ST. JEROME CONVENT HIGH SCHOOL
Kashimira, P.O. Mira, DIST. Thane - 401 107.
Our Patron
Our Patron of St. JCHS
The Feast of Our Patron of St. JCHS is celebrated each year on July 16. Mary, the Mother of God, has a multitude of titles under which she is invoked for various needs. When the parish and school were founded by the Carmelite Order of Priests, the good Fathers entrusted the enterprise to Our Patron under a most appropriate title.
Through the past years, we have invoked Our Patron's protection and guidance under this title for the children, families, faculty, and staff of St. JCHS . She has responded with motherly protection and love in every instance.
The title "Our Patron of St. JCHS" first derives from the experience of the prophet Elijah who, on Mount Carmel, challenged the worshipers of false gods to a contest (see 1 Kings 20–40). They were to call on their gods and Elijah would call on his God, and whichever God was able to light the fire to begin the holocaust would be shown true.
Elijah taunted his competitors, but of course their gods could not deliver. After drenching his own wood and holocaust with 12 buckets of water, Elijah called on the Lord who, at once, answered with fire. The God of Elijah was victorious. Ever since the time of Elijah, the mountain has been considered sacred and hermits have always occupied a spot on the mountain where they were devoted to a life of austerity and prayer.
The Carmelite Tradition
When the Carmelite Order was established many centuries later, the priests adopted Our Patron of St. JCHS as their patroness. The brown scapular, a sacramental of the Church, is derived from the brown habit worn by the Carmelites. According to tradition, Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite, and gave him the brown scapular with the promise that those who die wearing it will not suffer eternal fire.
At St. JCHS , we honor Our Patron of St. JCHS as our patroness and seek her intercession in all our endeavors. Her virtues of humility, purity, and devotion to God serve as a model for our students and staff. We strive to emulate her unwavering faith and loving service in our daily lives.
Each year, we celebrate the feast of Our Patron of St. JCHS with special prayers, liturgical celebrations, and community activities. This tradition helps to strengthen our school's Catholic identity and reminds us of the spiritual foundation upon which our educational mission is built.