By Mr Yera Keita- Teleh Joe.
The Old Edwardian Association Texas chapter held its first inaugural thanksgiving mass officiated by Rev Fr Antonion Ormaza at the St Patrick Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas.
In attendance, supporting, and representing the St Josephs old girls association was Miss Florence Campbell. Also, present at the occasion are old girls of the Annie Walsh Memorial school and other friends and families within the metroplex.
The mass started with a brief history of the school by the Rev Fr. Antonion Ormaza, St Edwards Secondary School is the third oldest secondary school in Sierra Leone. Its origins started with St.Edward’s Primary school, which was established in 1865 by a French Roman catholic priest, Rev Fr Edward Blanchet. In 1921, the board of directors comprising a group of priests from Italy, France and Ireland decided to start a secondary school for the pupils graduating from the primary school.
On February 6, 1922, the new secondary school opened its doors to seven
St. Edward’s primary school graduates- Anthony Tucker, Sylvester Tucker, James Massallay, Edward Farrah, William Luke, and Albert Margai- future Prime Minister of Sierra Leone. The first headmaster of the school was Fr. Michael O’Connor; He retired due to illness six months after the school was opened. He was replaced by
Fr. Mulcahy, and under his stewardship St. Edwards Secondary School was officially rated among the ace schools in Sierra Leone. The School’s curriculum was patterned along the old-fashioned British education. The school celebrate February 6 as Foundation day and October 13 as Feast day in honor of our patron saint, Edward the Confessor.
The first reading was done by Mr Blain Wallcot Taylor from the Book of Leviticus chapter 19: 1-2, 17-18.
The second reading was done by Mr Patrick Walsh from the book of first John chapter 5: 1-5.
The Gospel reading was done by Mr Joseph Koroma from the book of Matthew chapter 25: 31-40.
The vote of thanks was by the vice chairman Mr Patrick Dangawallie, He thank the attending guest for there support in gracing the occasion, also he thank the members for there hard work in making the occasion a success and urge all Edwardians home and abroad to work together for the good of the school, and that we should pray for all our fellow Edwardians that are no longer with us and may there souls rest in peace. He ended by saying that “ in a world too often divided by religious differences, this annual thanksgiving service affirms that religion can and ought to bring us together rather than apart, and at the same time the service offers us the opportunity to give thanks for the blessings of life we share in our nation and our one small planet and also to contribute to the well being of others through our offering and sacrifice.”
The mass ended with the school song by all the members and the guest present.
Light refreshment followed at the church Lobby.
Photos: Secretary Yera Keita-Teleh Joe(top), group photo of members and Patrick Dagawallie(Vice Chairman).
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