
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

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Presentation
Brothers
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Global
Communities |
Grenada
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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Arawak Indians, superseded by Carib Indians in 1300s.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:
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On
January 21st Br. Gregory presided over the official opening
of Presentation College, Grenada, with a student population
of 62 pupils.
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On February 14th Brothers Liam Dromey and Leonard Dennehy
arrived
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.
On July 18th Archbishop Finbar Ryan bestowed the Papal
Blessing on the school.
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The
student population was 78.
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The
first Grenadian teacher, Mr. Raymond Banfeld, joined the
staff
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.Science
equipment at a cost of £200 was provided.
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The
school's first Sports Day was held and the school football
team won the first of many trophies.
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Brother
Joachim Stack arrived on Christmas Day.
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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.
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Brothers
conducted adult education classes at the newly established
University College of the West Indies and in April led
a Teachers.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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January
14th, the new College building was blessed and officially
opened by Archbishop Finbar Ryan.
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Br.
Liam Dromey was transferred to St. Lucia.
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Br.
Livinus Kelly assumed headmastership in the absence on
holiday to Ireland of Br. Gregory Sheehan.
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Student
success in the School Certificate examinations was 100%.
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Gordon
St. Bernard, the first native Grenadian to become a Presentation
Brother, went to Ireland to begin his novitiate at Mount
St. Joseph, Cork
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Brother Gregory Sheehan was transferred to England. Tributes
were paid to his untiring efforts to make Presentation
College a reality in Grenada.
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Brother Virgilius Alyward joined the community.
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Br.
Leonard Dennehy was appointed Superior and Headmaster.
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The
College buildings were made available for public meetings
and youth gatherings.
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Br.
Livinus Kelly founded a chapter of the St. John's Ambulance
Corps.
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A
delegation of parents succeeded in getting a £200 Science
Grant which had earlier been denied by the colonial government.
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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.
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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.
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Br.
Gabriel Noble from Trinidad, the first West Indian Brother
to joint the college staff, became a member of the Grenada
community.
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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.
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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.
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An
explosion occurred on board the ship Bianca C in the outer
St. George's harbour. The Brothers provided shelter and
clothing for survivors.
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A
bush fire threatened the college building but it was extinguished
before any harm was done.
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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.
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On
September 30th 1963 Hurricane Flora caused extensive damage.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In
1969 the Invitation Cup, the College's second major football
trophy, was won by Presentation College.
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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.
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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.
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In
January 1972 the 25th Anniversary of the opening of Presentation
College was celebrated quietly at a memorial Mass in the
Cathedral.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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The
College grounds were searched by government troops for
armaments and Radio Grenada falsely reported that weapons
had been found in the Scout Den.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Sixth
Form was reintroduced.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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