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| Malaysian Mission Schools News Archive New Straits Times, July 30, 2004 Besides a mass presided by Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Murphy Pakiam, they were treated to religious songs and lunch at the convent's grounds. As a nun, Forde has spent more than 60 years educating children in convents. Born in Ireland in 1914, Forde joined the Sisters of the Infant Jesus in 1934 before becoming a missionary and arrived in Malaysia in 1938. "I haven't worked anywhere else before this. I joined as it was a good cause, that is educating young girls in Malaysia. I am very happy to meet some of my former students again after all these years," Forde said. The IJ Sisters was founded by Nicolas Barre in France and a mission arrived in Malaysia in 1852 in response to an invitation to start orphanages and missionary schools to educate poor young girls irrespective of race, creed and social status. In Malaysia, Forde had served in convents and orphanages in Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Teluk Intan, Klang and Cheras before her final posting as principal of Convent Bukit Nanas for 10 years from 1966. She was also the chairman of the board of governors from 1976 to 1998. Forde now resides in Cheras, after retiring six years ago. "I am still very close to those who were with the convent. Now I am helping them with their archives," she said. For Deledalle, the convent held a diamond jubilee to commemorate her 60 years of service with Infant Jesus. Born in France in 1922, she joined the sisterhood in 1944 before coming to Malaysia in 1952 and has since served in Seremban, Batu Pahat, Cameron Highlands, Cheras and Kajang. She now resides in Port Dickson. "I was very attracted to serve in a foreign land and help educate the young," she said. |
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