Marists Restore Justice Through Ground-Breaking Alexandra Satellite School

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · September 16, 2023

Last Thursday, amidst the hustle and bustle of the Pan-Africa business precinct in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, an event of far-reaching magnitude took place. St Hubert Church, together with the St David’s Marist Inanda School hosted the official opening and blessing of St David’s Marist Inanda Alexandra Campus.

The school is a satellite school project of St David’s Marist Inanda School, and it is situated on the St Hubert Church grounds, a stone’s throw from the Pan-Africa business precinct. The St David’s Marist Alexandra Campus project extends beyond being a school, and is arguably the first of its kind in South Africa, certainly for a Catholic school.

The day started with Holy Mass in the morning, concelebrated by His Grace Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, archbishop of Johannesburg, and a number of priests. This was followed by the official blessing and opening ceremony in the school’s courtyard. Among the invited guests were Holy Cross Sisters, Marist Brothers, Alexandra community members and alumni of the old Holy Cross School.

“It’s an emotional day,” said St David’s Inanda head of Advancement Lara Klement, shedding a tear during her speech. In between musical entertainment items by both school groups, speeches were also presented by St David’s Inanda executive headmaster Mike Thiel, Alexandra campus Liaison Siddick Moore and the Provincial of the Marist Brothers in South Africa.

The idea to have a satellite school at the church was the brainchild of the late erstwhile and long-time St Hubert Church parish priest Fr Ronald Cairns OMI. In 2014 he approached the Inanda school with the idea of bringing Catholic education back to Alexandra. Before the satellite school, there was the original Holy Cross School at the church. Founded in 1923, the Holy Cross School was closed down in 1964 by the apartheid government.

Speaking to The Southern Cross, St David’s Marist Inanda executive headmaster Mike Thiel expressed his delight at the historic day. He gave some background leading up to the day. “In 2014, St Hubert Church parish priest Fr Ronald Cairns shared his vision with us at St David’s Inanda. We became attracted to his idea, and we eventually made our commitment to jointly bring this vision to life, alongside St Hubert Church and other stakeholders,” he said.

Holy Cross School alumni Hazel Molapo shared her joy at witnessing the momentous day. “I’m overjoyed, and I feel victorious at the same time.

As a little girl, I attended Holy Cross School, under the care of the Holy Cross Sisters and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) priests. I see victory in what is happening here today, because what apartheid tried to bury is coming back to life. It refused to die. This is restorative justice in action, through the education of the current and future generations,” she said.

The St David’s Marist Inanda Alexandra Campus currently offers a high school curriculum to grade 8 students, or OG’s…as the school’s first students have abbreviated the term Original Gentlemen. An expansion programme has been initiated for 2024 and moving forward.