Hong Kong

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 12 (March 2009)

Brother Paul was born into a well off family in the province of Jehol, (熱河), (in modern day Inner Mongolia). He was strongly influenced from early childhood by the piety of his father and grandfather. As a young man he studied in a seminary. Later, having graduated from Fu Jen University (輔仁大學), he decided to devote his life to education.

Brother Paul was not a De La Salle Brother. Yet, to the Brothers, he was a true Lasallian in all but name. It came as no surprise that he was made an affiliated member of their Institute.

A man of unusual charm, culture and spirituality, he had been closely associated with the Brothers in Hong Kong since his first arrival there from China in 1949. Eight years previously he had been appointed Superior-General of a diocesan Society of Brothers which operated schools in northern China. They were called the Society of the Disciples of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

This Society had been founded by Bishop Janssens in 1911 in the province of Jehol in the north-east which at that time was situated in inner Manchuria.   The Bishop had chosen St John Baptist de La Salle as the principal Patron of the Society. After each religious exercise the invocation “St John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us”, was said. The Brothers ran a number of primary and secondary schools but one by one they had to close as the Communist net tightened. In 1947, the Brothers were compelled to leave their diocese for Beijing where they opened a primary school but that too was taken over by the Communists in 1953.

Meanwhile, in 1949, Brother Paul and some of the Brothers managed to get to Hong Kong. Some of them, including Brother Paul, were given accommodation by the De La Salle Brothers in Kowloon, while others went to Indonesia and opened a Chinese middle school there. Brother Paul thought it best to merge his Society with that of the De La Salle Brothers and he himself spent 2 years at the Brothers’ Novitiate in England. The church authorities in Rome, however, decided that Brother Paul should retain his post of Superior General as well as the separate identity of his society while at the same time working closely with the De La Salle Brothers in Hong Kong. 

In 1956, while planning to open a school in Hong Kong, Brother Paul began to teach Religion and Mandarin in La Salle Primary School, Kowloon. Here are the recollections of one of his students: “More popularly known as Brother Sun, he never failed to strike us as a very kind and patient teacher. He had a strong physique, quite typical of Northern Chinese. Though strong and tall, he exuded passion and love for teaching, and was approachable at all times”.

With the encouragement, help and support of the De La Salle Brothers, as well as through his own personal charm, hard work and doggedness, Brother Paul succeeded in establishing St Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese School, first the Primary section in 1958, and later, in 1968, the Secondary section. The De La Salle Brothers have St Joseph as Patron of their Institute. Brother Paul and his Society also had a very special devotion to St Joseph and so the school was named after him. There were 300 pupils on opening day, but, with the building of the secondary school, numbers shot up to 3,000 pupils. Brother Paul personally managed both schools.

The De La Salle Brothers not only gave Brother Paul moral support, but allowed some of their own Brothers to teach and help in the administration of St Joseph’s Anglo-Chinese School. Chief among these was Brother Anthony Knoll who helped the English department in particular. It was normal to see Brother Anthony marking pupils’ scripts day after day. He and Brother Paul became soul-mates and, together with some teachers, they would hike the hills of Kowloon at every opportunity. Brother Henry Pang was also a valiant supporter and, in the earlier years, would help with the registration of new pupils.

The St Joseph Anglo-Chinese Schools flourished. Brother Paul never advertised his schools. His own magnanimous and dynamic personality was advertisement enough. He worked quietly and tirelessly to make the schools earn a good name. He also gathered together a band of loyal, hardworking teachers and, together, they set the schools on a prosperous course.

There was accommodation in the school for Brother Paul and he resided there until his death. He was a familiar sight to the staff and students as he greeted them each morning near the school entrance. He became a fatherly figure, reassuring and benign and in many ways taught them more by example than by word.

Brother Paul was unceasing in his expressions of gratitude for the help he had received from the De La Salle Brothers. Even after his schools were up and running, he would unfailingly visit La Salle College or St Joseph’s College every weekend, invariably bearing gifts. For nearly all practical purposes he was one with them in devotion to St La Salle and he joined in their prayers, retreats and major functions.

His wonderful attachment and good example was recognized when, to his great delight, he was affiliated to the Institute by the then Superior General, Brother Charles Henry. Brother Charles was making a visit to Hong Kong as part of his programme of visitations to the Brothers in Asia and could therefore perform the ceremony in person. The ceremony took place on the 5th March, 1972.

As the years began to take their toll, the effects of spondylitis and arthritis began to show. Brother Paul had to use a neck brace. There was severe curvature of the spine and of the fingers. Still he soldiered on, fulfilling his educational mission, never giving way to or looking for pity.

Eventually ill health compelled him to take to his bed. He was cared for by friends and by Father Philip Chao. He would receive visitors graciously and enquire after Brothers, staff and students.

Brother Paul’s death at the age of 78, while not unexpected, was greeted with a genuine outpouring of grief. Many who had been close to him felt they had been in the presence of a saint.

It came as no surprise that his funeral was a big one. At a packed requiem Mass in St Teresa’s Church, presided over by Bishop John Baptist Wu, Brother Henry Pang had this to say in the homily: “With his passing, we have lost an exemplary religious, an outstanding educator and, dare I say, a saint. He was one of nature’s gentlemen. He was a man of God, with a vision and a mission. Today his mission is accomplished. May you, Brother Paul, realize your vision also, as our Lord opens his arms to receive and welcome you”.

Brother Paul was laid to rest in Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Cemetery, Kowloon.

He was not a De La Salle Brother but he was a true Lasallian, a model of the spirit of faith, of zeal, of community union, faithful to the Lasallian ideal of the Christian education of youth. To this he had devoted his whole life, all that he had and all that he was.

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 10 (January 2009)

There are many “bits of heaven” dotting the land and seascapes of County Donegal, Ireland. Among them is an area called the Rosses. It was here, in the townland of Mullaghderg, that James Patrick Sharkey was born on the 25th February 1926. He was the eldest in a family of eleven, six brothers and five sisters.

One reason for the natural beauty of the Rosses is its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. James was often happily out in the boats with the fisherfolk. He was to retain a lasting love of the sea and it is little wonder one of his favourite songs was “Shoals of Herring.”

If the call of the sea was strong, so too was the call to serve God. At the age of fourteen, James answered that call and headed for De La Salle Monastery, Castletown, County Laois, far from home and from the sea. There he spent two years in study and in preparation for a life of educational service with the De La Salle Brothers. He then entered the Novitiate and, as a sign of serious intent, took the habit on the 7th September 1942. He was also given his new religious name, Brother Eugene.
 
The Novitiate was a year for spiritual formation but before its completion there was yet another call, this time for volunteers for the missions. Brother Eugene volunteered and was sent first to a house of studies in Mallow, County Cork, where he successfully completed the school certificate examination in 1947. This was also the year that his mother died, rather suddenly, at the age of forty. It was a bad blow for her large family but they retained her strong faith and determination to face and cope with adversity.

The next phase of life was to attend a Teachers’ Training College in Strawberry Hill, London. But prior to that, Brother Eugene was sent for exposure and experience to schools for young delinquents which the Brothers ran in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Eugene was posted to Scotland in the summer of 1945. There he had to balance freedom with responsibility, something he had already learned from his upbringing.

In September 1947 he headed south for St Mary’s Training College,Strawberry Hill, London, to begin the two-year teachers’ training course. Many of his classmates were already army veterans of the Second World War. The excellent staff, the diverse mix of students and the balanced curriculum helped to produce teachers of exceptional maturity and competence. Brother Eugene completed the course in the summer of 1947, was allowed home for a holiday with his family, and by September was ready to leave by boat for Singapore. Brothers Edmund Matthews, Alban Lynam, Theodore Quigley and Macartan Flanagan were in the same group, while Brother Herman Fenton was the elder statesman.

The troopship “Dilwarra” left from Southhampton and reached Singapore on the 9th October 1947. While awaiting his assignment, Brother Eugene taught for a few months in St Anthony’s Primary school and was then, in January 1948, posted to St Michael’s Institution, Ipoh, Malaysia.

All through his four years in Ipoh he taught three secondary 3 classes, three classes of English and religion in his own class of 3A. It soon became apparent that he taught thoroughly and systematically. He worked hard and expected his students to do likewise. They did.

However, it was probably on the sports field that Eugene left the greatest impression. Evening after evening he was on the field in shirt and shorts while his athletes warmed up. They then ran around the field with Eugene at their heels. There was no place for laggards. The school team won all before them for a few years. Brother Eugene never bragged about this and if the topic were raised he would just state the facts. He himself was not a great gamesman, apart from playing the occasional games of football or badminton. He did, however, play a tough game of tennis, with commendable power-passing shots.

After having completed four years in Ipoh, Brother Eugene was transferred to La Salle College, Kowloon, Hong Kong, arriving there on the 27th July 1953.  He was to spend the rest of his life in Hong Kong. In 1949, La Salle College had been requisitioned by the British army for use as a military hospital. The College was “in exile” in Perth Street, in somewhat makeshift circumstances, and would not be de-requisitioned until 1959. The Director at the time was Brother Patrick Toner, followed by Brother Felix Sheehan.

Eugene was asked to take English and Religion in the public exam classes of Form 5 and for the next sixteen years made Form 5A his own. His teaching method for English Composition was perhaps unique. This is how one of his students puts it: “We were each allowed to make a mistake once and then 5 or 10 marks, depending on the seriousness of the error, would be knocked off from our total. However, if the same or even a similar mistake should recur, irrespective of its position in the essay, Brother Eugene would stop there and then and accord zero marks for that piece of work. After tasting the bitterness of getting what Brother called ‘Nought’, we would exchange our essays among ourselves to weed out mistakes before handing them in”. Brother Eugene’s tactics paid off in the long run, as his former pupils will testify to this day.

He could appear somewhat stern and spoke only when necessary. His classroom was always the most silent. Pupils tended to keep a respectful distance. Yet, here is a nice piece from one of his students at the time:

“I came to know Brother Eugene in my final year at La Salle. He was my form master. For years, of course, he was ‘Gum Sing’, or Man from Venus, on account of his stern appearance and quiet manner. No one dared mess with him, in or out of class. To our surprise, however, he turned out to be quite amiable, with a nice sense of humour. 
That year we had excellent public exam results.”                                   

Outside the classroom Brother Eugene helped coach the athletes after school hours and he also assisted with the boarders. But perhaps he is chiefly remembered for setting up a boxing club and coaching, most successfully, boys who had never been in the ring before. There was a family tradition for boxing and Eugene’s brothers did well at amateur level. 

One of his brothers, Pa, went on to compete in the 1956 Olympics and came away with a bronze medal.

It must have been this association with boxing that led to all kinds of rumours that swirled among the boys, by far the most dramatic being that Eugene, as a youth, had killed a lad when boxing and that that was the reason for his joining the Brothers! 

The year 1969 brought a big change to Eugene’s life. He was transferred, as Vice Principal, to a newly opened Lasallian school called Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College and in September of the same year became its Principal, succeeding Brother Herman Fenton. Brother Eugene was to be Principal for the next 21 years.

