Map of Grenada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vicariate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ground braking ceremony

 

Completed Building

 

Br. Gordon St. Bernard

Br. Greogry Sheehan

Br. Leonard Dennahy

Br. Livinus Kelly

 

PresentationBrothers who served in Grenada

Anselm O'Callaghan
Anthony Sheehan
Camillus O'Connor
Cassian Shea
Cyprian Dunlea
De Lellis Sullivan
Denis Claivaz
Dominic Brunnock
Gabriel Noble
Gonzaga Donaghy

Gregory Sheehan
Ivan Verba
James Hayes
Joachim Stack
Keith Joseph
Kenneth Williams
Leonard Dennehy
Liam Drome
Ligouri O'Mahony
Livinus Kelly
Macartan Sheehy
Martin Attz
Matthias Comyns
Raphael Brathwaite
Robert Fanovich
Thomas O'Connor
Virgilius Aylward

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentation Brothers
Global Communities
Grenada

Facts in brief

Area: 133 square miles. (344sq km)

Capital: Saint George's

Temperature: 18-32C (64-90F)

Rainfall: Coast 60", mountains 200". Dry season : January to May.

Population: 83,357 (July 2004 est),

Language: English (official) and French-African patois.

Religion: 53% Roman Catholic, 13.8% Anglicans, other Protestant 33.2%

Education: Compulsory ages 6 to 14. Government funded public and technical schools. There are 57 primary schools and 19 public secondary schools togetger with a branch of University of the West Indies and the St. George's University.

Economy: Based on tourism and agriculture. Tourism being it's main source of foreign exchange especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Chief exports: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace (spice), coconut, cotton, limes, sugar cane. Few factories; imports exceed exports. Britain, Canada and US leading trade partners.

History: Arawak Indians, superseded by Carib Indians in 1300s. Columbus, 1498. French 1650; British 1783. African slaves brought to work on plantations until 1833.

Government: Independence 1974. Prime Minister Eric M. Gairy. Government overthrown by Marxist rebels in 1979, close ties with Cuba established. US troops , with troops from Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent invaded Grenada in October 1983, and within days took complete control. US troops left in December. Governor General and nine-man advisory council ruled country until 1984 when the democratically elected government was restored, ending the leftist policies adopted by the Marxist government. A general election held in Dec., 1984, reestablished democratic government, with Herbert Blaize as prime minister. In the following decade Grenada received aid from Western nations; tourism expanded, but in other respects the economy did not appear to improve. After elections in June, 1995, Keith Mitchell, leader of the New National Party, became prime minister.

Presentation Brothers College, Grenada.

1946:

On November 19th Br. Dunstan Curtin and Br. Gregory Sheehan arrived in Grenada with the mission to establish a secondary school for boys. From the outset great assistance and support were provided by the Dominican Fathers. They provided a residence and a school building (the Dominican Vicariate), as well as assisting with early classroom instruction and underwriting the cost of building alterations, construction of classroom furniture and even transport fares for newly arriving Brothers.

Though the population of the island, then about 80,000, was over 90% Catholic, the only second level education open to Catholic boys was Grenada Boys Secondary School in the capital, St. George's. GBSS had been founded for the children of the British colonial establishment and was fully funded by the Government. Its ethos was generally believed to be unfriendly, if not hostile, towards Catholics. The Government made no attempt to fund Presentation College on an equal basis with GBSS, and survival depended on the formation of such support groups as the Mothers' Union and later the Old Boys' Association.

1947:

  • On January 21st Br. Gregory presided over the official opening of Presentation College, Grenada, with a student population of 62 pupils.
  • On February 14th Brothers Liam Dromey and Leonard Dennehy arrived
  • . On July 18th Archbishop Finbar Ryan bestowed the Papal Blessing on the school.

1948:

  • The student population was 78.
  • The first Grenadian teacher, Mr. Raymond Banfeld, joined the staff
  • .Science equipment at a cost of £200 was provided.
  • The school's first Sports Day was held and the school football team won the first of many trophies.
  • Brother Joachim Stack arrived on Christmas Day.

