The headmaster of Saint-Joseph-Le Château school in Pontivy (Morbihan, France) wanted to pay tribute to the courage of the Daughters of Jesus during the Second World War. On the 12th of December 2024, pupils and teachers gathered with some of the Sisters in the school courtyard to celebrate the event.
A reminder of the facts
80 years ago, on the 3rd of August 1944, the Sisters of the community of the Institution Saint-Joseph-Le Château in Pontivy saved their home and the entire neighbourhood, including several schools, from destruction by the Germans who were occupying the school.
Risking their lives and evading German surveillance they moved and defused 28 boxes of dynamite with the help of four Brothers from the ‘Les Saints Anges’ school. If the dynamite had exploded, it would have started a fire that would have spread throughout the neighbourhood. The school itself was almost completely destroyed where a soldier had thrown incendiary bombs, but the neighbourhood was otherwise spared.
Honouring the Sisters
The Mayor of Pontivy was among the personalities present along with representatives of the Gendarmerie, the Fire Brigade, and veterans with their flags. Representatives of the Church included those involved in Catholic education in Morbihan , the parish priest of Pontivy, and Sr Anne Thirion, the Provincial of the Daughters of Jesus in France. Several parents and friends of the school made up the assembly.
Marc Lamouric, Headmaster of the school, addressed the assembly with these words :
“To be here at such a wonderful event is a very moving moment for all of us. I think we all feel a great emotion to find ourselves in the middle of this courtyard, on the very spot where, 80 years ago, the Sisters performed an act of bravery that prevented the destruction of several Pontivy schools.
This act of bravery reminds us that we are heirs to a past that is greater than ourselves. It is a fragile and precious past that risks being erased if we do not cherish it. But we are also the builders of a future which we must pass on with pride and conviction.
Dear children at the heart of this ceremony, you should be proud of the history of your school. Carry high the values that these Sisters have bequeathed to us: the values of courage, humility, love of others and determination to act for the good of all.”
Military honours were paid to the Sisters as the Last Post was sounded and the veterans tilted their flags. Flags were then raised by two children, and a wreath was laid in front of the portrait of the community superior who in 1945, received the Military Cross on behalf of the whole community.
A commemorative plaque which will be affixed to the wall of the school was then unveiled and blessed by the parish priest. Finally, the pupils sang a Marseillaise that left us all in awe.
After recalling the events and the military tribute, Sister Anne Thirion took her turn to speak: ‘On behalf of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus, I would like to thank you for this wonderful initiative. More than a remembrance, this time of celebration reminds us that life is stronger than death when human beings take the risk of losing themselves so that others can remain standing… Will we, in turn, be peacemakers like our sisters and brothers from Ploërmel, teachers in the neighbouring school, with whom they attempted the impossible to the extreme? They all risked their lives to protect Life… Life has a price. Let’s not waste it, let’s take care of it. Thank you, Mr Lamouric, director of this establishment, for reminding us of this.
Laying a wreath at the Maison Mère
In the afternoon, a group led by the school headmaster went to lay a wreath in front of the cross in the Kermaria cemetery. The sisters of Kermaria, who were able to travel, were invited to join the ceremony. The provincial councillor, Sister Monique Guitton, gave a brief summary of the events for the sisters present, and a prayer concluded the ceremony.
Thank you to the headmaster of Saint-Joseph-Le Château school for this initiative, which touched our hearts.
Sr Thérèse Rouillard, fj
Community of Pontivy, France
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