Farewell to Ba Parish #2

Fr John McEvoy Remembers 1990 – 1995 - St Teresa’s School

It is hard to believe that it is 33 years, since I was appointed Parish Priest of the then 'St Peter Chanel Parish, Ba' back in 1990. The big celebration in the parish that year – was the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of St Teresa’s school. It was a huge event, not only for the parish and school, but for the entire town of Ba, as so many of the towns’ business people received their 1st education at St Teresa’s School by the Marist Sisters.

                                     Mass for pupils of St Teresa's in old church

                            Mrs Filo Fong in the midst of the students at Mass

                                                         At the celebration

                                             Mr and Mrs Singh among the guests.

     Sr Serea, then principal, speaking while Mr John Rao fills his pipe!!!

Children perform drama of the history the school.

                                                              A Fijian Meke

 STS students act the part of all the Marist Sisters who served at St Teresa’s School over the years.

                      Srs Loyla, Nelescho, Serea, Sulita and Marlene Giblin.

The winds of change were blowing during those years – The lovely old two-story wooden school building was getting too small to cater for the increased number of students attending. It was also deemed to be unsafe to hold classes upstairs by the Dept. of Education – in case of fire. (That being the case – the beautiful old landmark is still standing, and it is still being used – 33 years later, even after suffering many battering by fierce hurricanes over the years).

 

                                   John Louey, 'surveying the situation'

 

                                                         Those were the days.

 

Back in the early 90s the decision was made to relocate most of the school to the sugarcane field. I was privileged to oversee the construction of the 1st block of the new school (6 new classrooms) The second block (another 6 classrooms) were later added when the present parish priest Fr Pat Colgan was stationed in the parish. The final block remains to be built to complete the original plans of the 1990s.

 

                              Setafano, PPC chair presents the Dux Shield.

 

                                          Who is this caring STS student ??

 

        Fr Paul Tierney and Diego with visitors Mani and Edwina Subramani.

 

           With Maria, Yean Shin and Pookja, Lay Missionaries from Korea.