Nestled in an ideally wholesome environment accessible to most forms of land transportation, Saint Mary’s University Grade School (SMUGS) has been considered as one of the familiar landmarks not only in the town of Bayombong but also in the province of Nueva Vizcaya.

SMUGS is the cradle of Saint Mary’s University as it started as a grade school in 1928.It has metamorphosed from a very simple bamboo and cogonal structure used as elementary classrooms.

Saint Mary’s University traces its roots back to the dream and initiative of the late Msgr. Constant Jurgens, CICM, then Parish Priest of Bayombong and one of the earliest CICM missionaries to arrive in the Philippines. He wanted to establish a school to give the children of his parishioners the benefit of a Christian education. He purchased a lot and some materials for this purpose, but then, he was recalled to Europe, thus, it was his successor, Rev. Fr. Achilles de Gryse, CICM, who saw his dream through. While Msgr. Constant Jurgens was in Europe, he was drawn to the mission exhibits of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God. He requested for a number of Dutch Sisters from Veghel, Netherlands to come to the Philippines and be his partners of his dream. These Dutch Sisters, Mother Chantal Tummers, Sister Catharina Hendrickx, Sister Alphonsa Jacobs, Sister Margaretha Hermus and Sister Bertholda Bos arrived in Bayombong to run the parochial school. This marked the beginning of Catholic Education in Nueva Vizcaya.