalley also announced that, at Mt Alvernia, much-needed refurbishing will be undertaken in the school’s auditorium and a generator will be purchased, while at Chetwood Memorial Primary School, a pavilion will be constructed with stands to house students for sporting and other activities.
“Contributions are welcome, and corporate Jamaica is encouraged to support the cause as funds raised will go to these three legacy projects that have been identified by the institutions,” Stephenson Dalley said.
A long list of activities are planned both separately and collectively for the three institutions. The activities will span the entire 2025.
Monsignor Eremodo Muavesi, who represents the Administrative Diocese of Montego Bay Bishop John Persuad, said the diocese is proud of the tremendous contribution of the Franciscan Sisters in establishing the three institutions and is delighted to see them celebrating a century of greatness.
“Little did the Franciscan Sisters know or envision the significant and enduring impact of their decision 100 years ago would have on the lives and careers of thousands of students, their families, and the Jamaican society at large,” Muavesi said.