He proved to be a fine Principal, with clear objectives and targets. He treated his teachers and office staff as responsible adults but always kept the welfare of the pupils as his primary focus. His inherent sense of fair play, his firmness when required, and his insistence on good order and discipline, inspired confidence and co-operation. He saw no reason why the school should not excel and excel it did. 

In Chan Sui Ki the boys line up in the playground every day before going to class. Brother Eugene had only to appear on the staircase for complete silence to descend. As one Brother in the community put it, “he had the imperative fluid in the eye.” The students readily accepted his approach to school life and thrived under it.

A short message for the 1976 issue of the school magazine nicely illustrates the mindset of Brother Eugene at this time:
‘Let us climb ever upwards and reach out beyond the narrow confines of our own self-centredness to find our happiness and our true selves in service to all, thereby fulfilling our destiny as men made in the image and likeness of God.” Such was his vision for the boys of Chan Sui Ki.

When Brother Eugene reached retiring age in 1991 he could look back with no small pride on forty-four years of unbroken service, the final twenty-one of which were as Principal of Chan Sui Ki. He had kept his hand to the plough, working steadfastly and assiduously in the Lord’s vineyard. Never one to parade his virtues, it was clear that the Lasallian spirit of Faith and Zeal was his guiding light. In community among his Brothers, this spirit was evident as much in what he did not say as in what he did. To them he was a faithful companion on life’s journey, a fine community man and a man of wise counsel. He was never known to lift his voice in anger. 

One Brother recalls how in company, ever the strong silent man, he would signal disagreement with the flow of argument by a smile or rub the side of his nose with his index finger, no word spoken. However, in one to one situations he could be uncharacteristically voluble.

Although Brother Eugene appeared to be a strong silent man, he had his share of health problems. Sinus was a constant irritation and required nose surgery and he had a minor heart attack in 1971. But it took another 20 years for the real villain to emerge, in the form of throat cancer. Eugene had been a pretty heavy smoker, which may have contributed to the condition. In 1992 he was put on radiation treatment followed by “heroic” surgery which involved grafting in an 8 hour long operation. There was a slow recovery but he was in pain for many months and then the cancer caught up again. He was back in hospital a couple of times before the final haul, looking for cooling drinks for his throat. When the doctor broke the news of the end to him, he bore it with much peace and equanimity.

A great personal consolation was the visit of his brother Fred, to whom he was much attached, together with his wife Eileen, from Australia. They stayed a couple of weeks, visiting him every day. In many ways it was a sad encounter but their presence and encouragement was much appreciated by Eugene.

The end came suddenly on the morning of the 16th of March 1994. The parish church was crowded at the funeral Mass which was celebrated by an old friend, Fr. Patrick O Regan, S.V.D. In his homily, Brother Francis O’Rourke spoke of Eugene as “a deeply spiritual man whose strong faith was nurtured in the Christian atmosphere of his home in Donegal. His piety was not so much something he taught but something one caught from his gentleness, his silence, his very bearing. He never complained. He saw in all things the will of God and accepted it as such.” These traits were very close to that of the Founder, St La Salle.

One Brother, who knew Eugene well, wrote:
“I remember a Brother who was loyal and dependable, tolerant and uncritical of others. 
As teacher and headmaster, he was consistent and confident in his approach and had the esteem and respect of all. He took his final illness calmly and died with a dignity befitting his lifestyle.”

After his funeral one of his 1961 past students said: ‘I remember Brother Eugene as a man of justice.’  

What more can be said!

By Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC

The Hong Kong Lasallian Family is thrilled to announce the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Lasallian Mission in Hong Kong, taking place from January 2025 to December 2025. This event aims to bridge the past with the present under the theme "150 Years of Touching Hearts, Teaching Minds, and Transforming Lives." This milestone serves as a reminder of the rich heritage and enduring impact of the Lasallian mission, urging the Lasallian community to honor a legacy dedicated to educating young people, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged.
In 1875, six French and Irish Brothers arrived in Hong Kong to establish St. Joseph's College as their first school. The commitment to continue this mission by providing quality education within the Catholic and Lasallian tradition remains strong across all Lasallian schools and outreach projects.

The goal of the 150th anniversary is to inspire all Lasallians to deepen their faith, embrace a spirit of service, and foster a sense of community among students, staff, alumni, and parents. It encourages the Lasallian family to extend their mission beyond the classroom and to reach out to those on the margins of society. Guided by the Biblical question, "Where is your brother/sister?", this celebration invites reflection on the needs of people living in the peripheries of our communities.
In commemorating this rich history, the Lasallian family will express its creativity through various projects and activities that highlight stories, achievements, and the enduring values of Faith, Service, and Community.

The first event of this year-long celebration was the Joint School Mass and Kickoff Ceremony, held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the School Hall of La Salle Primary School in Kowloon. Cardinal Stephen Chow SJ was the principal celebrant, with several priests concelebrating. Many De La Salle Brothers attended the Mass, including members of the Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD) leadership team and those who have previously served in Hong Kong.
All eight Lasallian schools—Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School, Chong Gene Hang College, De La Salle Secondary School NT, La Salle Primary School, St. Joseph's Primary School, and St. Joseph's College—were represented by their supervisors, principals, students, alumni, and parents. Former school administrators also joined the celebration.

The Mass began with a procession of relics from St. John Baptist de La Salle and other Lasallian saints, followed by the eight school flags carried by the school principals. In his homily, the Cardinal reminded everyone of their role in teaching students to love others.

Following the Mass, a Kickoff Ceremony took place. Brother Dennis Magbanua, head of the Hong Kong Lasallian Family, thanked the organizers and expressed his immense privilege in serving alongside the Brothers and Lasallian partners in Hong Kong. He felt deeply humbled by the unwavering commitment of each family member to the shared mission—to educate minds, touch hearts, and transform the lives of students through their daily actions.

Brother Jose Mari Jimenez, the Brother Visitor of LEAD, read a congratulatory message from the Superior General of the Christian Brothers in Rome. After the countdown to officially launch the 150th-anniversary celebration, students from De La Salle Secondary School performed a Lion Dance, followed by an award- winning Chinese Drum presentation by La Salle Primary School students.

Students from five Lasallian secondary schools recently participated in "Brew with Bro," an event designed to foster meaningful dialogue between students and De La Salle Brothers. The event, held on Friday, 24 January 2025, from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM in the La Salle College GP Room, was a collaborative effort of the Hong Kong Lasallian Family's Youth and Vocations units and the Student Formation Team of La Salle College.

Students from Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College, Chong Gene Hang College, De La Salle Secondary School New Territories, La Salle College, and St. Joseph's College attended the event which was a platform for them to engage in informal conversations with the Brothers serving in the Sector of Hong Kong and in the Lasallian East Asia Distirct (LEAD)

Also in attendance were Mr. Paul Tam AFSC, the members of the LEAD Leadership Team – Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC, Br. Inigo Riola FSC, Br. Jeano Endaya FSC, and Mr. Jose Boncodin FSC, along with Brother guests from other Sectors of LEAD, Br. Mikey Cua FSC and Br. Irwin Climaco FSC.

A total of 13 Brothers, 9 Partners and 42 students were present. 

La Salle College Principal Steve Leung and Ms. Ronnie Tam were also significant collaborators which was essential to the success of the gathering.

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 6 (September 2008)

“A soldier held a revolver to my head, all the time repeating the same word which I did not understand until the translator came up. The word was, ‘Ingrisu-ka’!
 ‘Are you English’? ‘No’.
 ‘Are you a soldier’? ‘No’.
When the soldier grabbed me, he had caught my profession crucifix which was entangled in my pyjamas top. He examined it closely, let it drop gently and said, ’Kasorikku-ka?’ which I took to mean, ‘Are you a Catholic’? ‘Yes,’ I replied. He pushed me away but kept me covered with his gun.”

So Brother James wrote about the experience that was to leave an indelible mark on him for the rest of his life, namely, his arrest and imprisonment by the Japanese occupying forces in Malaysia. After this first encounter Brother James determined to learn Japanese!  Indeed he would later learn many other languages associated with his life and work. The passage also reveals his gift for the dramatic, a gift that never left him.

Brother James was born in County Laois, Ireland, on the 30th August 1915 and received the name Michael in baptism. Fifteen years later he became an aspirant to the De La Salle Brothers, began his Novitiate in September 1931 and took his first vows a year later. When he received the habit of the Brothers, and in keeping with the times, he was given a new religious name, Brother James. He was fortunate to have an inspiring English language and literature teacher when pursuing his studies. Brother James retained an enthusiasm for language and literature for the rest of his life.  After these initial studies and formation he volunteered for the missions.

In the summer of 1934, at the age of nineteen, he set out for the missions in the Far East. It would be 12 years before he saw home again. His first posting was to St Joseph’s, Singapore, for his first teaching assignment. Those were the days of wearing heavy black robes in sapping heat and with no air-conditioning.  Three years later he was transferred to St John’s Kuala Lumpur and then on the 10th January 1939, to St George’s Taiping in Malaysia. He was already displaying fine teaching qualities, including his gift for holding the attention of the students. He also began learning the Malay language.

In the Chinese language Taiping connotes “peace”. Little did the Brothers and the town inhabitants realise how soon their peace would be shattered. As was the custom, the Brothers went to a bungalow in the Taiping hills for their Christmas break. On New Year’s Eve, Japanese soldiers arrived on the hills and came banging at the door of the Brother’s bungalow. Brother James opened the door to the revolver-wielding soldier described above. The Brothers were all arrested as spies and “escorted” downhill, hands tied behind their backs, during the night. They were taken to a school playing field not far from their own school and tied to the rugby goalposts. 

The cross questioning began. A Japanese officer approached the Brothers, bowed three times most respectfully and said something in Japanese. Later they learned he had said “You will be shot to death as spies tomorrow morning”. They could well believe it since executions had already begun.

Fortunately another officer approached and, thinking that the Brothers were priests, ordered them to be cut free and jailed instead. It was a close shave. For the next few years the Brothers endured a not so merry-go-round of imprisonment and house arrest before liberation at the end of the war.  Brother James, however, was at pains to point out that they came across a number of Japanese officers and soldiers who did their best to make life more tolerable for the prisoners.

He was sent on home leave in 1946 and we can only guess at the joy all round. Then it was off to Rome to follow a course aimed at strengthening his spiritual and Lasallian formation. The Brothers called this course a Second Novitiate. Here, as might be expected, he brushed up on his French and Italian. On his return to the East in 1948 he was appointed Director of aspirants to the De La Salle Brothers. The location was Penang, Malaysia, and he was to serve there for the next fourteen years. He left a deep impression on his young charges who remember him, not only for his spiritual qualities but also for his sense of humour and more especially for his story-telling flair. He could keep them spellbound with first-hand war stories. Another feature of his time there was the presence of dogs. They accompanied the Brothers everywhere, even to prayer! Obviously James appreciated the therapeutic value of animals to institutional life long before it became recognized.

 It was at this time that Brother James’ writing abilities came into focus. He loved to write and kept up a large correspondence. His typewriter was seldom silent. He was now asked to produce and become the first editor of a quarterly magazine called “The Crusader” which contained short stories, general knowledge, a pen-pal section and information about our Lasallian world. The magazine proved very popular with teachers and students in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Brother James was editor from 1949 to 1955 and again from 1957 to 1961 and copies reached 8,000 readers. The name of the magazine was later changed to “The Young Lasallian”.

