THIS year marks 50 years of its existence and thousands have passed through that college and are all proud of have been part of it.
Today it is called Mercy Secondary School, located in Wewak, East Sepik Papua New Guinea. Before the name change, it was Our Lady of Mercy College Torembi and then Our Lady of Mercy College Yarapos. Pioneer student Rose Anoli Maule said Mercy College opened at Torembi on Feb 13, 1963, with 11 students – eight girls and three Rosary sisters. In 1966 the school moved to its current location at Yarapos as enrolments had outgrown the original site. Today the school has grown to 700 students, mainly boarders, and has some of the finest facilities in East Sepik, if not PNG. The former students have organised a mass celebration to be held at the Mary Queen of the Pacific Catholic Church on Nov 23 at 9.30am dressed in something resembling their house colours. Maule said because of the location it was very difficult to bring school equipment. There was no road at that time and the only means to get there was by air. “Most times when the late Bishop Leo Arkfield’s Dornier or twin-engine landed, all our test tubes will break, all our porcelain cups and the sets that we use for our home economic lesson will break. “And then there was no space for expansion. “It was infested with mosquitoes during the day and even at night. “During the dry periods, there was no water, we had to walk a good 2km down to the river for a bath in the morning and in the afternoon. “Water was a problem, mosquito was a problem and space land for expansion was not possible.” A small band of Mercy Sisters have provided simply inspirational service to the girls at Mercy Secondary over its 50 years. Sr Moira rsm continues this tradition today. Mercy Secondary though, like Sacred Heart, is now staffed and led by laity that feel a deep commitment to all things Mercy. Current principal, Alex Marcus, in his tireless work on behalf of the girls and his generosity of Mercy spirit, is typical of the Yarapos staff. The Yarapos students call their school, bingavia, which means “happy place”. That one word is testimony to five decades of Mercy prayer, gifted management and plan old fashioned hard work. The National 9/25/2014 02:01:56 pm
I am currently teaching as a newly graduated teacher in Torembi Sacred Heart Primary known as the foundation of Mercy Secondary School. Over the years the school as faced with poor academic performance due to lack of good educational infrastructure.
delson yarura
12/10/2016 07:27:22 am
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