On March 26, 2025 the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica held a blessing ceremony to mark the internment of Sister Theresa “Terry” Lowe Ching on the Alpha property. Chaired by Sister Susan Frazer, RSM (Area Administrator, Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica), the ceremony was attended by the Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica’s staff and board members, the heads of multiple Mercy schools, and members of the Mercy Associates (a group which was formed by Sister Terry herself). Fr. Kingsley Asphall along with Sister Shirley Chung, RSM and Sister Maria Teresa Muhuhu, RSM were also present.
Sister Theresa Lowe Ching was born and raised in Gordon Town and entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1960. She was appointed Director of St. Michael’s Theological College, an affiliate of the University of the West Indies, in 2013. She died on November 10, 2023. Sister Theresa is here with the Founders of Alpha, due to her vision for the building of the Alpha Mercy Historical Centre. Sister Theresa began a group of Mercy Associates in 1988 on the Alpha Campus. Their first project was to sponsor needy students at the Convent of Mercy Academy, Alpha. She, along with her Associates in Mercy, have had a significant role in the development of the Historical Centre so that the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy is known for generations to come. You can learn more about her life and legacy in our tribute article to her here.
During the event, Sr. Susan Frazer, RSM spoke of one of the final conversations she had with Sr. Terry towards the end of her life. Sister Terry expressed her dismay at the thought/prospect of being laid to rest far away from Alpha’s property, which had been her home for decades. Understanding her feelings on the matter, Sister Susan promised to ensure the garden of the Alpha Mercy Historical Centre (AMHC) would be her final resting place. This delighted Sr. Terry who proclaimed that she would be “honoured” to be buried there, at the heart of Alpha.
However, the process of developing the interment site was a long and tedious one. After almost 2 years of working to garner approvals from local government agencies, Sister Terry was finally interred in this newly built burial ground. We are so thankful that, despite the long journey, Sister Terry is finally laid to rest at Alpha, her home.