1949:

  • The student population comprised five Forms. Canvas screens and trellis-work were used to divide the lower balcony into classrooms. Religious Knowledge, Scripture, English, Latin, French, Spanish, History, Geography, Science, Mathematics, Drawing and Calligraphy were the subjects on the curriculum.
  • Brothers conducted adult education classes at the newly established University College of the West Indies and in April led a Teachers.
  • Conference for thirty Catholic male teachers. On March 11 a fire which was potentially disastrous began in the nearby Convent grounds but it was brought under control as it threatened to envelop the Vicariate building.

1950:

  • On January 9, clearing the ground for the new school building began on land leased from the St. Joseph of Cluny Sisters. Archbishop Ryan laid the cornerstone in March.
  • A fundraising drive in the Irish schools, co-ordinated by Brother Bonaventure Murphy, assisted greatly in providing funds for construction, furniture and equipping the new Science Hall.

1951:

  • January 14th, the new College building was blessed and officially opened by Archbishop Finbar Ryan.
  • Br. Liam Dromey was transferred to St. Lucia.
  • Br. Livinus Kelly assumed headmastership in the absence on holiday to Ireland of Br. Gregory Sheehan.
  • Student success in the School Certificate examinations was 100%.

1952:

  • Gordon St. Bernard, the first native Grenadian to become a Presentation Brother, went to Ireland to begin his novitiate at Mount St. Joseph, Cork
  • Brother Gregory Sheehan was transferred to England. Tributes were paid to his untiring efforts to make Presentation College a reality in Grenada.
  • Brother Virgilius Alyward joined the community.

1953:

  • Br. Leonard Dennehy was appointed Superior and Headmaster.
  • The College buildings were made available for public meetings and youth gatherings.
  • Br. Livinus Kelly founded a chapter of the St. John's Ambulance Corps.
  • A delegation of parents succeeded in getting a £200 Science Grant which had earlier been denied by the colonial government.

1954:

  • Clement St. Bernard became the first past pupil to assume a teaching post in the College.
  • Brother Virgilius returned to Ireland in July.

1955:

  • Hurricane Janet struck Grenada on September 22nd, causing great devastation. 110 persons lost their lives. The Brothers coordinated relief efforts, Br. Livinus' Ambulance Corps being of great assistance. The College roof was torn off and damage which cost £20,000 to repair was caused to the building and to the Brothers' residence.

1956 -1961:

  • These were years of steady progress. Bishop Field was consecrated bishop of the new diocese of St. George's and the long and cordial relationship with Archbishop Finbar Ryan officially ended.
  • Br. Gabriel Noble from Trinidad, the first West Indian Brother to joint the college staff, became a member of the Grenada community.
  • In 1958 Lady Mountbatten paid an official visit and Br. Livinus was awarded a medal in recognition of outstanding service rendered by the St. John's Ambulance Corps, especially during the aftermath of Hurricane Janet.
  • A set of Stations of the Cross, presented to the Community by Br. Dominic Brunnock, -San Fernando, was installed in the community chapel in Grenada.
  • An explosion occurred on board the ship Bianca C in the outer St. George's harbour. The Brothers provided shelter and clothing for survivors.

1962-1964:

  • A bush fire threatened the college building but it was extinguished before any harm was done.
  • A gas generator in the College exploded and the building was hastily evacuated, but the resultant blaze was extinguished by the staff before the arrival of the fire brigade.
  • On September 30th 1963 Hurricane Flora caused extensive damage.

