Sr Eileen Bogues

ONE of the last Sisters to serve as principal of Assumption Grammar School has passed away in South Africa.

Sr Eileen Bogues led the Ballynahinch grammar school from 1983-1994.

Born in Belfast in 1929, her association with the local school began when she arrived as a pupil in 1942, later becoming head girl. She remained at the school until 1948 when she entered the Assumption convent before moving to South Africa the following year.

Sr Eileen spent much of her religious life in South Africa, where she also worked as principal of Assumption Convent High School, Malvern, Johannesburg, and in Port Elizabeth.

Before returning permanently to Northern Ireland to become Assumption Grammar’s fourth principal, she had already returned for shorter terms to teach at the school and to work as a member of the Irish Missionary Union team.

Sr Eileen was this week remembered by former colleagues and friends in Ballynahinch as a “warm Christian woman”, who dedicated her life to supporting the education of women in Ireland and South Africa. 

Her fellow Assumption Sister, former colleague and friend, Sister Maureen Carville said the numerous tributes paid on the school’s website this week fondly remembered a “warm, friendly, caring human being who was very much appreciated by her pupils, colleagues and friends.”

She said one in particular recalled Sr Eileen as a religion teacher who was “human and warm.”

Sr Maureen said she wished to extend sympathy to Sr Eileen’s family to whom she was very close.

Assumption Grammar School’s vice principal Mrs Bernie Devlin has also paid tribute to Sr Eileen who she first met when she was a first form pupil at the school.

As a child, she said she appreciated her teacher’s warmth and excellent pastoral care.

“She was approachable and very in tune with pupils,” she recalled. “Comments written about her this week commonly reflect on how kind she was.”

After her departure from Assumption Grammar School in 1994, Sr Eileen returned to South Africa to continue her missionary vocation through her ministry of catechetics in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth for many more years.  

She finally retired to the Assumption Convent, Port Alfred, South Africa.

Mass in thanksgiving for Sr Eileen’s life and for the happy repose of her soul will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Parish Church, Ballynahinch, on Tuesday, December 15. The time will be confirmed.