College marks 100 years

Youth & Careers

THIS year is an extra special year for the St Joseph’s International Catholic College in Port Moresby as it will be celebrating 100 years since it started in 1917.
To start the 2017 academic year, college executive director Fr Paul Jennings, during the opening Mass, encouraged the students to be obedient.
Paul’s first statement at the beginning of the Mass was 100 years this year. “The first big thing we do is to come together and give thanks to God and ask him to bless us and to bless everything we do this year,” he said.
In his homily, he shared the deeper meaning of obedience by listening with a good heart and responding with a strong heart.
“If we are going to open to God’s blessings this year, I’ve got to encourage each of us to listen.”
The college started with two daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Sr Carthage and Sr Marcella and 15 pupils in a room of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart convent then situated behind Port Moresby Cathedral.
In the late 50s, the church decided to move St Joseph’s School to Boroko, the present site.
One of the ways the college is celebrating its centenary is by building a centenary hall.
This will be called the Cardinal Sir John Ribat Centenary Hall and will be blessed and opened by Cardinal Ribat on the first day of the celebrations.
The centenary programme will be held from June 27 to July 1.
All former students are invited to contact the college or visit the website to learn more about the event marking 100 years.