The conferment of civil awards upon them was recommended by Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan and endorsed by the Prime Minister.
Sister John Berchmans Conway, Principal Convent of Jesus and Mary Karachi, has been conferred Sitara Quaid-e-Azam for her services towards education and promoting interfaith harmony in Pakistan. She has spent 59 years teaching young girls of all faiths from different parts of Pakistan. Under her able leadership, the institution has been providing quality education to Pakistani girls.
Sister Conway has touched the lives of countless Pakistani schoolgirls as a mentor, counsellor, friend and teacher. Her constant adherence to the call of duty has made her a living example to emulate, reads a citation forwarded to the President for conferment of Sitara Quaid-e-Azam.
Father Robert McCulloch is a member of the Society of Saint Columbian. Apart from being a priest, Father Robert is also the Chairman of the Saint Elizabeth Hospital's Administrative Council-the hospital that is providing quality medical services to the people of Hyderabad and rural parts of Sindh and also runs a medical outreach programme in the rural Sindh. This hospital is home to one of the few post natal intensive care units in Pakistan.
Father McCulloch has also set up the Catholic Centre for Academic Excellence in Hyderabad that provides free education to children from underprivileged families. He has also set up a health development centre.
His other major contributions include taking steps to preserve language of Tharparker known as Pakrikohli. He engaged experts around the world and worked on a script to turn this language into a written language. He has also worked hard during the floods of 2010 in Sindh to save precious lives of flood affected people. He arranged to provide food and medical treatment to 1000 families in Southern Pakistan. He is now building accommodation for the flood affected people.
COMMENTS (20)
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Dear Mother Berchmans, I am so proud of the fact that I was taught by you in CJM Lhr. You deserve the honour. Every time that I think of you i think of your being the Best teacher/ Principal any student could ask for. God bless you. Aliya Ezaz Shahzad. Ex student CJM Lhr.
This is a great news congratulations Mother Berchmans! You deserve it. God bless you always! Isbah Tawfique, Lahore CJM
These two noble souls have served the humanity with distinction without slightest hint of race or religious divide.To confer on them an award associated with Quaid-e-azam, I guess will be actually an honour conferred on Quaid-e-azam himself.
They both should decline the award and use the platform to advocate the causes of the poor and should reprimand the State machinery for marginalizing the Christian poor minorities of PAK
Their work was not supported by the state and the state woes them for their services. Otherwise, all the principles of education taught to the students are in vain.
Skimming through all these comments about the two lovely people who have helped shape Pakistan and continue to inspire more I was surprised to come across few comments by the Jesus and Mary Karachi Girls. So this is from all of us, Sister Berchmans you have inspired and guided many lost souls so this message is a token of thanks, you are a wonderful wonderful person and have helped many, we greatly appreciate it. Love, The girls of Karachi Convent :)
Mother Berchmans: Your dedication to the CJM Murree girls is the sole reason we have all matured into successful, confident, loving and faithful women. My 9 years in Murree were the best of my life (even if I did not fully appreciate it at the time!). Congratulations on this awesome award ... your legacy will live on forever. God Bless You!
I was admitted to Lahore convent by Mother Berchmans and have fond memories. This is wonderful! :)))
Dear Mother Berchmans, it is with so much pride that I join all the J&M, Murree Girls, in congratulating you on this outstanding award. You are and always will be the epitome of dedication, devotion, and a role model for all the students who were privileged to be part of your legacy.
Mother Berchmans, you are the greatest and a living saint. My Jesus and Mary days in the convent were the best because of YOU! Congratulations and I will always love you, Christine Farrell
Sr Berchmans is one of the most selfless and dedicated persons I have ever come across. She has positively shaped so many girls' lives and she deserves it! To have stayed for so long in a country where not many wanted to come and every few months she had to get her visa renewed is commendable. She made a home for the Murree Convent girls and she will forever be the Head of our family. We love you Sr Berchmans!
You really make us proud and stand tall, a well deserved recognition for 60 years of selfless dedication to the cause of education. God Bless you always!
Congrats SR Berchman . u deserve it and we all CJM murree girls r proud of u .
Excellent news...Good to hear something positive from Zardari...
Congratulations! Pakistan is so proud of Sister Berchman and Father Robert McCulloch. May God Bless you both always.
Rest of Pakistani Christians be awarded 'Sitara Jurrat', please!
A well deserved honor
Congratulations Sister Berchmans and Fr. Robert. We are proud of you. God Bless you both Always.
Finally something right from the President. He should do this more often.
Great, Talent should be respected and honoured , Congratulations :)
Really commendable....these people have devoted their lives to the cause of educating our children which selfless dedication.....this is a most befitting honour for them