In 1962 Brother James was sent to De La Salle University, Manila and took out a Masters degree in Journalism. Upon completion he was posted as Director and Principal of St Joseph’s College, Hong Kong, arriving on the 17th January 1964. He was then 49 years old, at his peak as it were. He was succeeding Brother Brendan Dunne who had been associated with the school since 1932. Brother Brendan‘s avuncular style was not an easy act to follow but if Brother James was considered a lightweight in comparison he soon set about dispelling the myth. He prodded and cajoled the staff and students until they came around and the school went from strength to strength. He encouraged a wide range of extra curricular activities. He kept the school community regularly informed by circular and produced what may be considered the school’s first Student Handbook, laying a strong emphasis on discipline and politeness. 

One aspect of discipline that Brother James focused on was the lining up of students before going to class. He insisted that form teachers lead the students back to their classrooms in an orderly manner. This was considered quite an ‘innovation’ at the time and it took time to implement but eventually caught on.

During his term as Principal the Communist inspired riots of 1967 broke out. It was a tense time for all. Mao Tse Tung’s little red book had become the left-wing bible. Crowds of slogan chanting rioters marched daily to Government house, quite close to the College. Schools in Hong Kong were also targeted and students were encouraged to start their own ‘Cultural Revolution’ in and outside the schools. Brother James and his staff managed to keep the College going without undue disturbance. A couple of articles attacking the school and its policies were published in one of the communist daily papers and a few small bombs, some fake, were planted near the school. Nothing came of it.

At that time in St Joseph’s, the house was full of Brothers, about 14 in all. Whenever there was a social, the Brothers would try to get Brother James to sing. He had quite a sweet voice. One of his favourite party pieces was ‘Abdul the Bulbul Ameer ‘which he rendered in suitably dramatic fashion. Another of his favourites was the ‘Scottish Soldier’.

The 1960s and 70s witnessed a big growth in the Hong Kong Lasallian mission. There were sufficient Brothers to lead the way. Plans for new schools began to take shape with Brother James much in support. He saw the need for a feeder Primary and so was born St Joseph’s Primary School which opened its doors in 1968, much to the delight of parents. St Joseph’s Primary was soon to become one of the most popular Primary schools in Hong Kong.

Brother James was also actively involved in the negotiations with the Chan family in preparation for a new Lasallian secondary school in Kowloon. Negotiations were successfully concluded and Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College opened its doors in 1969. He also accepted an offer to sponsor a new College in Chaiwan, in the east of Hong Kong island, to cater mainly for children of a working class area. Despite challenges and the pains of fund-raising, he persevered. The school opened in 1971 and was called Chong Gene Hang College in memory of its chief benefactor. Brother James was always on the go.

Having completed the canonical six years as Director and Principal, he was transferred to La Salle College in Kowloon in January 1970, returning to the ranks as a regular teacher. Despite the lapse of many years he had not lost his touch and his English lessons to the senior classes were so interesting his students would not miss them for anything. He always tried to follow the Lasallian motto of being firm but kind in class. He also found time to become the Spiritual Director of one of the Legion of Mary praesidium in the school, Our Lady of Fatima. To add to his portfolio, he grasped every opportunity to study Chinese (Cantonese) and could make himself quite well understood in this difficult language.

In 1977, while still happily teaching in La Salle College, he was invited to Rome by the Superior General to take charge of SECOLI for the next six years. SECOLI was the fund raising and dispensing arm of the Institute, channeling funds to deserving Lasallian third world projects, especially to Asia and Africa. For Brother James this required a vast correspondence, much travel and cool judgement. In Rome he also took the opportunity to hone his Italian and French language skills.

His term of six years with SECOLI ended in 1983 and he decided to return to Ireland with a special portfolio to promote the missions. He was based in the Provincialate community in Dublin. Over the next nine years he did regular rounds of the schools giving inspirational talks and slide shows on the missions. His first hand experiences coupled with his gift for story telling made for compelling presentations and the students responded most generously with their contributions.

At the age of seventy-seven he took official retirement, first in Kildare and then in Downpatrick for his remaining years. He was still interested in news of the schools East and West, still kept up a big correspondence and enjoyed welcoming friends and visitors to the house. Anyone from Hong Kong would be greeted with a few sentences in Cantonese. He had strong family ties and really looked forward to his annual home leave. Although his health was gradually deteriorating he was reluctant to part from his beloved community in Downpatrick. Eventually the Brothers and his family helped him reach the decision to retire to the Brother’s nursing home in Castletown. It was a matter of weeks before the end.

Brother James passed away at Castletown on the 29th July 2001, just a few weeks short of his 86th birthday. Since it was holiday time, quite a number of Brothers were on home leave from the East and they all attended the funeral. Brother Patrick Collier delivered a fine eulogy. After Communion, a nephew of brother James, John Sheeran, sang “The End of a Perfect Day”. Brother James was then laid to rest to the strains of the traditional “Salve Regina”, a fitting finale for one who loved the Mother of God.
 

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 5 (August 2008)

Brother Casimir holds the distinction of having been the longest serving Brother in La Salle College. He spent his entire teaching career there. He must also hold the distinction for the number and variety of posts he occupied, a somewhat breathtaking list as follows: teacher, prefect of boarders, sports-master, violinist in school orchestra, harmonica player, spiritual director of Mother of our Redeemer praesidium, editor of the school magazine, designer of school magazine covers, honorary president of the old boys’ association, oral examiner for French in the Hong Kong General Certificate of Education examination, deputy principal, Director and Principal of the school.

He was born in a troublesome year, 1914, which saw the outbreak of World War I, and in a troubled spot, Czechoslovakia. The exact place of birth was Svolenska-Slatina. In later years he would be unable to visit his family and place of birth because of political developments and would have to resort to long and taxing negotiations in order to obtain temporary or emergency travel documents.  At one stage, even the Vatican tried to help by issuing brother Casimir with an emergency travel document. 

We do not know the initial influences, but, at the age of 14 we find him heading for Lembecq, Belgium, to begin his training to become a De La Salle Brother. He proved to be a bright boy, a leader in his class. He also had a good singing voice and was often asked to sing solo at the chapel services. From Belgium he was transferred to Dover, England, to continue his studies. He had a gift for languages, becoming particularly fluent in English and French. Later in life he would take out a degree in French from the University of London. It amused him to be sometimes mistaken for a Frenchman!

Brother Casimir arrived in La Salle College, Hong Kong, on a crisp December day 1933, the 18th to be exact. Brother Michael Curtin met him when the boat arrived “and surely never alighted on these shores a more delightful vision.” Brother Michael was struck by his youthful appearance and vigour. The school had just emerged from her cocoon of bamboo scaffolding and Brother Casimir immediately fell in love with the “majestic dome.”

At first sight Brother Casimir appeared pretty stern. Yet his smile could light up a room. He was strict in class without being rigid and expected his students to perform to the best of their abilities. The lines of Oliver Goldsmith come to mind:
“Yet he was kind, and if severe in aught,
The love he bore to learning was at fault.”
He was a born teacher, giving a clear exposition whatever the topic. He taught Religion and French and English at all levels but perhaps he is best remembered for his teaching of Geography. He wrote and had published “A First Geography” textbook intended to stimulate young pupils in Hong Kong. His masterpiece was a map of Hong Kong made from Ordnance Survey maps with all the exact contours cut out in fretwork. It graced a wall of the school library for years.

The pleasant routine of life was rudely shaken at 8.00am on the 8th December 1941 when Japanese planes bombed the nearby airport. When it was realized that this was not an air-raid practice but the real thing, the Brothers gathered the pupils together, told them that the scheduled examinations were postponed indefinitely and to go home. Kowloon was overrun within a matter of days. The Japanese put up their national flag and the red-cross flag on the Dome and La Salle College became a Japanese military hospital for the duration of the War.

The Brothers sought refuge in Vietnam and on the 1st March 1942, Brother Aimar led a group of eight there, Brother Casimir among them. The Brothers in Vietnam graciously welcomed and took care of this band of ‘exiles’. Brother Casimir himself was able to teach French to the young Brothers both in Nhathrang and Dalat. At the same time he followed events closely in Hong Kong. On the 1st May 1946 he managed to get a place on a Dakota and returned to Hong Kong. Together with Brother Cassian, they spared no efforts to get La Salle College up and running again. He also took charge of the Boarding Department until the end of 1947 when he requested leave for University studies and a visit to his family whom he had not seen for 15 years. The visit was disagreeably eventful because, while there, a communist uprising took place and Brother Casimir had to escape with the help of a friend.

Ireland gave him refuge while he studied for and took out an honours degree in French at London University (1948-1951) He then returned to La Salle to exercise his talent for teaching, for conducting extra-curricular activities and for school administration until his untimely death in 1977. He never missed or wanted to miss a lesson. He marked the students’ exercise books and gave all the basic drills in English and French with meticulous care. Most of his energy was spent in building up a solid Form 6. He taught French at different levels and specialized in Advanced Geography. The students treasured his notes and would refer to them even at University level. 

There were other arrows to his bow. Although no great sportsman himself, he did a stint as an enthusiastic Sports-master, and the sports results did not suffer. A more amenable post, perhaps, was that of Editor of the College Magazine, ‘The Lasallite’. He remained Editor of the magazine for nine years. Since he had artistic tastes, the beautiful covers of ‘The Lasallite’ were designed by him. He played the violin for relaxation and also in the school orchestra and was instrumental in the formation of the first Harmonica Band in the school. On Christmas Eve, and being good at harmonics, he would accompany the young carol-singers on their visit to the hospitals. In keeping with his personality, all these activities were performed without fanfare.

In 1965 he was appointed Director and Principal of La Salle College and steered the ship capably and wisely. He was straightforward in his dealings with staff and students and had a good listening ear, listening attentively and understandingly to all. Nothing was too small to merit his attention. He was on good terms with government officers of the Education Department, with the Catholic Church authorities and with parents and old boys. Nothing of earthshaking consequence took place in the College during his reign and this must have pleased him for he was not much for fanfare.

This is what his Head Prefect at the time had to say:
“While he was feared by the boys, he was actually very tolerant of a student’s omissions unless he went over the top. Then no amount of pleading from teachers and parents would save the boy from Brother Casimir’s wrath! I learned in my senior years to find Brother Casimir a very warm and caring headmaster.”

Another of his students recalls:
“The stern voice, the rolling R’s in French class, the smile, the twinkle in the eye and much, much, more made him the   wonderful teacher he was to me. Brother Casimir in my heart forever.”

One special interest was the La Salle College Old Boys’ Association which he helped to revive after the War. He encouraged the old boys to join the Association and to take an active part in helping the school. He was aided in this by possessing a marvelous memory for faces and facts. Another special interest was the Scouts and he would attend their functions if at all possible.

In his final Message as Principal to the editors of the school magazine, ‘The Lasallite’ ,1970-1971, he reflected a little on his life as follows:
“I feel my heart filled with gratitude and praise to God whose loving providence has gently led me to these shores where I seem to have struck deep roots. In perspective, I can truthfully say that the thirty eight years of my association with La Salle have been the best and happiest years of my life.”

