On January 12, I attended the launch of a year of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of Holy Faith Convent (HFC), Couva, my alma mater. Angela Iloo, Principal of HFC, rightly calls the school the “diamond on the Caroni plain”. Indeed, when it was established in 1951 it was the first secondary school in the Central rural area.
Mr Ramlal, Senior School Supervisor 3, who represented the Ministry of Education, noted the outstanding contribution the school has made to the development of Trinidad and Tobago. Sr Marie Young, a Holy Faith Sister, reminded us that it was at the invitation of Count Finbar Ryan that HFC Foundress, Margaret Aylward sent 8 HF Sisters from Ireland to Trinidad in 1947 to help with the education work in the Archdiocese.
Sr Marie outlined the three values that shaped the work Aylward was doing: “Faith, family and fatherland”. She said Faith involves “utter trust in God…trust in self, others and the whole of creation.” And while we deepen our own faith, HFC has always respected the religious beliefs of others.
“Family is the social context into which we are all born. We need to strengthen the bonds within families. Education in this school is for the whole family; therefore it must be holistic and extends to all households. HFC is about building integrated individuals.”
“Fatherland: love for and allegiance to our country – to build it, not only economically, but morally and spiritually”.
She urged students to take up the reins of leadership and strive to build a better country. The 60th anniversary, she said, provided an opportunity “to take stock of where you are and where you want to go.” She ended with Aylward’s words: “Under God it began…Through God it has grown.”
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I must commend HFC students for their singing and musical ability during Mass. HFC is really nurturing some fantastic young ladies. Fr Stoute’s homily was moving. “What great and wonderful things God has done in this place.” he said. “It is time for celebration, thanksgiving and reflection…stand up and be counted…treat all with dignity and respect but never compromise our values.”
He asked God to prosper the work at HFC and to sustain the efforts of those involved in the education enterprise there. As we sang the Lord’s Prayer, I held hands with former HFC Principal, Pamela Punch and Savitri Pargass, my former Maths teacher. My former classmate, Janice Sealy (Frederick), looked across at me and smiled. I was filled with a deep sense of pride in HFC.
The slide show brought back memories. There was Cynthia McPhillip, the first student at HFC; photos of the nuns, teachers and students who attended HFC over the years. The hall filled with a sound of sadness as the photo of Credo House was shown. Today just the concrete base marks the spot where it once stood in all its majesty. Mrs Iloo introduced the first HFC scholarship winner (1979), Angela Sinaswee (Gervais) and the first lay teacher, Mary Christian. Last year HFC won 23 scholarships. HFC promotes integral human development – not only academic achievement. Some time ago I wrote the following tribute to HFC, Couva:
“The Sisters and my Trini teachers promoted our mental, spiritual, moral, cultural, social and physical development. They taught us to respect life and human dignity; to understand our rights and responsibilities; to promote family life, community and the common good; to stand in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed; to care for God’s creation; and to be active participants in our society. I am who I am today mainly because of the positive influence of my parents and teachers.”
Mary-Joyce Robinson, my former Latin teacher, reminded us that at HFC “there were clear standards to follow as a teacher – you did only your best; nothing less was accepted. Teachers were exemplars. Students came from all over Trinidad…the seed was planted in 1951. Do you have any doubt where the tree has grown; where it has spread? … Holy Faith is our school; we are family.”
HFC Head Girl, Dominique Davidson, urged us to put God first in everything that we do. Thank God for the Holy Faith Sisters and for their contribution to nation-building in T&T.
