Presentation Brothers’ College, Grenada owes its existence to the untiring zeal of His Grace, the Archbishop of Portof-Spain, Rev. Finbar Ryan, O.P., M.A., D.D., who on behalf of the priests and Catholics of Grenada invited the Presentation Brothers to start a college on the island in early 1946. The first Brothers, Brother Dunstan Curtin and Brother Gregory Sheehan, arrived in Grenada in November 1946, and the College was opened on January 21, 1947.
The first members of Staff were Brother Gregory, Brother Liam Dromey and Brother Leonard Dennehy. The College began in what was then known as the Vicariate, the home of the English Dominican Fathers, who at that time served in nearly all of the parishes in Grenada. The role of the Dominican Fathers in funding of the Presentation College will always be remembered with gratitude.
The college started with three classes, Forms I, II and III, and had a total of sixty boys. However, this number had doubled by January 1949, and it became clear that a new building was necessary The site on the hill was generously donated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, and the Presentation Brothers provided financing to the tune of £60,000. An association known as “Friends of the Presentation College” was formed which organized functions in aid of the College, mainly to assist in providing furniture and other basic equipment. The President of this association was Sir Joseph de la Mothe, the Vice President was Francis Noel, and Mr. Dudley Slinger was Treasurer – all now deceased.
Work began on leveling the site early in January 1949, and the Cornerstone of the new building was laid on March 26, 1950 by His Grace Archbishop Ryan. The new College was officially opened on January 14, 1951, again by the Archbishop, in the presence of Government and Church officials, as well as many parents, students, staff and friends.
With the provision of Science Laboratories in the new building, the College was able to extend its teaching to the science subjects, now providing the teaching for the full range of normal secondary school subjects up to Cambridge School Certificate, Advanced Level – English Language and Literature, History, Geography, Spanish, French, Latin, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Economics.
In addition to academic subjects, organized games and extra-curricular activities were (and still are) fostered, to facilitate the complete formation of the entire man by the progressive development of his spiritual, intellectual and physical faculties. Thus, a thorough education based on careful moral and religious training is achieved – as is clearly seen in the varied and far reaching successes of the students from the College over the years.
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