When he was about to step down as Principal, he was entertained to dinner by the staff. Brother Michael Curtin, a senior member of staff, spoke on their behalf, and told a witty story.
“Recently a young student returned home with a very bad Report; all the teachers blamed him for laziness. The father wanted to impress this fact on the boy’s mind so he said ‘Who is the laziest person in your school?’ The boy said he didn’t know. So the father went on ‘While all the others are working at their tasks, who is it who remains idly seated at his desk?’ The boy scratched his head for some time, then answered ‘The Headmaster’. Now, perhaps there are Headmasters like that, but the Headmaster of La Salle is something more.”

He stayed in office for six years and then, in typical modest and humble fashion, continued in the rank of teacher. He never sought any privileges because he was the former Director. His words at the 1969 Speech Day reveal his vision of a proper Lasallian education, an education “in which the head and the heart, knowledge and wisdom, culture and character walk side by side in perfect harmony, not omitting manners and morals.” These words may be read as a good summary of the man himself.

On his retirement as Principal, the school scout troop presented him with an embroidered silk painting, famous in Chinese art, called ‘The Hundred Birds’. The birds represent the numerous students who passed through Brother Casimir’s hands. The painting still holds a place of honour in the Brothers’ dining room. 

As the Director of the Brothers’ Community he was kind, humble and cheerful. Basically he was a simple man without a trace of vanity. Although he shouldered a very heavy load at all times, he seemed to find time to listen to all who approached him with their problems. He was well liked by his Brothers for he was courteous and friendly and fulfilled Cardinal Newman’s ideal of a gentleman as “one who never inflicts pain.” He was evidently convinced that one cannot love God without loving others.

To all who knew him, it was clear that his virtues came from a deep, personal faith in God and devotion to Our Lady. Even at the busiest time of his life, he never wanted to miss a religious exercise in the Church or Chapel where he would be deeply absorbed. His love for Our Lady was shown by the many years he served as Spiritual Director of “Mother of Our Redeemer” Praesidium. 

Generally speaking, Brother Casimir was a serious minded-man and yet there were times when he would ‘unwind’ as it were. Occasionally, when there was a social evening, he would be happy and enjoy a glass of wine. At that time, in the old school, there was a fine billiards table in the Brothers’ residence and he would look forward to playing against other Brothers, and often enough beat them too. On these social occasions he would be a genial host and everybody would be at ease.

Came Whitsun 1977, he was looking forward to the end of the school year and busy making arrangements for his home leave. Forms 5 and 6 had already been dismissed for public exams and the rest of the school would be having exams in a few weeks. On Whit Monday, 9th May, he went to conduct the Oral Examination in French for the Hong Kong G.C.E.

Brother Casimir had never paid too much attention to his health or diet. He tended to neglect his blood pressure and yet he seemed to be in reasonably good shape. But all was not as it seemed. The end was to come quickly. On the evening of the 9th May he went to bed early, telling a Brother that he had an upset stomach. Next morning he was in the Chapel for the morning prayers and served the Community Mass. He taught class all day.

His Director at the time, Brother Raphael Egan, describes what unfolded:
“I met Brother Casimir in the corridor on his way to the bathroom about 2.30pm and made the routine greeting “How are you?” He said, “not well,” and when I looked at him he was ashen and perspiring. Realising he was unwell, I accompanied him back to his room. I phoned the doctor and he arrived about 3.10pm. Brother Casimir was chatting away with the doctor and nurse when he got another massive attack. He was dead within minutes.”

Many old boy priests concelebrated the funeral Mass in St Teresa’s Church, which was filled to capacity with staff, students, parents, old boys and friends. Brother Casimir got a big “send off.” He had gone to the master he always served. The words of the school song he loved to sing comes to mind:
“She would have us ever minding
That above is our true home.”

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 4 (June 2008)

A Born Leader

Brother Raphael Egan was a big man, a larger than life figure. He was born on 3rd December 1918 in County Laois, Ireland, and was baptized Patrick Joseph. He came from a devoted Catholic family of nine children, five girls and four boys. All his five sisters became nuns, while two of the boys joined the La Salle Brothers. Two of his uncles and two of his cousins were also La Salle Brothers. This must be something of a record, even for the Ireland of his day, with its large families and strong practice of the Catholic faith.

Brother Raphael left for the Brothers’ Juniorate in Castletown, County Laois, on 17th August 1932. Here he showed early signs of practical piety and spiritual good sense. Following his Novitiate, he went directly to Faithlegg, County Waterford, for two years of Scholasticate. In 1939, he did his teacher training course in De La Salle College, Waterford. Two years later, he was assigned to teach in a Lasallian school in Ardee, County Louth. After teaching there for four years, he was sent to Dublin to study for a university degree while still attached to Ardee during holiday periods. 

His superiors must have observed a missionary streak in Brother Raphael or else he himself must have received the call because in October 1947 we find him arriving at La Salle College, Hong Kong. His arrival was a godsend. At the time Hong Kong was trying to recover from the war years. Though conditions were far from satisfactory, Brother Raphael taught the matriculation class, worked hard, put new spirit into his students, and achieved unprecedented success in public examinations.

In the words of Brother Raphael himself: “ It was tough going but the pupils who were all about 20 years old, studied like fury realizing how much they missed during the war years. I thought at the time that my standard of teaching was good but after only two years I was appointed Principal of St. Joseph’s College. This sudden promotion made me have second thoughts as it has been said that if one can’t teach well, it’s better promote him to Principalship.”
And so it came to pass that, at the relatively tender age of 31, Brother Raphael became a very youthful Director and Principal of St. Joseph’s College and soon began to make his mark. With Brother Brendan Dunne as his right-hand man, he put St. Joseph’s back on an even keel after the ravages of the war years. He set about refurnishing and reorganizing, recruiting better teachers and encouraging the students to make up for the four years of education they had missed during the war. The staff and students considered him a born headmaster and a great educator. 
As with many teachers and Headmasters, he had a nickname, “Red-faced Kwan Kung.” Kwan Kung was one of the three blood brothers in the Chinese epic ‘The Romance of the Three Kingdoms’ and was always depicted with a very red complexion. As it turned out, the nickname was not bad for Kwan Kung was reputed to be full of courage and righteousness, not at all a bad fellow.
Moreover, at this time he extended care and hospitality to the missionary Brothers and priests who had been expelled from Mainland China. He provided shelter and support for these servants of God. Indeed, throughout his life he continued to give generously to those in need.

After nine years of dedicated service at the helm of St Joseph’s, Brother Raphael was entrusted with a new challenge. He left behind a school with an enviable reputation as one of the best in Hong Kong. The new challenge was to pioneer the Brothers’ first venture in Sabah, Malaysia. He was to spend the next thirteen years building up the Lasallian schools in Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. Many of the students at the time he took over were not up to standard and the schools somewhat rundown. Through hard work and determination Raphael changed things round and these schools became leading institutions in the State. 

As a Brother there at the time recalls: “He was a big strong man and I was later to realize he was big and strong also in mind, in heart, in vision. He was the boss, made the decisions, results were achieved and nobody was unduly worried how they were achieved. He was generous and people found it easy to relate with him.” He saw the need for boarding facilities and put up a boarding department to accommodate 60 boys. He would often join them at manual labour and always lead them in night prayers. He did Trojan work in these schools and is still gratefully remembered by staff and students. 
Hong Kong came calling again in 1971. After being absent from La Salle College for 14 years, Brother Raphael returned in 1971. He was to be Principal for the following 12 years. As he took over the reins, we read the following in the school magazine: ”Students of Biblical Knowledge will recall Christ asking his disciples on their return from John the Baptist ‘What went ye out to see? A reed shaken by the wind?’ Our new Headmaster, as you gaze on his 6 foot massive frame, certainly does not look like a broken reed.” In the event he was to need all the strength of mind and body he could muster. 

During his tenure, he made lots of innovations. In 1975, he turned the old Prefect’s Board, which helped the administration to oversee student affairs, into the Student Association, which represented student welfare. He established the Guidance Centre and the Religious Centre and introduced Computer Studies into the curriculum. He also allowed the old boys to use the schools’ sports facilities on Sundays. 

He himself took charge of two praesidia of the Legion of Mary and rarely missed the weekly meetings. Before the Legion meetings he would go to a flower stall to buy flowers for Our Lady’s altar. The stall owner’s curiosity eventually got the better of her and she said to Brother Raphael that he must love his wife very much and that she must be a beautiful woman. Brother Raphael said she was the most beautiful in the world!

In the midst of all his responsibilities, one more was added in 1979 when he was appointed Auxiliary Visitor to oversee the Lasallian mission in Hong Kong. He held this post until 1988. Brother Raphael’s style was to trust the Supervisors and Principals to do their work without undue interference. The Brothers joked that he would give you enough rope to hang yourself!
In fact he had a distinctive sense of humour. Sometimes his quips and jokes would be left hanging in the air and the penny would only drop later. One Brother recalls how he was invited by Brother Raphael to be Guest of Honour at a school Swimming Gala. Before he realized what was happening, Brother Raphael had introduced him to the spectators as a champion swimmer, almost able to swim across the Atlantic Ocean. The Brother concerned could hardly swim a stroke! Perhaps this is poetic (or Principals’) license!

Brother Raphael’s most memorable and daring undertaking was his proposal to demolish the original La Salle College building and build a new one. He had come to the conclusion that the old school, despite its majestic dome, was functionally inadequate. He put forward his proposal and left it to the Brothers to decide. In discussing the question, the Brothers were acutely aware that the old school held fond memories for the old boys. After much debate on the pros and cons the decision to go ahead was made. 

From there on, Brother Raphael oversaw the project with determination and clarity of vision while leaving the day to day detail to the architect and to Brothers Alphonsus Chee and Thomas Lavin who saw to everything splendidly. Work began in 1977 with over 50 lorries carting away the earth and a multitude of workers on site. On Friday, 8th June 1979, the Brothers took possession of the new La Salle College. The whole building is centrally air-conditioned, a much appreciated facility not only because of the summer heat but because, at the time, the airport was just down the road and the noise could be horrendous.  Sports facilities include a 50 metre swimming pool, a 6-lane 400 metre track, an indoor gymnasium and a full-size astro-turf soccer pitch. “In building this school we had in mind not 1979, but the year 2000” said Brother Raphael.

Bishop (later Cardinal) John Baptist Wu performed the official blessing on 6th January 1982. Then on the 19th February, the Governor, Sir Murray Mac Lehose, officially opened the new College.

In 1984, Brother Raphael reached mandatory retirement age and duly passed the baton to Brother Alphonsus Chee. However he remained the Director of the Brothers, the Supervisor of the College and took on the added responsibility of Supervisorship of La Salle Primary School. During these years he helped an untold number of people in need and his hospitality was legendary. He kept up a very large correspondence with personal friends as well as with old boys. The President of the Old Boys’ Chapter of Toronto, Peter Leung, recalls Brother Raphael’s final message:  “He told us not to look back over our shoulders but to look forward, be prepared for the future, integrate into the local society. Seeds from a tree are not created to grow back into its root, but to disperse, to adapt and to multiply.”

