AS part of its 50th anniversary, Campion College will, on November 6, honour the many Jesuit fathers who have served at the Roman Catholic jesuit institution since its inception.

The celebrations will begin with a thanksgiving mass to be held at Sts Peter and Paul Church, followed by a reunion reception for Campion College and Campion Hall Prep graduates at the Knutsford Court Hotel.

The reception will also include an art auction of the work of major Jamaican artists like Carl Abrahams, Michael Brooks, Natalie Butler, Graham Davis, Gloria Escoffery, Milton George, Christopher Gonzalez, Royan Grey, A Scott, Ken Spencer, Roy Stephenson, PJ Stewart, Lloyd Van Pitterson, Barrington Watson and Allan Zion Johnson.

In 1943, the Society of Jesus established Campion Hall Prep as a private boys’ preparatory school where many of Jamaica’s most prominent leaders in the fields of business, the arts and sciences attended. These include Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, Byron Lee, Kenneth Loshusan, Tommy Lyew, Monty Alexander, John, Richard and Lee Issa, Pokar Chandiram and Sam and Joe Mahfood.

Jesuits who have served at Campion College over the years include Archbishop Samuel Carter (first headmaster, 1960-1964), Fr William Raftery, Fr Farrell, Fr Ashe, Fr Coleman, Fr Ruddy, Fr Reil and Fr Krim. Today, Fr Joseph MacWade, Fr John Sullivan and the Chairman of the School Board Fr Peter McIsaac, continue the tradition of jesuit service to Campion.

Named after the Catholic saint and Jesuit Edmund Campion, Campion became a high school in 1960 and continued to benefit greatly from the contributions of its Jesuit fathers who served as members of staff throughout the years, encouraging willing young minds in all aspects of learning, and laying foundations in religion, the arts, and science.