History of St. Teresa's Convent
Historical Highlights of St. Teresa's Convent
By: Dr. Muna Amelia Wreh, PhD
STC Class of '70
Pictures Submitted By: Mahdea Williams-Cooper
STC Class of '75
First FMM Sisters arrive in Monrovia
In the 1930’s, a ship sailed into Liberia, bringing nuns from the USA province of the Religious Order of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM). As missionaries, they championed a cause to spread “openness to the world” in different countries as women also from different countries, cultural and national backgrounds. Furthermore, their attitude to live in international and/or intercultural communities led the FMM sisters to settle in Liberia, West Africa (Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Communications Office, N. Providence, Rhode Island).
The FMM sisters came equipped with skills in education, nursing, recreational sporting activities, as well as preparation to specifically support young women develop gifted potentials and service to their communities as worthy citizens. In Liberia, they settled in an area known popularly as “Coconut Plantation”, presently along Randall Street, near the South Beach section of Monrovia, capital city of Liberia.
The Late Archbishop Michael Francis is seen in this picture in kindergarten at St. Teresa's Convent
History recounts that the FMM girls’ school was the first to be established in Monrovia. For a generation at least, Saint Teresa’s Convent (STC) School catered mainly to young women and girls, and operated a limited boarding facility while welcoming day students. The kindergarten section also catered to young boys who had to relocate to other co-educational schools once they reached the first grade. Following the 1960 school year, STC School no longer admitted young boys. They were referred to St. Patrick’s elementary all boys’ school.
Girls remaining at the first grade level moved up through eight grade finishing STC then continued on at the secondary or high school level. In the late 1950’s a separate grades 9-12 building was added on the STC compound, and K-12 was incorporated. With a growing population of young women and girls also saw STC boasting of another facility on the same compound, to accommodate classes from grades 7 – 12 in 1967. This latest facility included a science laboratory, library, and piano room that also included a section for clerical classes.
Bishop John Collins, SMA, with the foundresses of FMM Liberia
In 1970, the first combined classes of STC all girls and St Patrick’s High School, also an all boys’ school, held the first joint graduation ceremony. That tradition remained up to the 1990’s when St Patrick’s was closed by the ecclesial authorities of the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia.
STC's Campus - The Early Years
The history of St. Teresa's Convent can never be told without recognizing and honoring the men and women who taught at this institution. Many of us have fond memories of the teachers who molded our young minds. Besides teaching us, they were our mentors, disciplinarians, tutors, counselors, coaches, etc. They played an important role in making us the men and women that we are today. Some of them taught at STC and SPHS for over four decades. The pictures on this page are a small representation of the hundreds of teachers who impacted our lives. And for that, we honor them.
Teachers at St. Teresa's Convent during the 80's
Teachers featured in the picture above are:
Back Row L to R: Brother Thomas (Mathematics), Mr. ?????, Mr. Kamano, Mr. Sarpong (Physics), Mr. Jim McCritty, and Mr. Kennedy (Biology)
Front Row L to R: Sister Evelina, Ms. Chadhuri, Ms. Constance Nims (deceased - Chemistry), Sister Alice, Sister Josephine and Sister Bernadette
Thank you to all who provided the names of the teachers featured in this picture. Now we have only one left to identify. It is the teacher in the dark shirt standing next to Brother Thomas in the back row. Please send his name to sfaa@stcsphs.org.
Today, October 7, 2022, STC celebrates its 85th Anniversary. The Gala Day Festivities begins with a mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral and concludes with a parade through the streets of Monrovia, Liberia, ending on the campus of STC. Please click on the button below to leave a congratulatory message for STC. HURRAH FOR THE STC!
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Mother Nofa
Sr. Flor also served as
Principal of STC Elementary
Sr. Evelina is the current Principal of STC
STC's SCHOOL ODE
There’s a song we’ll sing
‘Til the echoes ring
With our voices loud and full
There’s the pride and joy
Of each girl and boy
Who loves our dear ‘ol school.
Let the chorus go
That the world may know
To the school we’ll loyal be!
Then hurrah for the white and
The green ever bright
Hurrah for the S.T.C.!
For the school we’ll do or die
To the school we’ll loyal be
Then hurrah for the white and
The green ever bright
Hurrah for the S.T.C.!
When the years have flow
And no more we’re known
In the haunts we love so dear
In our dreams we’ll trace
Each remembered place
And the ‘ol school still reveals
With our classmates gay
We shall sport and play
Where sweet memories fondly cling
Then come what may
We’ll be loyal still
And the same ‘ol song we’ll sing
For the school we’ll do or die
To the school we’ll loyal be
Then hurrah for the white and
The green ever bright
Hurrah for the S.T.C.!