1965-1969:

  • The mid-to-late 1960s were something of a "Golden Age." The building was expanded and improved and the College enjoyed public recognition and awards.
  • A tennis court was completed at a cost of £5,000, raised by the Catholic Union of Mothers and by the Empire Cinema management. The Cadet Corps was formed and made its first public appearance at the Queen's Birthday celebrations in 1965.
  • A Scout Troop was established by Br. Matthias Comyns. In 1968 and 1969 members won the Baden Powell trophy for excellence and outstanding community service.
  • In 1966 Cuthbert Nyack became the first Presentation College student to win the Grenada Island Scholarship. The College Junior Boys' Choir took second place in the 1966 Grenada Arts Festival.
  • In 1967 Presentation College obtained the most passes at the A Level examinations in Grenada. Br. Camillus O'Connor was responsible for outstanding results in English language and literature.
  • In 1968 Harold Munro was the second Presentation College student to be awarded the Grenada Island Scholarship. The four runners-up for the award were all students at Presentation College.
  • In 1969 the Invitation Cup, the College's second major football trophy, was won by Presentation College.

1970-1972:

  • During 1970 the College was visited by Msgr. Babarito, Apostolic Delegate to the Caribbean and by the newly elected Prime Minister of Grenada, Eric M. Gairy.
  • Br. Joachim Stack left for Trinidad to begin his studies for the priesthood. He is now a priest in the Diocese of Miami and still maintains contact with the Brothers in the West Indies.
  • In January 1972 the 25th Anniversary of the opening of Presentation College was celebrated quietly at a memorial Mass in the Cathedral.
  • Two postulants, Raphael Brathwaite and Terrence Carriman began preparation for the Novitiate while staying with the community.

1973 -1983:

This was a decade during which the fortunes of Presentation College were bound up with the vicissitudes of political developments in Grenada. It was a time when one spoke with care and exercised even greater caution when committing anything to writing.

1973:

  • From November 1973 until the Christmas holidays the students of Presentation College, and in fact of schools throughout Grenada, refused to attend class in view of the widespread political unrest. Fear? Protest? Perhaps a bit of both. From January 10th 1974 to February 18th student protest against the government was overtly declared and on a few days no classes were conducted.

1974:

  • Grenada became an officially independent nation within the British Commonwealth at midnight on February 7th 1974. Because of political unrest celebrations were minimal : a strike was on and there was no electricity. Some groups were opposed to independence, accusing the new Prime Minister, E. M. Gairy of dictatorship.
  • The College grounds were searched by government troops for armaments and Radio Grenada falsely reported that weapons had been found in the Scout Den.
  • In view of his involvement with youth groups in the area it was decided that young Br. Keith Joseph should go to Barbados for his own safety.
  • On May 15th Prime Minister Gairy informed Br. Dominic Brunnock that grant-in-aid to the College would be continued but that the 6th (senior) Form would be discontinued.

1976:

  • Bishop Sydney Charles was installed as replacement to Bishop Webster who was transferred to St. Lucia. Bishop Charles has always been a steadfast supporter of the Brothers' work in Grenada and was to prove a figure of strength, brave leadership and inspiration in the trying times ahead.
  • Financial difficulties, for the community and the College, became acute. Br. Matthias brought some relief in the form of a colour TV set, a gift of the General Council, on his return from a holiday in Ireland.
  • Students put in their best efforts in academic and sporting activities. Irwin Roden and Angus Smith won Island Scholarships. With a student population of under 250 Presentation College won the Inter schools Athletics Competition on four occasions, competing against seven or eight other schools.
  • Sixth Form was reintroduced.

1979-1983:

