John Berchmans Conway

John Berchmans Conway, R.J.M. (born Bernadette Conway 1929 – 21 December 2022), usually known as Sister Berchmans, was an Irish Roman Catholic religious sister and teacher who worked in Pakistan for 60 years. In 2012 she was decorated by the Government of Pakistan for her services in education and promoting interfaith harmony.[1]

For other persons with this name, see John Conway.

SQA

John Berchmans Conway
Born1929 (1929)
County Clare, Ireland
Died (aged 93)
Occupation(s)Religious sister, teacher
HonoursSitara-e-Quaid-i-Azam

Early life

Conway was born in County Clare, Ireland. In 1951 she joined the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, founded by Claudine Thevenet in France in 1818, dedicated to caring for and educating the young and homeless. Very early, the congregation took on the task of education in other countries. The first Convent of Jesus and Mary in Pakistan was opened by four sisters in Lahore in 1876.[2] She was sent to Pakistan in 1953 at the age of 24.

Work in Pakistan

Conway spent some 60 years teaching English and mathematics. She taught girls in Jesus and Mary Convents in Lahore, Murree and Karachi.[2] She completed her Diamond Jubilee, or 60th year, of religious profession in the Religious of Jesus and Mary in December 2011.[3]

Notable students were Benazir Bhutto, the late Prime Minister of Pakistan, who was assassinated in 2007,[2] and Asma Jahangir, a noted human rights activist.[4]

Personal life and death

Conway died on 21 December 2022, at the age of 93.[5]

Awards and recognition

On 15 February 2012, the President of Pakistan approved conferment of the Sitara (Urdu: Star) class of the Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam award on Conway for her services in education and promoting interfaith harmony in Pakistan.[1]

On 25 March 2012, more than 600 people gathered at St. Anthony’s Church for a special Mass to celebrate the conferral of the country’s highest civilian award on Conway and the Rev. Robert McCulloch, S.S.C.[4]

In July 2019, St Mary's University, Twickenham awarded Sister Berchmans Conway the Benedict Medal in recognition of almost 70 years of teaching.[6]

In 2020 the Karachi Administration named a road in Clifton in her honour. The Berchmans Road was dedicated to her in recognition for her services to education.[7]

References
  1. "Jesus and Mary Convent principal to be honoured with Sitara-Quaid-e-Azam". The Express Tribune. 15 February 2012.
  2. West, Ed (20 January 2012). "Nuns in Pakistan inspire Peer". The Catholic Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  3. Dawn, 16 January 2012 Archived 20 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Gulzar, Ayyaz (27 March 2012). "Government rewards Church people". UCANews.
  5. "Sister Berchmans passes away". Dawn. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. "Irish nun to be awarded for lifetime of teaching in Pakistan". Irish Catholic. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. "Road named after nun in Karachi". Retrieved 24 January 2023.
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