The Dominican Nuns in South Africa.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 10, 6 March 1902, Page 15

The Dominican Nuns in South Africa.

The first convent schools founded in Capetown (writes the specia correspondent iv South Africa of the Freeman's Journal) were those of the Dominican nuns, though convent schools had previously been established in Graham's Town, in the Eastern District, by the Sisters of the Assumption many years before. The devoted Sisters of St. Dominic arrived in Capo Culony in 1863, and immediately took up the great works of Catholic education and philanthiopy which have have made the name of the Sisterß of St. Dvjniicic famous throughout the world, and a household word throughout South Africa. It is on the &itp. of the old ' Wachtenburg Garden '—originally purchased by his Lordship Dr. Griffith for Church purposes— that the good Sisters established themselves nearly 40 years ago, and from thence ramifications of the Order have extended throughout the length and breadth of the country. In Capetown the nuns have several scholastic establishments — St. Mary's Convent day school, a private high school where young ladies are taught, in addition to the ordinary school curriculum, the higher branches of learning, and where those who wish it are prepared for the University examinations. The Sisters also have charge of St. Bridget's Mission schools, which are the ordinary parochial schools for girls. These are under Government supervision, and the Sisters receive an annual grant from the Education Department, as is the case with the boys' schools under the care of the Marist Brothers. In addition to these educational establishments, the Dominicans have in Capetown an institution for the education of dead mutes — one similar to their famous place at Waratah in N.S.W. This charitable institution was founded in 1874, and is the first of its kind established in South Africa, A number of stricken inmates are continually being educated in this noble institution by the devoted Sisters of St. Dominic. In addition to the schools above-mentioned, the Sisters have high schools at Somerset road (Sacred Heart), Wynberg (St. Mary's), Woodlands, and other centres, and private day and Government-aided schools in many parishes throughout the Western Vicariate.