SJC's Sesquicentennial Year

Looking back … and Forward, God Helping

In cosmic time, 150 Years is just the blink of an eye. However, in 150 Years, the Daughters of the Cross footprint has spread throughout India - Mumbai, Calcutta,

Rourkela Provinces - in the form of iconic institutions that specialize in Education, Hospitals, Social and Pastoral Welfare, Orphanages, Old Age Homes. Some of these like St. Joseph's Convent, St. Catherine's Home, St. Elizabeth's Hospital are landmark institutions which ensure the Congregation's impact on society for centuries to come.

And it all began right here in Bandra on 23 June 1863 when five young Daughters of the Cross - Sebastienne, Lambertine, Anselma, Armand and Louise - arrived from Liege, Belgium, on the invitation of Archbishop Steins, Vicar Apostolic of Bombay.

In the past year, the School, the Alumnae and the PTA joined forces to celebrate SJC's 150th birthday with events that ranged from the purely spiritual to the extravagantly musically dramatic. Here's a recap of The Year that Was … and, hold your breath, there's more to come. Read on …

The year-long festivities began auspiciously with Mass at the Chapel celebrated by Bishop Agnelo Gracias and was followed by a cultural program. Sr. Munira, in her address, observed that when we celebrate Occasions, we are in reality celebrating Persons. "We are celebrating the generosity, daring and compassion of a simple

Belgian Woman, our Foundress Blessed Marie Therese, who said 'yes' to what was being asked of her."

The Monsoon Mela hummed with activity of a myriad stalls that did brisk business with throngs of shoppers. The added buzz of the Sesquicentennial Year had more fun elements in the play. The students and teachers had put up games stalls where the young and young-at-heart tried their skills… then tried their luck at the draw of multiple raffles! The crowd-puller turned out to be the Housie games. Bingo !

In keeping with tradition, the AGM was conducted from 11am onwards in the small hall. The Hon. Secretary and Treasurer's reports, speeches, music, prayer and fellowship are the hallmarks of the AGM. As always, there is discussion on how to grow the Association to engage SJC girls from all over the globe. Any ideas ?

Inaugural Eucharistic Celebration: 23 June 2013

AGM and Monsoon Mela : 26 August 2013

St. Joseph's Convent High SchoolEx-Students' Association / Regn. No. F36792 (Mumbai)

Newsletter, The UnconventionalMay, 2014, Vol. 8

On the evenings of December 7 and 8, all roads in Bandra led to SJC, where the Musical Extravaganza lifted off, seamlessly spanning the 19th to the 21st centuries.

The setting was spectacular. The basketball court was transformed with all the special effects of sound and light against the backdrop of the heritage school building with music streaming from the stage to balconies above. One thousand students - and yes, some very young and hip Ex-Students too! - sang and grooved in a brilliant and flawless 2-hour performance. There were some magical moments too - as when 101-year old Sr. Helen Mary, set off 150 white balloons which floated into the yonder and beyond … many more SJC centuries.

The Souvenir had a dual role - to raise funds and to be a "150 Year Collectible" - both of which it performed admirably ! The funds raised paid for the expensively mounted Extravaganza with the balance amount going for school projects. Security of schools in Mumbai is a prime concern and the funds were partly used to install CCTV cameras and other security equipment.1% was pledged to "Karunankur", a unit of St. Catherine's Home.

Every page of the Souvenir is full of love and nostalgia from Alumnae for their Alma Mater. Class-mates dating back several decades got together to take space in the Souvenir. They put up pictures from "Then and Now", Class of '67 did a wacky "The Sixties Rock", Ann Selkirk Lobo of Class of '56 wrote a wonderfully nostalgic piece of school times in the '50s, JSXA Canada did a joint Joseph-Stanislaus tribute…..

Musical Extravaganza : 7 & 8 December 2013

The Souvenir of the Musical Extravaganza

Sr. Blanche Rodrigues, Ms. Jean Vollenweider - Kingdom& Fr. Juan sj

Ex - Students Performing

The editorial pages begin with tributes from various Dignitaries and lead to a historical perspective with vintage photographs "Once Upon a Time in 1863" compiled by Marilyn Remedios and a section on Illustrious Alumnae "Diamonds from the SJC Galaxy" compiled by Marion Rodrigues.

Tess Verbesy (formerly John of the Cross, fc) was the top donor of the event and we published a loving tribute from Tess in the Souvenir. Girls from the '60s era will remember Sr. John of the Cross, Principal, who was the architect of SJC's centenary celebration in 1963-64. She also ensured that SJC had a significant role in the Eucharistic Congress exactly 50 years ago. Does anyone remember kneeling and kissing the ring of Pope Paul VI at the Oval Maidan ??!!

The most significant space in the Souvenir was surely the Daughters of the Cross page -

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less travelled by,

And that has made all the difference" - Robert Frost.

Take the road less travelled … Make the "tiny spark" in you into a "mighty flame"…

and that will make all the difference !

ONE LIFE - ONE CALL - ONE RESPONSE

The handsome and fat Souvenir was managed and put together by Sheila Pereira (Class of '75). Veronica Braganza, also from the same class, designed the beautiful cover and the groovy posters that went up all around Bandra.

SJC Sesquicentennial Committee that planned and executed the Celebration of SJC's 150 Glorious Years in Education

As part of the 150th Year celebration, SJC organized a half-day session for Catholic Teenagers of Bandra Schools (Stds. VIII, IX, X) in collaboration with 'Jesus Youth' (Mumbai Chapter) which is an international youth movement spread over 25 countries.

Theme : "Jesus, Be the Wind.. Beneath my Wings…”

There were 150 participants from nine Bandra schools. The session included an emotive skit - Dancing with God - performed by Jesus Youth, young SJC Ex-students and their friends, followed by a Ballet dance by students of SJC. A talk helped them to realize what the wind beneath their wings was, where it took them and where Wind Jesus could take them. There were videos and a reflection on the power of the Eucharist, action songs, testimonies and creative prayers. The session was lively, interactive and enriching and most of them had a personal spiritual experience with Jesus as the Wind beneath their wings.

Spiritual Boost - 12 April 2014

Musical Gala Evening presented by Felix FlorClosing the Sesquicentennial Year : 5 July 2014

Music Maestro Felix Flor will bring together a galaxy of Mumbai's music luminaries to enthrall you in the Closing Ceremony. The Ex-students Association has decided to use this platform to invite Sponsors for SJC Scholarships. Please see the enclosure.

We hope to meet all of you on 5 July 2014 at SJC. We will keep you informed as we prepare for this event. So watch the space on SJC social media given below.

Marilyn RemediosEditor

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