  All augured well until cancer raised its ugly head. At the end of September 1988, he underwent a major operation lasting over 7 hours. This marked his two-year personal battle with pain and suffering. He lost his physical strength and appetite. His spirit, however, was strong. Brother Henry Pang said, "He is very cheerful and bears his sufferings very bravely, trying his best not to show it and sometimes even venturing into my art room in order to crack a joke. He is full of faith and very prayerful, making regular trips to the chapel when he can walk."

Brother Raphael, accompanied by his cousin and confidante Mary Egan, returned to Ireland in 1990. He visited many of his relatives, in between repeated bouts of fever and hospitalization. Although he was thousands of miles away, his heart was with Hong Kong. He told his family, "If I feel alright, I want to return next month to Hong Kong which has 85% of me, of my heart and soul."

It was not to be. On 23rd July 1990, he was again hospitalized. On 24th July 1990, at 04:20, the great man left for heaven. The funeral Mass was held on the 26th July with Brother Patrick Tierney delivering the homily and in the presence of many friends and relations. Burial took place immediately afterwards in the Brothers’ graveyard in Castletown.
 
A student of Brother Raphael paid this personal tribute: “I miss Brother Raphael as a good friend, a great mentor and a most competent administrator. I can still feel Brother Raphael supervising us up there and, using his invisible hands to guide us along.”

At a commemorative Mass held in St Teresa’s Church, Kowloon, Brother Michael Jacques in his homily gave an overview: “He lies buried thousands of miles from his beloved Hong Kong but his spirit and example must remain to animate and to inspire us all. May his memory ever remain fresh and vivid, stimulating all of us to ever greater things, always to do ‘something more’ for the Lord in the service of our fellow-men.”

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 3 (May 2008)

Among all our dedicated and distinguished Brothers there is one whose outstanding vision and determination helped to set a solid foundation for the future development of the Hong Kong Lasallian family. To him, difficulty was a source of inspiration. 

The Brother Assistant Superior General, Michael Jacques, in his speech at the Hong Kong Centenary Celebration Dinner, told the guests:

“ I am sure you would like to join me in expressing our very deep debt of gratitude to all those Brothers who down the years and up to the present time have toiled here in Hong Kong…Each of you will retain individual memories of your beloved tutors, some of whom have made such a tremendous impact. I would like to mention one name, that of the late Brother Aimar, whose contribution to St. Joseph’s and the creation of La Salle College, Kowloon, have been such significant landmarks in the history of the past century. He is representative of a tribe of completely dedicated men to whom we are so indebted and whose spirit should fire us all to emulate their noble example.” 

Born in 1873 of the sturdy stock of the Cevennes folk, France, Brother Aimar received his professional training at the Brothers' Central Normal College of Paris. At one time he held a record of 52 years as a Missionary Teacher in the Far East. 

His first Eastern assignment was to St. Joseph's Institution in Singapore, in 1892. His teaching skills and versatility were soon recognized so that, early in 1901, a Commercial Class was opened and confided to Brother Aimar. He worked so hard that in less than a year his pupils attained such proficiency in Book-keeping, Shorthand and Typewriting as to merit the highest praise from the inspectors. Un¬der his guidance the boys won many highly prized contests, in particular that of the Queen’s Scholarship. Such high profile awards helped make St. Joseph's Institution one of the foremost educational establishments in Singapore.

 On July 5th 1909, however, he was transferred as Acting Director of St. Xavier's Institution in Penang. In 1910, he was instrumental in acquiring a large piece of land across the road from the school which was developed into a beautiful sports-field. As he was to repeat later, he did this despite the fact that funds were very tight, obviously realizing the value of space for a school. In any case he contributed greatly to the general redevelopment of the school.
After a term in Moulmein, Burma, he was sent to Hong Kong and it was in Hong Kong that Brother Aimar’s many talents were unleashed. 

In 1914, he was made Director of St Joseph’s College after the sudden death of Brother Peter Close, who survived his appointment as Director only one month and who died on the 30th April. Brother Aimar arrived in Hong Kong on the 21st May and assumed management of the College, then at Robinson Road. The location held a commanding view of the famous Hong Kong harbour. Under his leadership the College grew in size and fame. Eight new airy and bright classrooms were soon added and a new building was later put up. A student at the time, who later became a prominent benefactor of the school, remembered Brother Aimar as “a bearded, amiable and efficient headmaster.” The Brother Visitor at the time, Brother James Byrne, in a letter to the Bishop in 1916, shows his confidence in Brother Aimar’s abilities: “I desire to give your Lordship my best assurances that Brother Aimar will continue to guide the destinies of the College with untiring zeal, prudence and devotedness and that he will work in perfect harmony with the Mission.”

By 1917 he had built twelve additional classrooms, secured from the Government for the College the use of a playground at Happy Valley, purchased a country house for the Brothers and acquired a large building on Chatham Road for a branch Junior School. Brother Aimar worked quietly but efficiently.

Disaster struck in 1918 when the tremors from an earthquake whose epicenter was in Shantou, China, damaged the College building. After a government inspection, some of the school structures were declared unsafe. It was also considered unsafe to remain in occupation of the building. This was quite a big blow to the Brothers since the school building on Robinson Road was a good one and indeed a landmark in the territory. But disaster for Brother Aimar seemed always to be a source of inspiration. He began to search for pastures new. It seems he saw opportunity in the crisis. He was well aware of the pressure of the ever-increasing demand for admission and the necessity of returning the Robinson Road campus to the Catholic Mission, and therefore set about finding a new building, which could meet all up-to-date requirements, though his financial resources were very limited.

Thanks to the help he obtained from Father L. Robert, Procurator of the Paris Foreign Mission as well as to his own unflinching courage and determination in the face of all financial difficulties, the acquisition of Club Germania on Kennedy Road was made possible in 1918. At the time, the Club was mortgaged to the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank. Most of the day and the boarding students as well as the Brothers moved there quickly. 

Brother Aimar knew that the German Club would not in itself provide sufficient accommodation for a school of 600 pupils and he immediately set himself the task of expansion. There was little or no money but he asserted that the money could and must be found and found it was. With the help of the Lasallian schools in Singapore and Penang and a Government building grant, the North Block (1921) and the West Block (1925) were erected. If the North Block was intended for classrooms, the West Block was for facilities. The first floor of the West Block took up the school hall, the second floor housed the physics and chemistry laboratories and the top floor was reserved for the school chapel capable of accommodating all the Catholic students. These two blocks still exist and, in the year 2000, were declared historical monuments.

At the official opening of the West Block on 23rd October 1925 by the Governor, Sir R.E.Stubbs, Brother Aimar gave a speech which was recorded by the daily South China Mail newspaper. The speech gives an interesting insight, not only into how money was raised for the construction but also into Brother Aimar’s frame of mind at the time. Here is an excerpt:
“Rightly conceived, education is a means of brightening life, of making the world a better place to live in. To accomplish this task, the body and mind of the child must be trained. We all know that it is an admirable thing to have a sound body; it is an even better thing to have a sound mind; but infinitely better than either is to have character. Character is the decisive factor in the life of individuals.” Governor Stubbs also noted that the formation of character was a feature of the administration of Brother Aimar and his staff.

The year 1925 is also remembered as the year of the general strike and the colony faced a very severe economic crisis. Gradually, all schools, apart from St Joseph’s, closed. At the end of June Brother Aimar received an urgent appeal from the Government for student volunteers to keep the postal service running. Brother Aimar asked Brother Cassian to take charge and the boys did trojan work until the strike was over.

Besides overseeing the physical developments of the College, Brother Aimar found time to actively support student activities such as the building up of the scout troop formed in 1913, the formation of a St John Ambulance Brigade in 1927 and supporting the various sports teams. 

Brother Aimar must have been a very busy man around this time because besides dealing with St Joseph’s he was also engaged in the search for a junior branch school in Kowloon. The immediate intention was to spare the younger boys the trouble of crossing the harbour daily. Eventually, he was able to purchase a building on Chatham Road and opened the branch school there on 5th September 1917. This step was received with great favour, especially by those of Portuguese descent who had moved to Kowloon.

After securing a solid foundation for St. Joseph’s College, Brother Aimar now turned his attention to a much more daring project, his “opus magnum.”

As early as 1924, and anticipating the growth of Kowloon, he began to look for a suitable site for a new secondary school there. From the experience of struggling to find enough space and classrooms to accommodate students at St. Joseph’s College, he was determined to acquire a larger piece of land for the new school. He was also aware that the Chatham Road school building was not suitable for extended development. And so, as early as April 1924, we find him writing to Governor Sir Cecil Clementi: “The removal of the school in Chatham Road to new quarters should be expedited for the sake of both boys and staff. The premises are not suitable and the playground accommodation is not good”.

He roamed the hills of Kowloon in search of a suitable site and negotiated with the Government officials for years. He put his eye on a hilly site north of Boundary Street, in leased- land- from- China territory, and in 1926 even got the Governor to accompany him to have a look at his proposed 10 acre school site. If the Governor thought that Brother Aimar was asking for too much, he kept his counsel. There were some who considered the choice of location ill advised, even foolish, but Brother Aimar would have none of it. On the 23rd April 1928, he finally obtained 10 acres of land at public auction for HK$120,000 (about 28 cents per square foot) and began designing and building a new school which he named after St John Baptist de La Salle. He also managed to purchase 3 more acres of land nearby which would in time house La Salle Primary School.

Brother Aimar did not waste time. Contracts were drawn up, the contract awarded and the architects appointed. Site formation began and the foundation stone was laid on 5th November 1930. Brother Cassian Brigant witnessed all these developments and notes: “Work went forward without pause for more than a year under the constant supervision of Brother Director, Brother Aimar. Whenever he had a moment free, he was there to inspect the work, and in this way prevented several mistakes.” Brother Aimar thought big and big is what he got. The dogged and intrepid Frenchman had persevered to the end and produced a veritable monument. He was the first Principal of La Salle College when it opened its doors in December 1931, though the official opening was not until1932. At the opening ceremony he had praise for the students:
“Nothing has been spared to make their school life as pleasant as possible. The boys appreciate what has been done for them and give us entire satisfaction.”

 Brother Aimar remained Principal until the Japanese soldiers forced the Brothers to leave the College in 1942.To this day many old boys swap fond memories of their days under the “Dome”, the crowning glory of Brother Aimar’s school.
 
It is not too surprising that, after all this hectic work over a number of years, Brother Aimar began to show signs of ill health and for that reason was told by his superiors to take a rest in his home country. And so he set sail for France in April1933 and returned in December, relaxed and refreshed. He did not return alone. He brought with him a special gift, a new recruit in the person of Brother Casimir Husarik who was to remain attached to the College for the rest of his life. 

Brother Aimar was now able to enjoy some of the fruits of his labour as he guided the new College through some of its bumper years both academically and in sports. At the 1938 Prize-Giving Day one of the prize recipients recalls: “Our Grand Old Man (Brother Aimar), receiving the guests, gave a dignified touch to everything”. Indeed, although he was quick of mind and in initiating action, he himself never seemed to be in a rush and approached everything with dignified calm.

