This year, Caritas College in Port Augusta celebrates 150 years of continuous Catholic education in the Josephite tradition.
2021 also sees the end of a 150-year continuous residential presence of Josephite Sisters in Port Augusta – the longest anywhere in Australia.
It was Mary MacKillop herself who accompanied the first two Josephite Sisters, Angelica Greene and Angela Crugan, to Port Augusta. They arrived by steamer at the wharf on May 17, 1871. Two days later the first school, St. Joseph’s Convent School, was conducted in a shed near the waterfront. 56 children came to school on the first day.
Sister Helen Duke finishes her time in Port Augusta on August 17. Sr Helen has been in Port Augusta on three occasions from 1974 to 1976, 2001 to 2004 and 2010 to current.
Sister Helen says it’s the uniqueness of the people that she will miss most about being in Port Augusta.
“I taught Nichii Mardon in Year 2 who is now the Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Port Pirie! As well as a lot of the Grandparents and parents at Caritas College. There is something about the way students acknowledge you, the welcome they give you”.
Sr Helen thinks that has a lot to do with the first Sisters that came here with Mary MacKillop.
“Mary MacKillop stayed for two weeks and left knowing Sr Angelica and Sr Angela were able to carry on. Sr Angelica then stayed for 19 years. I believe that during those 19 years she was able to imbue this town, the school, it’s teachers, students and families with the spirit of Mary MacKillop – and it’s still there.
At Caritas College, May 17 is a significant day each year. The day that the school first started in 1871 is celebrated every year by giving out cupcakes to all students!
To mark the sesquicentenary this year, the parish and school combined to hold an event on Sunday May 16. The day began with a Mass including over 100 parishioners, staff, students and invited guests. Bishop Karol Kulczycki, Bishop Greg O’Kelly and Fr Jim Monaghan presided over the Mass of Thanksgiving to pay homage to the Sisters of St Joseph and acknowledge their incredible commitment, service and leadership to the people of Port Augusta and the Caritas College school community.
Following the Mass, the congregation moved to the Fountain Art Gallery, which was once the convent for the Sisters of St Joseph. The walls were lined with photos of days gone by to provoke special memories and important conversations for people as they wandered through the premises.
The College then held a whole-school assembly where a birthday cake was ceremoniously cut by the youngest student, Ella Havelberg, and one of the oldest known students to attend the College, Kath Madden.
Some of the Sisters who once taught at the school were invited into classes to share their stories and memories of Caritas College with the current students.
The College has seen many changes over the past 150 years. It has changed locations, renamed itself, altered uniforms and seen many principals and teachers come and go. It continues, however, to be inspired by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph in all of its endeavours and aspirations.
“I believe in leaving, we’ve left a town, a school, a parish and it’s people full of the spirit of Mary MacKillop, it’s in everything they do. The legacy of the Sisters who have gone before me has touched their lives.”
The anniversary celebrations will culminate with a night of sharing stories and celebrating memories at a 150th Anniversary Gala Dinner for old scholars, past and present staff members, current and former parents/caregivers, family members and friends. The event planned for August 7 was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and will be rescheduled for later in the year if restrictions permit.
Pictured above: Sisters of St Joseph at the 150th birthday celebration at Caritas College May 2021.
Pictured below: Sister Helen Duke
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