When students at St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain, were challenged to find creative ways to commemorate 200 years of the founding of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, the girls of the third form rose to the occasion.

Months after the challenge was issued, on Tuesday, November 13, the year group performed a short play entitled The Rose for specially invited guests Sr Gabrielle Mason, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of Cluny, and Sr Mary Margaret Maloney, former principal of Maria Regina Grade School.

SJC POS students stage their play entitled "The Rose"

Emily Aboud in the role of Blessed Anne Marie

Stained-glass window

The morning began with a steel pan rendition of the national anthem and short addresses by the Principal, Jennifer Annandsingh, and the teacher responsible for the event, Anna Pounder, who explained to the guests and students that their morning prayer that morning would be in the form of the third formers’ offering. Then, the form three’s took the spotlight.

The play looked at the early life of the foundress of the order, Blessed Anne Marie Jahvouey.

With great skill and clarity, the young actresses documented Anne Marie’s participation in clandestine Masses during the French Revolution, her family life with her sisters, her desire to discern God’s will, and her eventual submission to the Holy will of God.

The performance was punctuated with songs and a dance in which the sisters go forth to begin their missionary activity on the African continent, choreographed by Sixth Former Nicola Johnston.

After the performance, Form 3M launched their book Echoes of the Past, Voices of the Future, an anthology of poems and short stories dedicated to the Sisters of Cluny and to former Principal Elizabeth Crouch in celebration of their hard work and dedication to the school. A copy of the book was presented to Sr Gabrielle Mason.

The book launch was followed by a short address by Sr Gabrielle, in which she thanked the school for inviting her to the morning’s activities and lauded the students for their “collaboration, cooperation and intention.”

She explained to the students the seriousness and depth of what they had done and seemed touched by their efforts. Mrs. Annandsingh then delivered some closing remarks.

She instructed her students to turn towards the stained glass windows on the west of the chapel which depicts the life and call of Blessed Anne Marie and invited members of the school’s choir, and the form threes, to lead the school in singing a hymn dedicated to Blessed Anne Marie.

Sr Gabrielle left and the normal school day resumed. It is hoped, however, that the students will remember the lessons learned from the life of Blessed Anne Marie long after the morning’s assembly and beyond the bicentennial year.

Congratulations to the Form Threes for their hard work and on a job well done!