20/09/2026
MOUNT CARMEL COLLEGE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT
On the 41st Commemoration of the Escalante Massacre
Mount Carmel College of Escalante stands in solidarity with the people of Escalante as we commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Escalante Massacre.
This commemoration is more than remembering a painful chapter in our local history. It is an opportunity to honor the lives lost, recognize the suffering of families and communities affected, and reflect on the values that should guide us as a people—truth, justice, human dignity, peace, compassion, and respect for life.
Forty-one years after the tragedy, its memory continues to challenge the people of Escalante.
We are challenged to remember without hatred, to seek justice without violence, and to pursue reconciliation without forgetting the truth. The passing of time should not erase the lessons of history. Rather, it should deepen our commitment to building a community where conflicts are addressed through dialogue, where human rights are respected, and where every person is treated with dignity.
For Mount Carmel College, education has a vital role in preserving this memory. Our schools must not merely teach young people about dates and historical events. We must help them understand why these events happened, how they affected ordinary people, and what responsibilities history places upon the present generation.
Our younger generation may not have personally witnessed the events of 1985, but they inherit the responsibility of learning from them. They need to understand that democracy, peace, justice, and human rights cannot be taken for granted. They must develop the courage to stand for truth, the wisdom to listen to different perspectives, and the compassion to protect the dignity of others.
As a Catholic and Carmelite educational institution, Mount Carmel College believes that education must form not only competent minds but also consciences committed to truth, justice, service, and peace. The memory of the Escalante Massacre therefore calls us to form young people who will become responsible citizens and compassionate leaders who choose dialogue over violence and service over indifference.
The 41st commemoration also reminds us that healing is a continuing journey. Remembering the past should not divide our community; it should help us understand one another more deeply and strengthen our resolve to prevent similar tragedies from happening again.
Mount Carmel College therefore supports the meaningful commemoration of the Escalante Massacre and encourages our students, educators, families, and the wider community to remember, reflect, learn, and act.
May the memory of those who lost their lives inspire us to build a future where justice is pursued peacefully, human dignity is respected, and our young people inherit not a culture of violence, but a culture of truth, compassion, peace, and hope.
Never forget. Learn from history. Choose peace.
"Serve humanity.
Mount Carmel College of Escalante
Forming Minds. Shaping Consciences. Serving Humanity".