He was soon to need all the calm he could muster because news of the outbreak of war in Europe had an immediate impact. The British authorities had been eyeing La Salle College for some time as a possible resource building. On the 3rd January 1939 the army encircled it with barbed wire, observation posts, barriers and grills and four watchtowers and it became an internment camp, initially for German nationals, termed “enemy aliens”. This development was a bitter pill for Brother Aimar to swallow, a cruel and unexpected blow. It looked like the beginning of the end but he decided to make maximum use of the adjacent plot of land and house he had purchased in 1928 and set up temporary classrooms. There, school resumed in a bi-sessional format. By 1940 the College was back in the possession of the Brothers and normal school operations commenced in September. It was to be the last ‘normal’ school year before Japanese occupation.

The Japanese attacked on the 8th December 1941 and Brother Aimar announced to the whole school already assembled for the Christmas examinations that these would be postponed indefinitely and that the boys were to return home immediately. Who would have thought that this would be Brother Aimar’s last school announcement! By the 13th December the Japanese had overrun practically the whole of Kowloon. For a while the College catered to both British and Japanese wounded but gradually the Japanese noose tightened and they took complete control of the College. On January 17th the Brothers were told they would have to leave and they sought and found refuge in an apartment through the good offices of the parish priest. 

They left practically everything behind. The Japanese had promised Brother Aimar to seal off the chapel, the sacristy and the main office. However, there was little doubt in the minds of the Brothers that all the registers and files would be destroyed. Brother Aimar, whose face was by now lined with sadness and worry, realized there was little the Brothers could do in the circumstances and decided to head for Indo-China (Vietnam). On the 1st March 1942 he led a group of 10 Brothers and set out for Haiphong. For some it would be a journey of no return. It would be an understatement to say that Brother Aimar left Hong Kong with a heavy heart.

He spent his last days in Vietnam. The Brothers there treated him lovingly and, according to Brothers Michael Curtin and Felix Sheehan, “went out of their way to make his last days happy. He had every medical attention and medical care”. Exactly 15 years after the laying of the Foundation Stone of La Salle College, on 5th November 1945, he passed away at Nhatrang, Vietnam, at the age of 72. He was buried in the small cemetery on the site of the Brothers' Formation House at Nhatrang. 

Back in Hong Kong a solemn service was held at St Teresa’s Church on the 5th November 1946 with a sung Mass celebrated by an old friend, Fr Spada.

La Salle College celebrated its silver jubilee in 1957 and did not forget its founder. The Silver Jubilee commemorative publication pays this tribute: “Out of the welter of words and rejoicings in this Jubilee Year, the figure of Brother Aimar is an abiding memory. Only those whose good fortune was to serve under him in the early days of the College can understand the magnitude of the pioneer work he achieved. Prayer, energetic labour and boundless patience were his armoury.”

The Brothers and old boys of La Salle wanted to mark Bro Aimar’s immense contribution to the school with a substantial sculpture. On the 13th June 1962 they took the opportunity of the visit of the Superior General, Brother Nicet Joseph, who unveiled a bronze bust of Brother Aimar placed in one of the courtyards of the school. This bust was paid for and presented to the school by the La Salle Old Boys’ Association. 

The story was not complete. There seemed to be a general wish to have Brother Aimar’s remains brought back to Hong Kong. The services of Brother Michael Jacques, Assistant Superior General, were enlisted. The Brothers of Vietnam and their old boys did all in their power to break through official red tape. In December 1966, Brother Aimar’s remains were exhumed and personally carried to Hong Kong by Brother Michael. After Mass and funeral rites, the remains were placed in a silver casket and inserted in a granite niche under the bust. The inscription read: Si Monumentum Requiris Circumspice! If you seek his monument, look around you.

At the Re-internment of the mortal remains of Brother Aimar, Brother Michael said in part: “Today, Brother Aimar comes home to us, to this creation of his dreams, to this fine monument to the memory of a truly great man. If a man’s achievements are the measure of his soul, then St Joseph’s on the island and, above all, La Salle here in Kowloon, must mark him out not only as a great servant of God but an outstanding educator as well and one of the great citizens of his time.
What distinguished him in a special way was the extraordinary affection and loyalty he was able to generate among his pupils and among all who came to know him.”

But there was a final twist to the tale. In 1978, with the demolition of the old school building, Brother Aimar’s remains were moved to the Brothers’ vault in St Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Happy Valley. And there they rest to this day. 
Brother Aimar, as founder, had given gave to La Salle a tone and a tradition. His role in the Lasallian Mission in Hong Kong was summarized by Mr. J.P. Braga, a prominent old boy of St. Joseph’s College, as follows:

‘Retiring and unassuming, Brother Aimar never impresses one with the outward appearance of a financial genius. Nevertheless, he may be likened, metaphorically, to a unit of “silent service”.’

Brother Patrick Tierney composed the following poem in memory of Brother Aimar: 

A Man of Vision

Not for him the shining brilliance
of stoked fire spewing out
red -hot sparks of burning ash.

Not for him the garish show
of vulgar ostentation flaunting
its loud strutting display.

Not for him the cut or dash
the dazzle and razzmatazz
of glamour showbiz.

I contemplate his portrait;
the enigmatic, still aura
of dignified love,

the eyes calmly inviting,
kindling the flame of learning,
lighting up the soul.

Here was a man
who saw the divine
in the heart of a child.

Originally published on The Gateway Issue No. 2 (April 2008)

Daniel O’Connell is a towering figure in Irish history. In our Lasallian world, we have our own Daniel O’Connell, more familiarly known as Brother Paul, and who, at least in some respects, was also a towering figure. 

Brother Paul was born in 1889 in Vicarstown, County Laois, Ireland. He took the Brother’s Habit in 1905 and was sent on the missions to Hong Kong in 1907. He was assigned to teach in St. Joseph’s College, then at Robinson Road, Glenealy, at the tender age of 18. Apart from a short interlude between 1921-1922, when he was transferred to Singapore and Malaysia, he was to spend all of his extraordinarily long missionary life in Hong Kong. He professed his final vows there in 1918.

When Brother Paul arrived in 1907, Hong Kong was a comparatively small city. The Chinese Kingdom was still under the control of the Empress Dowager, Cixi. Four years later Brother Paul witnessed the birth of the Chinese Republic. He was to live under 12 colonial governors of Hong Kong (from Lugard to MacLehose), 7 Catholic Bishops (Pozzoni, Raimondi, Valtorta, Bianchi, Hsu, Lei, Wu): 9 Popes (Leo, Pius X, Benedict, Pius XI, Pius XIII, John, Paul, John Paul I, John Paul II) and 6 monarchs of the British Empire (Victoria, Ed¬ward XII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI, Elizabeth).

From 1907 to 1921, Brother Paul taught at St. Joseph’s College. Among his many other duties he was the Sports-master, with particular responsibility for coaching the footballers. In 1918 an earthquake damaged a large part of the school campus and the Brothers were forced to move out. The Brothers were fortunately able to purchase Club Germania at Kennedy Road and they planned to move the school there. Before the new school premises was ready to accommodate all classes, Brother Paul was assigned to take care of the remaining classes at the Robinson Road campus, in somewhat trying conditions.

Even at this early stage, Brother Paul had become an intrepid hiker. He knew Hong Kong so well that he could take you from one point to another by the shortest route, regardless of valley and hill, stream or jungle. He could walk for hours on end through the forestry paths as well as on the mountains.

Another area of expertise was the auditing of accounts. He would present the audit accounts meticulously correct and handsomely set out in a judicious usage of black and red ruling.

Between 1921 and 1923 Brother Paul was assigned to Singapore and Malaysia but somehow he always hankered after Hong Kong and his superiors decided to accede to his wish. In 1923, when he returned from Malaysia, he was given a new assignment. He became the Headmaster of St. Joseph’s College Branch School at Chatham Road, Kowloon. For years afterwards he maintained he had no idea why the Superiors decided that he was the man for the job. But decide they did. The Branch School had been opened on 5th September 1917 to cater to the boys, many of Portuguese descent, who were now living in Kowloon. It was also meant to relieve the junior boys having to commute across the harbour every day. It was the reverse for Brother Paul of course and we presume he traveled by ferry or “wala-wala”, a small motor boat which made a sound similar to its local nickname.

The students of the branch school were, in time, to form the nucleus for La Salle College which opened its doors in 1932. Most of the students were transferred to La Salle and Brother Paul followed them.

Among his many responsibilities, and at various times, Brother Paul took on the role of Prefect of Boarders. The boarders came from such places as Indochina (Vietnam), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Burma, Indonesia and some of them from as far as Mexico. Their parents wanted them to get a good grounding in English, a ‘must’ for would-be traders in the Far East. It was Brother Paul’s task to mould these heterogeneous elements into something like a miniature United Nations. Brother Michael Curtin mentions that, as boarding prefect, “Brother Paul was very understanding but very firm on discipline.” Since the number of boarders rose to as high as 250 he probably needed to take a firm stand. At 6 foot 3 and ramrod straight he was not to be trifled with.

He was reassigned to St. Joseph’s College from 1935 to 1945. During the war, only three Brothers remained in Hong Kong, namely Brothers John Lynam, Martin Kelleher and Paul. They managed to survive and quickly resumed their work when the war was over. The old boys of the College moved quickly also and held a reunion in 1946 at which Brother Paul was present. He received a great welcome and after the singing of “He’s a jolly good fellow” he was forced to say a few words. It was obvious that he was deeply moved, for about 80% of those present had been his pupils. With some humour, Brother Paul remarked that while he was privileged to have had many of those present under him in class, he hoped he would be able to make a better job of the younger generation than he did with the old! The old boys responded by singing some Irish songs for him.

Brother Paul continued to serve St. Joseph’s and La Salle College until his retirement in 1965. He was usually followed by his faithful shepherd dog, even into the classroom. The dog was big but very tame and friendly. During this period of his life, he tramped the hills and valleys of Hong Kong, taking a keen interest in its flora and fauna and taking copious notes. He was usually accompanied by other Brothers but if none was available he would set out himself.

One Brother recalls a first meeting in the early 60’s. “Brother Paul was an imposing figure, even to a ‘know all’ youth of twenty four. He carried his knowledge and wisdom lightly, however, and I was happy in his company, especially when he was in the mood for a song. I remember wondering and admiring how he could continue to teach catechism even into old age. I also liked to see him with the pipe, and, like many pipe smokers, the pipe seemed to be more for company than for smoking.”

Many tales are told of Brother Paul as a teacher. One of his old boys of the class of 1935, now living in London, says that ‘he was a very, very, strict teacher’. He was also a strict disciplinarian. The old boy recalls how he told a Mexican boy several time to have his hair cut. For whatever reason, the boy did not do so. One morning after morning prayers, Brother Paul called this boy out, took a pair of scissors and cut the boy’s hair himself! One wonders what would happen if a teacher did this today!

