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St. Francis Secondary School Makeni turns 55 and still going strong

St. Francis Secondary School Makeni turns 55 and still going strong

From Winnipeg, Canada, Anthony Kamara (Sr) writes:

On a beautiful Tuesday morning, February 4, 1958, the Catholic Mission in northern Sierra Leone started its first Secondary school in the north central city of Makeni with 40 students who became the proud foundation students of the new institution which was to earn the sobriquet of “the school of modern languages”, thanks to the arrival of a ten-man team of teaching Brothers of the Immaculate Conception from the Netherlands to take over the school.  The brain behind this school programme was the Late First Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni, His Lordship Bishop Augusto Azzolini of blessed memory.  (Photo: Mr. Anthony Kamara, Snr.)

The school’s anniversary is observed on December 3 every year as the official opening date of the new school, though the school was in fact already a functioning institution ten months prior to December 3, a date adopted by the Xaverian Fathers to annually commemorate the death date of their patron Saint, Francis Xavier (1506-Dec. 3 1555) commonly known as “The patron of the Orient”.

As the school officially turns 55 on Tuesday December 3, and as a proud founding member of the “Old Makeni Franciscans’ Association”(OMFA), I call on the membership worldwide to observe a moment of reflection on the more than half a century of existence of our alma mater.  All Old Franciscans must endeavor to renew the friendships built in their days at the school irrespective of the generations they belong to:  to always remember that wherever they find themselves, Franciscans are always friends together.  We are what we are today because of the instructions and knowledge we all imbibed from our great school.  This fact cannot change, Franciscans remain Franciscans till the end of time.

On this Tuesday December 3, I exhort all alumni around the globe, be it in offices, in the streets, or in the comfort of their homes, to smilingly offer a hand of friendship to one another with just four words, “Happy Anniversary Fellow Franciscan”.  Every Makeni Franciscan, present and past must take comfort and delight over the school’s accomplishments in the last 55 + years of her existence and quietly praise God for His kindness to the people of Bombali, the city of Makeni, and in particular the proud products of the school.

On behalf of all Franciscans, especially members of the Old Makeni Franciscans’ Association (OMFA) worldwide, I want to express heartfelt thanks and great appreciation to the colonial administration of the time for issuing immigrant visas to the Xaverian Missionaries for coming to northern Sierra Leone in the first place, and for transforming the lives of so many thousands of young people over the years who find themselves in the service of our nation and in various countries and in all continents around the world.  We can never repay them for their contributions to the north: we do appreciate everything positive they did in the 63 years of their stay.

Our thanks also go to all those who took part in this great achievement, including the Paramount Chief of Sebora Chiefdom in 1950, PC Bai Sebora Nthonkla, in whose reign the Xaverians arrived for the welcome accorded them, later Paramount Chief Bai Sebora Kamal of blessed memory in whose administration the school was opened in 1958, not forgetting current Paramount Chief Kasanga whose relations with the Catholic Mission continue to be cordial.  Let us also remember in our prayers the countless numbers of Franciscans who have left us for eternity, asking the Almighty to have mercy on their souls.

May the Good Lord bless all Makeni Franciscans, our Xaverian benefactors and our early pioneering teaching staff including the Rev Father Rocco Serra, the first Principal, Father Colini, Mr. Richard A. Kanu, first Sierra Leonean and longest serving Principal and above all the Brothers of the Immaculate Conception from Holland whose presence in the new school, won St. Francis’ School the fame of a School of Modern Languages over the years. May the Almighty God in his infinite mercy have mercy on them in their afterlife.

A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ALL FRANCISCANS WHEREVER THEY MAY BE!

IN VERITATE  SALUS.

Anthony Kamara (Sr)

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