St. John's Institution (1879-1971) - Grotestraat 62
On his silver jubilee as a priest in July 1876, Joannes van Kessel, first pastor of Besoijen, received a donation from his parishioners. This gift was intended for the establishment of a "House of Charity for Sisters. Pastor van Kessel had the desire to organize education in the parish, the Sisters of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (J.M.J.) were specialists in this. A residential house next to the R.C. Waterstaatskerk was converted into a convent for some of the sisters in 1878. Three schoolrooms were added behind the residence. A year later, the first six sisters arrived from 's-Hertogenbosch. On June 19, 1879, the convent was put into use by the J.M.J. sisters. Besides education for girls (the Maria School) and guidance of girls outside education, the sisters also took on other duties, such as all the work of a sexton. The number of sisters increased to seven in 1885. In 1900, the convent was expanded and improved. The introduction of compulsory education in 1900 led to a growth in the number of students, which again strengthened the convent community. The total number of sisters came to eight. Starting in 1908, the sisters began doing charity work, such as "the manufacture of garments for the poor children.
Marechaussee Barracks
There was a minor crisis in 1912 when the Maria School was rejected by the district superintendent, necessitating a new building. This was built on the other side of the driveway to the Marechaussee Barracks. The new school building was completed in 1914, where Catholic boys and girls were now taught together. The girls of the Maria School were taught in three classrooms on the second floor, while the boys of the St. Joseph School followed their lessons in three classrooms on the first floor. The preschool children of the custodial school were in two classrooms in the east wing. In 1929 the 50th anniversary was celebrated grandly. In 1938 the number of sisters was increased to nine. In the spring of 1949 came the shocking news that St. John's Institution would be disbanded.
On August 13, 1950, the sisters left Besoijen. The Maria School immediately changed its name and was renamed the Bernadette School. The old convent was converted into three houses by architect Antoon van Stokkum; the kindergarten remained until spring 1958. A year after the last residents left in 1970, the entire complex was demolished to make way for new homes. In May 1983, the homes on Pastoor van Kesselhof were moved into.