After retirement he spent his remaining years residing in the country bungalow of the Brothers adjacent to De La Salle Secondary School, Fanling which is close to the mainland China border. The countryside environment suited him to the ground. He taught religion in some classes and occupied himself in the garden and in the study of the flora of Hong Kong which was his hobby. He started with cataloguing the blooms that graced the extensive garden surrounding the Brothers’ bungalow. In fact he had plans for publishing a book on the Trees, Shrubs and Flowers of Hong Kong and was in contact with a local publisher. As a lover of nature, he also loved animals, dogs in particular, and he had a dog in tow even from the early days. He christened one of his dogs “wu lei”, or ‘fox’ in Chinese. The Brothers took much delight listening to Paul ‘talking’ to the dog which showed every sign of understanding.

He never lost his love for his native land and every St Patrick’s Day he would hoist the flag of the Irish Republic in the garden. Local British officials seemed mildly amused and turned a blind eye to this expression of patriotic fervour. On celebratory occasions, Paul’s favourite patriotic song was ‘God Save Ireland’ complete with rousing chorus.

He usually enjoyed excellent health. However, in the late 70’s he had to endure a severe operation. On recovery he continued to live on happily in Fanling amidst the flowers and the trees he loved so well. Things seemed to be moving nicely and in 1979 the editors of La Salle College Magazine were happy to congratulate him on completing 90 years and wished him “Cheung Meng Pak Sui”, life to a hundred years. Despite his advanced age, he went on home leave in the summer of 1979 and returned in mid October, apparently in good health and spirits. He fell ill, however, and had to be hospitalized and, despite hopes for his recovery, passed away peacefully on 6th November 1979 at St. Teresa’s Hospital, Kowloon.   

Human dignity was less talked about in the 1910s than it is now. Yet those who had the privilege of knowing Brother Paul could see in him an expression of respect for personal human dignity such as is seldom met with in our more prosperous but more feverish age. In his youth in Ireland and in early manhood in Hong Kong, he learnt a grave courtesy that never seemed affected and never inhibited his sense of humour. With the passing years the world has largely lost this gracious gift; but Brother Paul, a man of strong character, refused to jettison what was good from the past.

The memory of Brother Paul is enshrined in the hearts of his old pupils of St. Joseph's, La Salle College and De La Salle Secondary School who will not forget his untiring efforts. His genial personality will ever be remembered by those he taught and colleagues who worked with him. His insistence on order, hard work and vigorous exercise inspired generations of students. One of his favourite axioms was ‘esto vir’ (be a man)) and he himself gave a fine example of manly virtues to his students. This ‘grand old man’ leaves behind the kindest of memories of courtesy and devotion to duty.

Here is a poem written in his honour by Brother Patricius O’Donovan who knew him well.

Requiescat In Pace
The Lord had willed the hour of parting!
From our midst Paul’s soul had gone,
Bearing myriad years of merit,
Mead of duties nobly done;
He had gone with prayers and blessings,
At his loving Master’s call,
To his heavenly home – goal of his longings,
Where pure joys can never pall.

The Orient sun had just arisen,
And our cities hummed again,                     
Lion Rock looked clear and crimsoned,               
And all its multi-mountained chain;             
Well known haunts he’d loved and cherished,
Oft traversed with practised art,
Seeking Nature’s hidden treasures,
With roving eye and throbbing heart.

Over seventy years of labour,
Always faithful – ever true,
An achievement unsurpassed, 
Only meted out to few;
For God’s honour, for his neighbour,
Always zealous for God’s claim,
Never fearing in the struggle,                  
Never faltering in the strain.

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 1 (March 2008)

Joseph Dunne was born in Camp, County Kerry, Ireland on 2nd July 1914, right at the start of World War 1. The little town is located beside a bay which opens out to the vast Atlantic ocean. The hinterland is dotted with lovely hills and valleys. Joseph was the fifth in a family of eight boys and one girl. The family grew up on a farm.

He attended the local primary school at a turbulent time in Irish history. He retained vivid memories of the reign of the Black and Tans and later the Civil War when violence and terror stalked the land. When a recruiter for the De La Salle Brothers visited the school, Joseph volunteered and the rest, as they say, is history.

In 1928, he joined the De La Salle Brothers and took the Habit in September 1930 followed by the Novitiate year. The following year he was sent to England to further his studies and it was there that he volunteered for the missions. In 1932 a group of six young Brothers and three mission returnees set out for the East from Marseilles. Among them were Brother Cassian Brigant and Brother Felix Sheehan, with both of whom he would later share community in Hong Kong.

On arrival in Penang, Brendan was first posted to St Xavier’s Institution but within months was heading for St Joseph’s College, Hong Kong. He was 19 years old. His first teaching term in Hong Kong was from 1933 to 1936 and Brother Matthias Linehan was the Director, a man for whom he had a high regard. It was a heady time, for the College was celebrating its Diamond Jubilee. Already, two prominent aspects of Brother Brendan’s lifestyle were emerging: a determination to make his lessons in class both interesting and understandable, and a love of hiking.

From 1936 to 1941, Brother Brendan was back in Malaysia and taught in St. John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur and in St. Xavier’s Institution, Penang. One Brother summed him up as a teacher at this time:
“His students revered him. He put such sparkle into his lessons. He had that twinkle, that almost mischievous smile that put the pupils in a mood to respond. And when he got the right answer he expressed his delight with an expression in Chinese, English or French. He was almost continental in his gestures and facial expressions and could add mimicry that would do justice to Marcel Marceau”.

Brendan was still in Penang when the Japanese invasion took place 8th December 1941. As with many Brothers, he was now not allowed to teach which he found frustrating. He along with a number of other Brothers decided to try their luck living in a jungle camp at Bahau, known as the ‘Fuji Go’. He was a tower of strength in the camp. With his pipe, his black hat, his tall muscular body, his repertoire of stories, his mimicry and unfailing good humour, his company was a tonic in the depressing circumstances. Living and suffering, surviving and dying were commonplace for the next two years. Like most of the others, Brendan succumbed to malaria attacks but bounced back each time, perhaps because he was now thirty and in his prime.

After surviving the War, a holiday home was the order of the day and much appreciated by his family. He had not been home for thirteen years. By October 1947 he was back East, this time as a member of the teaching staff at St. Joseph’s College, Hong Kong. In 1949 he was appointed Vice Principal with Brother Raphael Egan as Principal. They formed a wonderful partnership and worked very well together to put St. Joseph’s back on a firm post-war footing. The Communist take-over in China had resulted in a flood of refugees whose offspring swelled the school population. Many of these students were living from hand to mouth and it was on these that Brother Brendan lavished his care and compassion.

He taught a full day despite his administrative commitments. He was thorough, dedicated and demanding but also considerate, kind and understanding. Many of his old pupils remember how he used to stress the importance of writing a correct sentence and paragraph. If you could write a correct sentence you could write a correct paragraph and thence a correct composition. He would spend a whole lesson teaching just a few sentences. He seemed to know all the common mistakes in English made by Chinese boys. He hammered home the grammar basics. No wonder it was difficult not to get credits or distinctions in his class.

One of his pupils, who would later become a teacher in the College, stresses brother Brendan’s unlimited patience. He would talk with you about your mistakes for hours on end. He would make you write one fine copy after another until the piece was perfect. It was difficult to win against him in regard to patience, argument or anything else, so that in the end you simply had to submit! 

He was also spiritual director of the Star of the Sea Legion of Mary Praesidium, never missing the weekly meeting. In addition he would instruct boys who wished to become Catholics.

One of his pupils at the time, Charles Kao, was to become the Nobel Laureate for Physics, often regarded as ‘the father of fibre optics’. On a recent visit to his alma mater, Charles recalled how Brother Brendan had a formula whenever he wanted to motivate his students to study hard. He would ‘request’ them to have certain answers ready for him the following day. And “if you fail to answer my question correctly, I shall send you to Queen Mary with my left fist!” Now, Queen Mary is a government hospital! He always followed this threat with a mischievous smile while he shadow-boxed with left and right jabs. Needless to say, nobody was ever sent to Queen Mary in such circumstances.

When Brother Raphael was transferred to Sabah in 1957 Brother Brendan succeeded him as Principal. Excellent academic standards were maintained and the spiritual life of the school was not overlooked. Brother Peter Phelan was with him at the time and says: “During my ten years in community with him I never knew him to use corporal punishment of any kind. He was well liked by the teachers, and even more by the non-academic staff.” Indeed, he had a prodigious memory for the names of his past pupils and former teachers and had a fund of anecdotes connected with them.

If he had any weakness it was erring on the side of kindness. Teachers would sometimes complain that he treated the naughty boys too leniently. When they were sent to see him in his office, he would sit them down, smoke his pipe, have a chat and give them sweets. No wonder they returned to class, all smiles! Perhaps this was Brendan’s way of letting teachers know that they should find a better way of dealing with naughty students than sending them to see the Headmaster.

As Principal of a leading school in the territory, he embarked on an ambitious project of redevelopment and upgrading. In 1961 the original school building (called the Club Germania) facing Kennedy Road was demolished and a splendid new wing erected within 2 years. In addition a new school hall was erected on the east wing. At the time St Joseph’s was the envy of many schools because it could boast of two school halls. Governor Sir Robert Black and Superior General Brother Nicet Joseph officiated at the opening of the new school building and Bishop Bianchi performed the blessing. Brother Nicet paid a special tribute to two stalwarts in the history of St Joseph’s, Bishop Raimondi and Brother Aimar. The new wing remains a monument to Brother Brendan’s careful planning and supervision. The top floor became the residence for the Brothers.

Brother Alphonsus Breen, who joined the St Joseph’s community in 1962 recalled: “He was easy to live with, gave us ample freedom and rarely interfered. Ever even-tempered, he never allowed himself to be upset by persons or events. He was sympathetic to the pupils, especially those who got into trouble, and took a personal interest in the poor boy”.

In 1964, having completed his term as Principal and Director he went on home leave after which he was posted to La Salle Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Here he teamed up again with Brother Raphael Egan until 1966 when he was appointed Director and Principal. Circumstances were very different to those in Hong Kong but Brendan settled in and grew very attached to the students, many of whom were relatively poor. He had particular time for the boarders and spent much time chatting with or counseling them. After his death one of them had this to say: “For us, the boarders, his attentive ears provided the solace for young troubled minds at times”. On the school front, he provided facilities for the newly opened sixth form classes and before his term expired he admitted the first batch of girls into Form 6. On the community front he had a three-storey community residence built for the Brothers

In 1969 he was back in Hong Kong, at first as a teacher in La Salle College, but two years later he was appointed the first Principal of Chong Gene Hang College on Hong Kong Island. The school is located in a resettlement and industrial area and it was the first secondary school there.  He had to commute every day from St Joseph’s College to Chong Gene Hang, but there was no complaint. At once Brother Brendan got down to business, recruited a young staff and set about creating a warm and homely school climate. He spent eight years in this post and the school soon developed a spirit and identity of its own with a strong sense of belonging among staff and students. Since the school lacked sports facilities, he encouraged cross country running with the result that the school was soon grabbing headlines.  Brother Brendan’s generosity and largeness of heart was much appreciated by both the school and the local community.

At a Speech Day for the school in 1974, we get a glimpse of Brother Brendan’s thinking in relation to the school. Addressing the boys directly he said: “Well then, for your own good and for the reputation of the entire school, make sure you behave responsibly, and make it easier for the other boys to behave well too. Always remember you carry the reputation of the school with you wherever you go. You are the School!”

