Pakistan: Convent of Jesus and Mary in Murree Marks 150 Years of Education and Service

The Convent of Jesus and Mary in Murree, a hill town in Pakistan’s northeastern Punjab province, celebrated the 150th anniversary of its foundation on July 4, bringing together Church leaders, diplomats, government officials, alumni, and members of the school community.

Among those attending were Archbishop Joseph Arshad of the Archdiocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, who presided over the celebrations; Declan Johnston, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland; and Zeb Jaffar, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Affairs, who is an alumnus of the school.

The jubilee began with a Eucharistic celebration in the school chapel, where the flags of France, India, and Pakistan were displayed to symbolize the congregation’s missionary journey. The mission began in France in 1818, expanded to India in 1842, reached Sialkot, in present-day Pakistan, in 1856, and culminated in the establishment of the Murree convent later that year.

After the Mass, Archbishop Arshad released two white doves as a symbol of peace and freedom. Sr. Marie-Cecile Osborne, RJM, provincial superior, joined other members of the congregation in releasing Jubilee balloons, followed by a fireworks display.

In his address, Archbishop Arshad praised the Religious of Jesus and Mary for 150 years of service to education and human development in Pakistan. He said the institution has shaped the lives and values of generations of young women, preparing them to become responsible citizens and leaders in society.

Sr. Farzana Philip, RJM, principal of the Convent of Jesus and Mary Murree, thanked the guests, organizers, staff, and alumni whose support made the anniversary celebration possible.

She also read an excerpt from an 1841 letter written by Monsignor J.A. Borghi, then Bishop of Agra, inviting the Religious of Jesus and Mary in France to begin their mission in the Indian subcontinent.

Reflecting on the congregation’s early history, Sr. Marie-Cecile Osborne said the pioneering sisters traveled to Murree by horse-drawn carriage and established the convent in 1856 as an orphanage for the children of British and Irish soldiers before it evolved into a school.

She added that the institution’s global contribution was recently acknowledged by Pope Leo XIV in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, which highlights eight women from around the world as examples of leadership and human dignity. Among them is former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who studied as a boarder at the Convent of Jesus and Mary Murree.

The gathering also observed a moment of silence in memory of Sr. Mercedes O'Boyle, RJM, a former principal who died on June 13, 2026. She served in Pakistan for more than six decades, including nearly 40 years in Murree.

The celebration concluded with Archbishop Arshad presenting lifetime service awards to four staff members who have served the institution for more than 25 years, followed by a ceremonial cake cutting.