  • On March 13th 1979 during his absence from Grenada the government of Sir Eric Gairy was overthrown by Maurice Bishop, Bernard Coard and other leaders of the New Jewel Movement. Bishop, a Marxist, established close ties with Cuba and adopted a number of leftist policies.
  • The effects of the revolution on Presentation College were swift and severe. Sixth Form was again discontinued and financial constraints were so severe that only the most essential repairs and maintenance were possible.
  • Government control of schools was increased. Over the protests of Br. Leonard, the Principal, the revolutionary government assigned a Cuban Spanish teacher and a teacher of Russian descent to the staff. Despite Br. Leonard's representations through Ms. Creft who had been appointed Minister of Education intense standardization of school affairs continued.
  • It was an era of great emotional hardship. Many of Grenada's young people had been recruited into youth groups and militia units and openly carried firearms into their school classes. Teachers had to choose their words with great care. A document was later found in which a member of the Political Bureau recommended that the three Brothers at Presentation College (Brs. Leonard, Dominic and De Lellis) and one of the St. Joseph Sisters should be watched and "checked out." A teacher at a neighbouring school who had used corporal punishment was advised by the student's father, a member of the revolutionary government, that she had 24 hours to leave Grenada if she wished to stay alive.
  • In 1983 Maurice Bishop was denounced by other rebels for not adopting a complete Marxist system. They took over the government and killed Bishop. A government led by Bernard Coard then ruled for a brief period.
  • Fearing that Grenada would be used as a base by Cuba and the Soviet Union to support terrorism and leftist revolutions in Latin America, several Caribbean nations asked the United States to help restore order in Grenada. On 25 October 1983 US troops invaded Grenada, President Ronald Reagan saying the action was necessary to protect the lives of Americans in Grenada. Troops from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada and the Grenadines also took part in the invasion.
  • The multinational force quickly took major objectives, including an airport being constructed at Port Salinas with Cuban ssistance, and had taken complete control within days. By December 15 all US troops had left the country but about 250 noncombatant US military personnel remained in Grenada until 1985 to maintain law and order.
  • After the fighting ended Sir Paul Roden Scone, governor general of Grenada, took temporary control of the government. He appointed a nine-member advisory council to help him rule the country. In 1984 Grenada's democratically elected government was restored. A prime minister again headed the government and the leftist policies the Marxist overnment had adopted were ended.

1984-1989:

  • The return to rule in Grenada by an elected government brought great relief to the Brothers, especially as a goodly number of Presentation College "Old Boys" were members. Normality gradually returned to the island and to the school's life.
  • Mandates of the Congregation's Pastoral Plan were implemented. Br. De Lellis was a member of the Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Vocations Committee, and Br. Dominic directed the Lenten retreat for the College students. Br Leonard wrote a series of articles on the religious Brotherhood for the Catholic News and was appointed by Bishop Charles to direct the Legion of Mary.
  • In 1987 the 40th Anniversary of the founding of Presentation College was celebrated in grand style. The Br.Leonard Dennehy Foundation was established in close collaboration with the Old Boys Alumni Association which had been organized in New York under the direction of former student Dr. Frank Caesar. The standards of academic excellence at Presentation College were reaffirmed in 1988 when student Juan Bailey was awarded the Marryshow Trophy for achievement of supremacy in the CXC Examinations.

1990-1995:

  • In August 1990 Tropical Storm Arthur blew the front roof off Presentation College and inflicted damage estimated at over $20,000. In February 1991 an Associate Group was formed . The group continues to meet regularly with the local community. Onemember of the original group, Barry Noel, has joined the Presentation Brothers, having completed his novitiate in Ghana, West Africa.
  • On June 20th 1991 Br. Leonard Dennehy celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a Presentation Brother. At a memorial Mass in the Cathedral Br. Leonard renewed his vows in the presence of Bishop Sydney Charles.
  • Later that year Br. Leonard left for for medical treatment, first in Kissimmee, Florida and eventually in Ireland. He longed to return to Grenada for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of theBrothers' arrival there, but on December 22nd 1994 Br. Leonard died in Cork. He is buried at Mount St. Joseph.
  • In September 1993 Br. Robert Fanovich became principal of Presentation College in succession to Br. De Lellis Sullivan. Under his enthusiastic leadership enthusiasm for sport has been rekindled and the College has again gained prominence on the athletic field, with notable victories in football and basketball. Successes have also been achieved in Choral Speaking and Drama at the Grenada National Arts Festival.
  • The Canadian and West Indian provinces of the Congregationwere merged in 1994 and in the early months of 1995 the Canadian Region donated Cdn$20,000 to the Grenada community. The funds were used to install badly-needed partitions in the school and to surround the entire compound with security fencing. It was possible also to renovate the Brothers' residence.

References:

  • A Concise History of the Presentation Brothers in Grenada, 1946-1996 from the Annals of Presentation College, St. George's, by Br. Ivan Verba FPM, published in Golden Jubilee magazine, 1997.

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