St Anne’s School Celebrates Late Headmistress, Sr Devane, OLA, Says ‘She Was A True Mother’

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA– St Anne’s Primary and Nursery school Kakuri, Kaduna has celebrated the life and times of their Former Headmistress, Late Rev Sr. Catherine Devane, OLA, with a memorial thanksgiving Mass at the school premises on Wednesday, 24th November, 2021.

The erstwhile missionary Headmistress was said to have served the school for 16 years, from 1971- 1987, when she retired and Died at the age of 95 on 17th September, 2021, in Ireland

Speaking the Chaplain of the School and celebrant of the mass, Rev. Fr. Kenneth Kabashio, said ” it’s wonderful that she was able to serve for this long and not being a Nigerian and expatriate, adding that, being in one place for a long time can have its effect on the person particularly, as a religious

” But then, it’s commendable that she was able to stay for the number of years, that’s why she’s been celebrated today by the school, eventhough, a good number of people here never met her, but we still have people who knew about her, but then, the works that she did is what is indelible in our lives particularly, in the school, adding that due to the work she did, the school has grown from Nursery and primary school to even a secondary school ”

According to him, if people like her were not here, the school may not have being here, ” but we thank God and we pray that God will bring up more people like her in whatever areas of ministry that he wants, so that the Church will continue to grow in different areas; so we pray for happy repose of Sr. Catherine Devane, that she rest in the bossom of the Lord” he added

Similarly, an old pupil of the school and Associate Priest of St Andrew’s Catholic Church, Kakuri, Rev Fr. Romania Okolie, while describing his former Headmistress, Sr Catherine Devane as a committed missionary sister and mother, who took her work very seriously by impacting on them the right discipline and knowledge, called on Pupils to take advantage of the new age of technology to carve a niche for themselves.

Earlier, the Headmistress of the school, Rev.Sr. Monica Onwunali, OLA, said the school has ” decided to celebrate today the life of Rev Sr. Catherine Devane, OLA, who was a Headmistress of the school for 16 years, that’s why we have chosen today to say a memorial mass of Thanksgiving in her honour

” She died at the age of 95 and she was active till her dead and her works is what we are reaping today and her life is what we are celebrating today, we want to thank God for her life, we want to thank God for all that she was able to do and achieve in Kaduna ” she said

Speaking further ” you can see that the school is still waxing strong and the Children are so happy to hear that their old Headmistress worked hard and died well, that is why everybody is celebrating her; Sr Catherine Devane was a good woman and mother” she maintained

According to her, during the Diamond Anniversary celebration of the school, some old pupils of the school, the likes of Former Emir Sanusi of Kano, Mrs Ogbole and now Father Romanus among others described her saying ‘ she was a true Mother ” and so we ask God to grant her eternal rest and give us the grace to work harder like Sr Catherine, so that, we’ll also be called Mothers”

Pointing out that, the African Culture is very strong, when one is called a mother, ” it means she had every child at heart, she carried every child along and that is also something for me to emulate” adding that even some pupils fondly called her ‘ Catarina’, these are the things that specifically, shows she was truly a mother, so it is specific to say, she was a mother ” she reiterated

On his part, the School Bursar, Mr Charles Ogbonna noted that though he has not met late Sister Davane, but ” I have actually heard a lot about her eventhough, she left before I joined the school, but I was made to understand that she was a very committed Headmistress, very committed to her work and was a mother to all; both the learners and teachers and I think it’s a good one

On the need to emulate and sustain her invaluable contributions and legacies, ” I think she was an inspiration, because those who came after her had to work as she did, so as to keep the school going ” he added

On her part, from the Arts Department of the school, Mrs Christiana Ubelle, commonly known as ‘ Aunty christy’ said the celebration is for ‘ a life well-lived and we thank God for that , adding that from the testimonies of the present Headmistress and the old pupils of the school at the Diamond anniversary, it shows that Sr Devane ‘ really played the role of a mother, sister and mentor”

While calling on all and sundry ” to work in her footsteps, so that tomorrow, we will be celebrated too, that’s our desire, that as we leave this place to higher heights that people will celebrate us just the way we are celebrating Sister Catherine today ” she stressed

Lending his voice to the several encomiums on the late Headmistress, a Class 6 Pupil, Master Osaguneweron Aigbogun, who has not met her, but have seen and heard about her laudable achievements said ” she did a good job in her 16 years of service to the school from 1971- 1987, and left a mark, having lived for 95 years before her demise” he added