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St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi

St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi is a private Catholic primary and secondary school for girls located in Saddar Town, Karachi, Pakistan.

St Joseph's Convent School
St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi
Location
Map
Shahrah-e-Iraq, Karachi, Sindh

Pakistan
Coordinates24°51′40″N 67°02′07″E / 24.8612°N 67.0353°E / 24.8612; 67.0353
Information
Other nameSt Joseph's Convent High School
TypePrivate primary and secondary school
MottoForward God helping
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationDaughters of the Cross
Established18 March 1862; 162 years ago (1862-03-18)
Founders
Oversight
PrincipalSr. Elizabeth Niamat FC
GenderGirls
Age5 to 16
Enrolmentc. 2000

History

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In 1861, Monsignor Steins, Vicar Apostolic of Bombay passing through Belgium, called Mother Marie Therese, Superior General and founder of the Daughters of the Cross, and asked for several of her sisters to work in the Indian mission field. Canon Habets, co-founder, advised the Sisters to offer themselves for the mission. The school was founded in 1862 by the planning of Monsignor Steins, Vicar Apostolic of Bombay of that time and five Sisters of the Cross.

On 27 January 1862, the journey began. Five Sisters set off and arrived on 16 February in Bombay, where they received a hearty welcome from Bishop Steins. There the Sisters heard for the first time that they were to work in Karachi, and that he would travel along with them very shortly. Thus, on 13 March 1862, five Daughters of the Cross first set foot on the sandy soil of Sindh, and immediately began their apostolate to the people of Karachi. On 18 March 1862 the school began with ten pupils; gradually the number of pupils increased. A new building was built, and inside the foundation stone was placed an elaborate inscription hoping that the building raised above it "might be the home whence good morals and sound learning may be diffused throughout this town and the Province of Sindh."[citation needed]

In 1863 a new group of Sisters arrived. In 1869 an upper storey was added to the Convent, providing accommodation for the boarders and from January 1871 the institution was known as St Joseph's Covent. After many years in 1951 the college was built. After the new St Patrick's Church was built, the Convent acquired the use of the old Church, which was rebuilt into the present fine Hall, with a built-in stage. 1901 saw the building of the present Convent Chapel with the classrooms below. The roof of this was torn off six months later in a violent cyclone that swept over Karachi.

In 1911, St Patrick's and St Joseph's held their golden jubilee with a combined P.T. display and the performance of a play, William Tell, in the G.P. Hall. That year five pupils, Ethel Raymond, Annie Rodrigues, Eugene Nunes, Mary Lastellino and Mary D'Souza, appeared for their Matriculation Examination, and all passed. Ethel Raymond passed 2nd in Sindh and won a scholarship.

In 1958 the swimming pool was closed and transformed into the Lourdes House, and in 1965 a part of the garden saw the raising of the present Primary Block. With the creation of Pakistan a new challenge was thrown to the Sisters. The people who migrated to Pakistan were looking for schools for their children and the Sisters responded generously, stretching their capacity to the limit. Today the school has more than 2000 pupils on its rolls.

On 18 July 1989, the mayor of Faisalabad and Belgian ambassador to Pakistan renamed a public square "Belgium Square" to honor Belgian nuns who founded St. Joseph’s in Karachi 125 years ago.[1]

Principals

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Ordinal Principal Start date End date Time in office Notes
1 Sr. Zinia Pinto, FC 1963 1993 29–30 years [2]
2 Sr. Patricia Anne Gosse, FC 1993 1994 0–1 years [3]
3 Sr. Dorothy Dias, FC 1994 1999 4–5 years
4 Sr. Julie M. Pacheco, FC 1999 2012 12–13 years
5 Sr. Anila Constant, FC 2012 2019 6–7 years
6 Sr. Elizabeth Niamat, FC 2019 incumbent 4–5 years

Extracurricular activities

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The Annual Sports Day is an event organized by much enthusiasm and hard-work. The activities include march past, races, disc and javelin throw, and P.T displays. The field trips too are a norm and feature educational trips. Other SJC events include the Milaad, Naat Competitions, Feast Day Celebration, Independence Day Celebrations, and the Christmas Concert among many others.

Clubs

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Clubs at the school include Scrabble Club, Art Club, Debating Society, Dramatics Society, Book Club, Sewing Club, and Chess Club.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Belgium Square named to honor sisters' service". UCANews.com. 18 July 1989.
  2. ^ "St Joseph's Convent turns 150 years old". The Express Tribune. 20 March 2011.
  3. ^ Ali, G.; Ali, M. (2018). St. Patrick's: A journey of 175 years. Archdiocese of Karachi.
  4. ^ a b c "Sesquicentennial celebrations: Honour and glory for 150 women on St Joseph's Convent Feast Day". The Express Tribune. 20 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Women of Substance". St. Joseph's Convent School, Karachi. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  6. ^ a b Ansari, Neha (24 November 2010). "St Joseph's Convent remembers former headmistress, Shafiqa Fikree, one year on". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  7. ^ "A female journalist in Pakistan: Kiran Nazish". The Diplomat. 24 April 2013.
  8. ^ "St Joseph's Convent School (Feast Day): 150 Years Celebrations". Pakistan Magazine. 21 March 2011.
  9. ^ Viccaji, L. (2017). Made in Pakistan. Karachi: Royal Book Company.
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