The following is the full tribute delivered by Leela Ramdeen at the September 27 funeral of Mary Joyce Robinson at St Paul’s RC Church, Couva.
Friends, today, 27 September, we say farewell to Miss Mary Joyce Robinson who left us for her heavenly home at 3:20 pm on Wednesday September 19th, 2018 at the age of 74 years old.
Miss Robinson was a woman of God; a Catholic woman who was made for mission. The vocation of each child of God is to be holy. However, as well as this general vocation, each one of us has a unique, personal vocation. Our task is to discern this personal vocation and to fulfil it. Mary Joyce Robinson discerned her call and, like Our Lady, she said “Yes” to that call.
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She was called to live out her Christian vocation to holiness in the classroom. She knew in her heart that teaching was not just a job or a career, but a vocation. Her deep spirituality enabled her to be true to her vocation – teaching – which remains one of the noblest professions in today’s world. Yes, teaching is a holy vocation. As a teacher, Miss Robinson always sought to promote what the Catholic Church calls “authentic integral human development”, that is, the development of a student in all his/her dimensions and of every student.
Our Church talks about “feminine genius.” In his apostolic exhortation titled Gaudete et exsultate, “Rejoice and be glad”, Pope Francis said: “…the ‘genius of woman’ is seen in feminine styles of holiness, which are an essential means of reflecting God’s holiness in this world.” He affirms that each woman, in her own, unique way, is called to transform our world with a life of holiness. But we cannot do this unless we make Christ the centre of our lives.
Miss Robinson allowed the potter to mould her with His loving hands throughout her life, and she, in turn, helped to guide/mould/shape the lives of thousands of women, men, and children whom she taught over a period of 55 years; forming consciences; building character; and motivating us to set high standards for ourselves.
Miss Robinson had an extensive career and has been an exemplary educator. She touched the hearts and minds of many of us. In fact, she did more than that; she had high expectations of us and set our hearts aflame for being the best that we can be. Never underestimate the power of high expectations in enhancing student achievement. Too many students fail because, for a variety of reasons, some teachers put a ceiling on their potential. Not Miss Robinson. Teaching requires quality leadership, and she was a leader par excellence. So dedicated was she to her profession, that after her retirement, having served for 41 years in the classroom (38 years of which was spent teaching at HFC, Couva), her role as a teacher continued.
One of her former students, journalist Sharmain Baboolal, wrote a truly moving tribute to Miss Robinson on Facebook. I have her permission to share some of her insights. Among other things, she said: ” Miss Robinson’s history with Holy Faith Convent dates back to 1955 when, even though all of her ten siblings went to school in San Fernando, Mary Joyce stood out as the one who told her mother she did not want to go to Secondary school at St Joseph’s Convent the natural follow-on to her primary years at St Gabriels’ RC. And when she suggested Naparima College, Mother Eugene stepped in and referred MJ’s mother to a convent in Couva – HFC.
“After five years she returned to St Joseph’s Convent San Fernando, for A-levels with an admonition from her Principal Sister Magdelena: ‘You will do A Levels and come back here and teach.’ And that she did after two years at the Catholic Teachers Training College. It started with Math, English and French and whatever she was told to do, but always Religious Knowledge. And then one of her siblings lured her to St Croix on a teaching contract for one year. Within two months she was back in Trinidad at the Ministry of Education telling them that she returned late. So they sent her to Queen’s Royal College with a staff of 36 men to eight women and a school of only boys and young men compared with Holy Faith. With her father unwell at the home base in San Fernando, Miss Robinson applied for a transfer to Holy Faith Convent, so she could be nearer to home. As fate would have it, she says, ‘the goodly man clocked out.’
“Miss Robinson’s formula for excellence is simple enough. She declared ‘I fuss over children all the time about the quality of the work I don’t correct scrap.’ She said when she said that to a Form one class, a student wrote on her Math copy book: ‘Miss Robinson is allergic to scrap.’
