The Initiation of Saint Joseph's Convent (SJC) Bandra

The 19th century witnessed the arrival of four Daughters of the Cross of Liege (F.C.) who stayed in a hut in St. Vincent’s Home Byculla.

In 1863, the Vicar Apostolic of Bombay requested them to impart religious and general training to the poor and ignorant. and care for the education of European children stationed in Bombay.

The Sisters had to brave the inclemency of the climate that they were unused to and besides facing the humidity and the heat they had to confront snakes and scorpions and other pests and contend with epidemics and diseases. Many died young and their graves in the convent today bear testimony to this. But the work they started carried on and the school they founded grew from strength to strength.

In 1864, these 4 nuns moved to Bandra and started the work they had to do. A day school was opened for village children. Later, a cholera epidemic forced them to close the school.

In 1867, the arrival of the remarkable Sr. Theodorine brought a revival of the village day school later supplemented by a night school. The orphanage started by the first sisters here flourished - now the sisters reached for the homeless and abandoned children and even rescued many a slave girl from bondage. From records of 1876, we hear that there were 150 children in the orphanage.

In 1877, the Sisters bought the land on which the convent today stands. The day school was meant more for the local children who attended as day scholars and were sent up for the Government Board exams. Needlework formed an important part of the curriculum. In 1886 a boarding house was started and in 1887, boarders were charged a fee. The school now had a strength of 165 orphans, 90 boarders and 126 day scholars.

SJC, Bandra in the 20th century

The start of the 20th century saw much building activity on the convent grounds and in 1901 a new chapel was constructed and a house for the boarders. In 1905, 2 students were sent up for the Senior Cambridge Examination and 4 students for the Junior Cambridge examination. 6 students were sent up for the Trinity College Music Exam. The school was inspected regularly by the Government Inspectors and the reports were full of praise.

In 1914, the Cambridge School building was completed and 1st class boarders were housed here. This was referred to as the European section. In that year, there were 200 pupils of which 150 were boarders and 50 day scholars. The girls were prepared for the Cambridge Exams and the Art and Music exams of London colleges. A professional Section was developed for shorthand and household management.

The second school had an A Division for the local girls of "better families" who were prepared for the Matric exam; a B Division for orphans from KG to Std. VI; a C Division for poor Catholic children and a D Division comprising a workroom where the girls learned weaving and made church vestments and were paid a salary. There was a free school for Gujerati children. By 1930, the last 2 divisions were closed.

By 1948, the convent concentrated mainly on the 2 schools (Matric and Cambridge), the Boarding and the Orphanage. The Domestic Section and the Professional Section were closed. In 1955, there was the amalgamation of the orphanage with the SSC school. All the orphans could now study for the SSC exam.

In 1962, the new SSC building was completed providing a big Hall, a Science Room, Library and more classrooms.

In 1966, a new primary school building was completed across the road, graded boarders were no longer accommodated and only a Home for poor children maintained. Meanwhile, the attendance of students had increased, so more classrooms were used.

After 1955, The Cambridge Exam was known as the ISC (Indian School Certificate), affiliated to the Cambridge Board. In the ISC Section, the results were good. In 1976, the ICSE Board Exam came into being and the school stopped sending students for the ISC but continued with the ICSE Board Exam. The school got excellent results at both the ISC and ICSE exams. In 1978, it was decided to amalgamate both Sections and send up pupils only for the SSC exam.