Opening of St. John’s Convent, Kitwe - March 25, 1955

From Great North Road

Article from Rhokana Review, May 1955

Most Rev Dr Mazzieri, Roman Catholic Bishop of Northern Rhodesia, opened last month the new St John's Convent School in Belfast Road Kitwe. The School, run by the American Sisters of St John the Baptist, is now catering for 350 pupils and will eventually hold 500.

Dr Mazzieri, congratulating the Sisters on the school, told them that what seemed to be a real dream or a pious desire a year ago was now a splendid reality - but they could not have achieved it without the support of the people.

In this young country', said His Lordship, 'educational institutions are badly needed and this school will be of benefit not only to Kitwe but also to the whole country. Now in the world there is no room for ignorance and every help must be given to advance learning and instruction - and education by which we are refined.

'We read of the horrible crimes perpetrated by young people who lack real education. This education must not be founded on the fear of God and the conviction that there is a judge who will one day judge us according to our deeds. Real education must be founded on the eternal principle of charity and that is what this convent school will do for its pupils'.

Mr. F. W. Carlisle, safety officer at Nkana and chairman of the Convent Parent-Teachers' Association, said that all would realise how much it meant to the Sisters of St John the Baptist to move into a school where they could give of their best to the children.

‘The Sisters have been here since 1947 and did not move into Kitwe until a year later. Before that they had to stay in St Joseph's Mission out in the bush. When they came into the town they started in a small way what is at present a children's home which has been taken over by the Sons of England for children in need of care'.

There were now 19 Sisters divided between two schools and two missions and a further three were expected shortly, said Mr. Carlisle.

Towards the school buildings the Northern Rhodesia Government had loaned a considerable sum of money free of interest, and he hoped this precedent would be followed by the Federal Government. The Nkana-Kitwe Lottery had also made a sum of money a available free of interest and the Rhokana Corporation had come forward and contributed all sorts of things to make the school what it was.

Mr G. W. R. L'Ange, Federal Member of Parliament, said that the Mother Superior and the Sisters who came from New York must have been appalled at the magnitude of the task set them in Northern Rhodesia, but they had gone ahead and accomplished their first aim.

The American Sisters would also introduce a new line on the education of Northern Rhodesian children which would be of inestimable value in framing their character and outlook, because we were somewhat isolated here and restricted in our views.

Those present included The Very Reverend Timothy Cahill, Commissary General of the Franciscan Order in the Ndola Vicariate, Mother Salvatrice the Mother Superior, Mr V. Stupart, Territorial and Federal representative on the education Board and chairman of the Frederick Knapp School Parent-Teachers' Association, Mrs Stupart, and Mrs Rex L'Ange.

Contributed by: Arthur Steevens.

September 2002