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Claver Home,  Kingston, Jamaica

Justina (Jessie) Ripoll was born in Kingston of a Portuguese father and a French mother on July 18, 1852, the youngest of five children. As a young adult, Jessie was an active member of the Ladies of Charity. She and two close companions, Josephine Ximes and Louise Dugiol paid weekly visits to the homes of parishioners, ministering to their spiritual and temporal needs.
These courageous women decided to establish an orphanage. With their savings and the assistance and permission of the Vicar Apostolic of Jamaica, the 43 acre property on South Camp Road was purchased and "ALPHA," the beginning, was established on May 1, 1880.

On December 12, 1890, after ten years of poverty and privations of all kinds, these valiant lay women were joined by a group of Sisters of Mercy from Bermondsey, England, led by Mother Mary Winifred Aloysius Furlong. Their work together grew by leaps and bounds. On February 2, 1891, Jessie, Louise and Josephine became Sisters of Mercy, taking as their names Sisters Mary Peter Claver, Mary Joseph and Margaret Mary, respectively. Thus, the Jamaica Foundation of the Sisters of Mercy became a reality.

Today the Sisters continue the work of those early pioneers in primary schools, prep schools, trade and training centers, as well as, St. John Bosco Children's Home.