If anyone ever doubted that South Africa’s many different religions and cultures can coexist happily together, they should visit Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg.
The Marist Brothers probably didn’t even think about accommodating diverse beliefs when they started the school in 1889 with five Catholic learners in Koch Street, Johannesburg, under the name of Marist Brothers – Observatory.
Although still a Catholic school, only 40% of the 1 100 enrolled learners are Catholic. Christians make up 70% of the school population, 20% are Hindu and Muslim, while the remaining 10% consider themselves religiously unaffiliated.
Every school day starts with a prayer and reflection based on a particular theme. Once a term, the whole school – Grade 000 to 12 – holds Mass. In the third term, they hold the Sacred Heart School mass, a celebration of all that the school offers its learners and their families.
Catholic learners are prepared for Sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation in accordance with Diocesan policy. To avoid imposing Catholic religion on learners from other faiths, these lessons are taught separately. The school uses the Cord Curriculum in the high school, developed by Brother Michael Burke, and in the primary school the Lifebound Curriculum, developed by the Catholic Institute of Education. Both curriculums are widely used in Catholic schools in the country.
The school’s religious diversity is evident in the religious studies classroom: alongside a crucifix on the wall are paintings and posters expressing Christian, Hindu and Islamic themes.
Student Representative Council president Mangaliso Mthembu explains how different faiths are integrated in religious lessons: ‘Although we are a Catholic school, emphasis is put on other religions as well. We are taught to respect and tolerate each other’s religions, and the only way to do that is by knowing and understanding them. We have discussions where we explain to each other about our religion so that everyone understands.”
‘The Gospel values underpin the Catholic ethos of the school. We recognise the multi-faith aspect of our school community, and all learners are encouraged to appreciate and develop their own faith and to respect those of others deeply. We put emphasis on universal values like justice, peace, humanity, family, reconciliation, tolerance and love,” says principal Colin Northmore.
Sacred Heart was among the first to welcome children from all races. In the 1930s, rabbis were invited to school every Friday to give classes to a large number of Jewish learners and in the 1950s the school enrolled Chinese learners, despite the government’s disapproval. The school continued to defy the apartheid government under the principalship of Brother Neil McGurk by enrolling black learners. The school continues to reflect the country’s diversity in its enrolment.