In 1940, Holy Rosary began as a humble one-building school on the Hurly farm just outside Johannesburg.
Guided by Bishop Shanahan, a group of brave Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary left everything they knew in Ireland to answer a calling far from home.
They came not for themselves, but for others – to serve, to uplift, and to build. They worked the fields, poured their hearts into the land, and slowly brought the school to life.
The experiences of Holy Rosary Alumni
We have had the privilege of speaking with Madge Handgraaf (nee Cothill), who was part of the first group of students who were taught at Holy Rosary in 1940.
She met Bishop Shanahan and was very fond of the Missionary Sisters, and has many good memories
Madge’s story
Madge Handgraaf (nee Cothill) was only 11 when she went to Holy Rosary School in Edenvale, which had just opened and was then known as Holy Rosary Convent School.
She recalls that there were only 6 students to start with, 2 of them being her siblings, and they gradually grew into a group of 30.
The place was originally built for refugees, but no refugees came, so they then turned it into a school. Later, they added a little church where they attended Mass every Sunday.
Even though those times were difficult, Madge thanks God for the religion and faith they were taught. She is proud to still be a practising Catholic to this day.
Madge’s favourite bible passage
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth…
Holy Rosary School Today
85+ years later, the school still holds true to the same Catholic ethos Bishop Shanahan and the Holy Rosary Sisters demonstrated when they started Holy Rosary in 1940.
At Holy Rosary, we devote ourselves to honouring God while carrying forward the vision of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary and Bishop Shanahan.
We are dedicated to providing quality education that is not limited to theoretical knowledge. It is a value-based education that shapes girls into strong, independent women who are capable of positively impacting society.
A Holy Rosary girl learns many lessons about being courageous and compassionate. She learns the importance of touching the lives of others and uplifting others when they’re down. She is not afraid to be her true self and showcase her God-given talents to the world so that they can see God’s light shine through her.