The sun rose on a beautiful day in the gardens of the Alpha complex on South Camp Road in Kingston last Tuesday. The modern buildings and roadways were inconceivable that May morning in 1880 when a Jamaican lady, Jessie Ripoll, led the first orphan onto that property.

It was 42 years after Emancipation, and the suffering of the formerly enslaved Africans had resulted in a growing number of orphans. Ripoll decided that she had to take care of these young ones — investing her funds in their future — with the assistance of two other parishioners at the then Holy Trinity Church on Duke Street.

As the number of orphans grew, the Sisters of Mercy arrived 10 years later to assist Ripoll, who joined the religious order, becoming Mother Claver. The history of Alpha, the sacrifices and triumphs are captured by the late Sister Bernadette Little in her book, You Did It Unto Me. We learn how Alpha became the cradle of Jamaican music, the truce between gangs negotiated by Sister Benedict Chung, the expansion of the Alpha Boys’ School by Sister Mary Ignatius Davis, the achievements of Convent of Mercy Academy ‘Alpha’ high school, and the rise of St Catherine High School under the guidance of Sister Mary Paschal.

The book was published before the spectacular evolution of St John Bosco Boys’ Home into an extensive vocational training centre under the hand of the visionary Sister Susan Frazer. Sister Mary Benedict Chung continues to lead Laws Street Trade Training Centre in downtown Kingston at the ripe old age of 95 years assisted by Sister Maria Teresa Muhuhu.

Along with special guests Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and his wife, Juliet, both graduates of St Catherine High School; Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange; Sister Paula Diann Marlin of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas; Dr Carey Wallace of sponsors Tourism Enhancement Fund; and Ambassador Sandra Grant Griffiths we witnessed the opening of the Alpha Mercy Historical Centre. Dr Holness referred to Archbishop Kenneth Richards, who gave the blessing, as “my brother”, both being graduates of St Catherine High School.

Jamaica Sisters of Mercy CEO, attorney-at-law Marcia Tai Chun, noted that this was the brainchild of the late Sister Theresa Lowe-Ching and was carried forward by Sister Susan, who sadly passed away a month before the official opening. Our leader of the Mercy Associates, Marcia Thwaites, and her husband Deacon Ronnie Thwaites have been lifelong supporters of this and other Mercy endeavours.

From right: Juliet Holness, Dr Andrew Holness, Marcia Tai Chun, and Olivia Grange view exhibits at the official opening of the Alpha Mercy Historical Centre. Photo: JIS

In applauding the Alpha Mercy Historical Centre, Dr Holness noted, “Young Jamaicans need to know the stories of the people who helped to build our country. I believe we must tell the stories of Jamaicans who saw a problem, took action, and used their talents to make a difference. The work of Sister Susan, the Sisters of Mercy, and Alpha is one of those stories. They helped to educate, nurture talent, and shape Jamaica’s culture. These are the stories our young people need to know so they can understand where we came from, be inspired, and see what they too can do for Jamaica.”

Dr Holness was pleasantly surprised that a photograph of him greeting Sister Paschal was a part of the museum’s exhibits. It was her insistence that St Catherine High School be converted to a co-ed school which resulted in the admission of students like young Holness and Richards.

Dr Holness said Jamaica’s sun, sea, and sand has attracted our visitors, but “we must now address the sites and symbols, and this is what we’re doing here”, referring to the Tourism Enhancement Fund ‘s contribution of $100 million to the development of the museum. He further stated that, “This is how you create the revenue streams that deal with the welfare issues, because these investments will be part of that overall strategy that will generate the revenue.” He announced that a National Museum is being planned for Morant Bay — the site of the Paul Bogle-led Morant Bay Rebellion — in celebration of our post-Emancipation history.

Alpha Mercy Historical Centre will open to the public in October.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to jean.lowrie-chin@procomm.com.jm.