“Even with a failing eyesight, she gave one on one lessons to students because their parents – who would have also been her students from another generation – insisted on it…She spread love wherever she went, so she reaped the rewards, unwittingly, without soliciting. Imagine she was in the vegetable mart trying to get a few things and she heard a voice saying ‘Whatever she needs put that on my tab’. With her eyesight not so good she turned around to seek the voice only to find her past student, Brigadier General Rodney Smart, the then Chief of TT’s Defence Force.
“She has said: ‘I credit my student years at Holy Faith with a lot of the good things that people see in me’. When people talked about nominating her for an award, Mary Joyce would ask: ‘Why do you want to give me an award?
All I have done is live my life as best as I could, as happily as I could, enjoying all that came my way.. school teachers, friends, colleagues and my students. I really love people.’ And what is the hallmark of her incredible service of which she is downright modest? It is etched in the reactions and the testimonies of the students who remained an integral part of her life to the end.”
The Vatican II document, Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration on Christian Education), highlights the importance of Catholic schools: “The Catholic school pursues cultural goals and the human formation of youth…let teachers recognize that the Catholic school depends upon them almost entirely for the accomplishment of its goals and programs… may teachers by their life as much as by their instruction bear witness to Christ, the unique Teacher.”
Miss Robinson’s dedication, commitment and passion for teaching and for her students are legendary. What a tremendous inspiration she has been to many of us. I entered Holy Faith Convent in 1962 – ours was the first Common Entrance cohort. Miss Robinson came into our lives in 1963. She was our Latin teacher. She was enthusiastic about the teaching and learning process; was always well-prepared and knew the content of the subjects that she taught – Latin, Maths, English, French, and Religious Knowledge.
It was St John Chrysostom who said: “What greater work is there than training the mind and forming the habits of the young?” Miss Robinson used her knowledge and skills to transform our lives; nurturing in us morals, values and virtues that are consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
She remained an inspiration to many, including me, after we left HFC. Indeed, she became our friend and attended parties at my home and those of others on many occasions. Even as I held her frail hand when I visited her at her home in St James a few days before she passed, she laughingly said: “Your class always act as though I am one of you. I was your teacher….Anyhow, I love you all; you are all my own.” Such was the love her students have for her, that she was always seen as “one of the girls.” I truly believe that one must love children to be an effective teacher.
Miss Robinson was more than “one of the girls”; she was our mentor, friend, adviser, role model, and more. She was a woman who lived a purpose driven life – a true, true co-creator with Christ; playing her indispensable role in carrying out His redemptive work. Although she had no biological children, many, including me, consider her as a second mother; like a mother, she was always proud of the achievements of her students; and always had a word of encouragement for each of us.
Pope Francis was right when he said (2015) that: “Teaching is a beautiful job; as it allows you to see the growth day by day of people entrusted to your care. It is a little like being parents, at least spiritually. It is a great responsibility. Teaching is a serious commitment, that only a mature and balanced person can undertake…As Jesus taught us, all the Law and the Prophets can be summarized in two commandments: love the Lord God and love your neighbour. We can ask ourselves: who is a teacher’s neighbour? The neighbours are your students! “
Dear Miss Robinson, as you return to the bosom of the Lord, we recall St Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4: “…the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.”
Today, let us look back in gratitude to Miss Robinson; who laboured in the Lord’s vineyard purposefully and relentlessly to achieve her goals; selflessly sharing her many God-given gifts with thousands of us. She has demonstrated that teachers matter. She has left us an enduring legacy, not only as an exemplar in the field of education, but as a warm, caring, compassionate human being; someone who went the extra mile. She was known to bring sandwiches for a student whose mother had lost her job; she would give a lift to school to another student whom she knew had no money to afford the bus fare.
While she accepted an award at a Women of Worth ceremony in March this year, she refused to let us apply for a National Award for her while she was on this earth. But I know that as she enters the Lord’s House, there will be a huge banner draped across the pearly gates of heaven that reads: “Welcome home, thou good and faithful servant.” Returning to her Father in heaven is the greatest award she could have received.
We love you, Mary Joyce Robinson. We thank God for your life. Your sterling contribution to humanity will live on for generations to come. May you rest in peace. Amen.