In 1979 he reached retiring age and bade farewell to a school he loved and set fair to flourish. Retirement saw him giving a hand to unemployed youth at Benburb Base, a Lasallian Centre in London and to a private Catholic school in Sabah. He had a calming effect on these young people undergoing hardship or trial and, if he felt it was justified, would move heaven and earth to help them.

In 1981, he was to return to his second home, St. Joseph’s College Hong Kong, where he would live out his final years, keeping in touch with old boys of St Joseph’s and Chong Gene Hang, entertaining visitors and deepening his spiritual life, especially through prayer and a study of the Scriptures. There were no frills in his spiritual diet. The Mass, meditation, the rosary and the Legion of Mary were the mainstays. He was still devoted to hiking and to smoking his pipe. After a good workout on a hot and humid afternoon, he would return dripping with perspiration and enjoy a smoke and a bottle of beer. Other hobbies included doing the daily newspaper cryptic crossword. It was beyond most of us but to Brendan it was a breeze.

“During these years he traveled a lot, visiting relatives in England, Ireland and Australia” writes Brother Thomas Favier. He kept in touch with former students and figured prominently at annual reunions. At a recent dinner and dance the Guest of Honour, a leading government official, spoke of how Brendan, back in the 1950’s, put him on his feet when things were low for him. As the official resumed his seat midst much applause, Brendan drifted by, gave him a swish of his serviette, and said:” ’You talk a lot of nonsense!’.” His memory for the names and work of old boys was phenomenal.

In the ordinary day to day events of life, Brother Brendan meant many things to many people. To many he was simply a friend, a good friend, because if Brendan became your friend you were a friend for life. To others he was a counselor, gifted with insight and understanding and lending a discerning ear to those who confided in him. To still others he was a rock and a refuge in times of trouble or distress. Brendan, puffing his pipe, usually had a calming effect on people undergoing trials. And he would help them in every possible way.

Some two years before his death he was in hospital for cystectomy. He took some time to adjust but the main trouble came from a weakening of the heart. As he needed more and more care, Brothers Alphonsus Breen and Thomas Favier saw to his daily needs. They arranged for nursing help, doctor’s visits, room-cleaning and made sure he was settled for sleep every night.

The story of Brother Brendan’s last few days and hours is easily told. For some days he had slowed down a lot and was eating little. Yet, on the evening of the 6th March 1998, a first Friday, he managed to make his way as usual to St Joseph’s Church, for Mass and first Friday devotions. That night, some time after 10 o’clock, Brother Alphonsus went to look in on Brendan and see if he was settled for the night. He found him lying quietly on the floor and, sensing that there was no time to lose, he called an ambulance and a doctor. Brother Brendan, however, passed away peacefully before the ambulance arrived.

The funeral mass was held on the 18th March in Christ the King Chapel with Bishop John Tong as chief celebrant. There was a large attendance of former staff and students, government officials and religious. St Joseph’s College scouts provided a guard of honour. Present too were two nieces, Kathleen and Mary, from Australia as well as Mary’s husband. Brother Patrick Tierney gave the homily. Brother Brendan was laid to rest in the De La Salle Brothers’ plot in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Happy Valley.

Brother Philip Callaghan, a companion of the pre-war and war years, wrote a poem tribute, one verse of which goes as follows:

“There will be a void, not a voiceless void;
Vibrant voices shall recall your legend
Speaking praise of your friendliness and loyalty;
How you evangelized relaying the truth;
Were counselor and guide for bewildered youth”.

Or this one from Brother Patricius;

“Yours was no lingering demise
Nor slow drift to decay
Death flung its portals sudden wide
As you sped from Life away
You folded up like to a flower
At evening’s dimming light
You turned from Time’s darkling hours
And bade the world good night
You went upon your pilgrim path
And gave to death the nod
Then star-ward sped from our dark sphere
Into the arms of God

At the back of Brother Brendan’s memorial card is a touching tribute from one of his former students entitled “I will remember”. It goes:

You had a way with things
The class will never forget you
Neither will I.

The Hong Kong Lasallian Family is happy to announce that the celebration for the 150th Anniversary of the Lasallian Mission in Hong Kong will take place in 2025, bridging the past to the present. With the theme "150 Years of Touching Hearts, Teaching Minds, and Transforming Lives," this anniversary serves as a reminder of our rich heritage and the enduring impact of the Lasallian mission. It calls upon us to honour the legacy of dedication to educating the young, particularly the poor and the needy.

We express our gratitude to God for the six French and Irish Brothers who came to establish our first school, St. Joseph’s College, in 1875. We reaffirm our commitment to continue the mission by providing quality education, according to our Catholic and Lasallian tradition, in our schools and outreach projects.

The anniversary inspires us to become better Lasallians by deepening our faith, embracing the spirit of service, and fostering a sense of community among students, staff, alumni, and parents. It encourages us to reach beyond the confines of the classroom and extend our mission to those on the margins. We draw inspiration from the Biblical question, "Where is your brother/sister?" to guide our response to the needs of people in the peripheries in our society.

In commemorating our rich history, we express our creativity through varied projects and activities, highlighting our interesting stories, achievements and the enduring values of Faith, Service, and Community.

Reflection by Hayden Yu (St. Joseph's College)

I think all the events throughout the camp were truly impressive; I can’t pick which one was the best.

Each event offered different types of leadership skills for us to discover.

For city tracing, it really helped boost the friendship within our team and allowed us to understand more about working with teammates we weren’t familiar with.

The lifeline activity provided us with a great opportunity to reflect on what we learned that day. It helped us realize that there may not always be people to support us in our lives, but we could gradually learn to tackle problems on our own. Meanwhile, it also taught us that we need to cherish those who assist us along the way.

Additionally, Day 2’s mass games further enhanced our leadership skills, allowing us to work as a team instead of as individuals. We engaged in discussions and applied various skills introduced throughout the camp.

Last but not least, the talks by the Brothers were surely very inspiring and valuable to our lives. Their introduction to Lasallian Spirituality helped us understand how we should approach life – as the Brothers mentioned, it can become a part of our lifestyle. The “5 roles of being a leader” also inspired me to become a better person in general on top of being a leader.

Overall, I really enjoyed the camp. It brought together student representatives from different schools, allowing us to make new friends and gain a better understanding of their cultures.

It was truly inspiring and meaningful, helping me grow into a better person for the future. It’s a great pleasure to have been a part of this camp, and I thank you for this wonderful opportunity!

The Christian Brothers’ Schools Leadership Camp 2024 was held on 19-20 October 2024 at La Salle College. This two-day camp provided participants with a valuable opportunity for interaction and communication among Lasallian students.

On 9-12 October 2024, the St Joseph’s Brothers Community hosted the second Brothers Live-In Programme in Hong Kong. The community welcomed Crispin, Philip and Jerry, who are Old Boys of La Salle College, De La Salle Secondary School New Territories and Chong Gene Hang College respectively. During the BLIP, the participants are given the opportunity to know more about the De La Salle Brothers, their way of life and their spirituality.

We are happy to share with you the reflections from our BLIP Participants. Through these,
you will get a glimpse of what their Brothers Live-In Programme experience.

From Crispin - It’s been an honour to be invited by the La Salle Brothers to BLIP 2. This is an important exposure for my vocational discernment. During BLIP, I spent three nights with the Brothers at SJC. Living in the community required more discipline than I expected. We were required to rise early for Morning Lauds at 6am, and to use the communal bathroom also meant I wasn’t able to take long showers. The Brothers also have a communal night out every Wednesday, meaning they have to selflessly put aside whatever work and prioritise bonding with other Brothers.

In addition, I had the luxury to attend a Zoom meeting with overseas La Salle Brothers from Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They shared about their challenges of leaving their home country. A Brother moved me when he shared about not being able to return for his sick parent and seeing their last. Being a Brother requires true commitment — to the Lasallian movement, as well as to educating and loving God’s children! I now understand the responsibilities and expected sacrifices in becoming a LaSalle Brother.

Lastly, I appreciated the Brothers’ transparency in sharing their ups and downs of being a La Salle Brother. They shared anecdotes, from spiritual discernment, to giving up the freedom for marriage, to crawling up for morning prayers. On the last BLIP day, I met some humble and fun-loving La Salle Sisters, who are from Thailand and Vietnam! It’s comforting to know that La Salle religious communities are vibrant and supportive, and so they don’t feel lonely despite serving the Lord on the other side of the world.

In these 4 fruitful days, I’ve learnt what lies ahead if God calls me to become a La Salle Brother. Thank you Hong Kong La Salle Brothers, especially Br Paolo and Br Edmon, for putting the whole programme together. My upcoming steps are to stay in frequent contact with the Brothers, and to keep an open mind to the vocation, so to be a flexible and useful instrument for God’s glory.

From Philip - This experience has been truly memorable for me. During these days, I had the wonderful opportunity to stay with the De La Salle Brothers, who generously shared their lives and experiences. I felt both honored and happy to engage in activities with them and connect with foreign Brothers via Zoom, which helped clarify my questions about their way of life.

The residence where the Brothers live is both retro and elegant, yet simple, featuring a small chapel inside. I felt fortunate to enter and pray with the Brothers in this sacred space, which is located adjacent to their community. It was truly awe-inspiring!

On my last day, I couldn’t believe I was paying my respects to the Brothers of the past in Hong Kong. I also had the chance to remember Brother Lawrence, who passed away a few years ago and was memorialized at DLS. It felt like a distance that was both far and near. As time flew by, I found myself on the top floor of LSC, having lunch with the Sisters and Brothers. I enjoyed to have a chat with Brother Patrick and Brother Thomas. It was a great honor!

These short trips made me wish I had more time to fully experience the wisdom of the Brothers’ way of life, learn how to embody the Lasallian spirit, and help keep their spirit alive.

From Jerry - During this period, the program really opened my eyes and allowed me to explore new things that I never thought I would do.

Moreover, this program gives me the opportunity to know more about the Brothers. We got a chance to stay with the Brothers and to know there is so much more about Brothers than praying and teaching. 

Besides, we have a great online session with the overseas Brothers. It is such a great way to connect with the community and learn about what the brothers do in other countries.

Last but not least, thank you Brothers for having me in this program. This is an extraordinary
experience that I will cherish.
 

This October, five Brothers Communities in LEAD hosted inspiring Brothers Live-In Programs, welcoming young men from Hong Kong and the Philippines to experience community life for five days. We pray for an increase in Lasallian Vocations, especially among the Brothers. 

HK: St. Joseph's College Brothers Community
9-13 October 2024

PH: De La Salle Brothers Bacolod Community
9-13 October 2024

PH: De La Salle Brothers Ozamiz Community
9-13 October 2024

PH: Lasallian Formation Center
16-20 October 2024

PH: De La Salle Lipa - Brothers Community
16-20 October 2024

If you know a young man interested in the Brothers’ way of life, contact br.jeano@delasalle.ph.

#YesBro #LasallianVocations

The sixth iteration of a whole day event encouraging the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness of Filipino domestic workers is Tapuan 6.0, a Filipino term meaning "encounter or meetup place". The organizers were the One La Salle Hong Kong Alumni Association and the La Salle Brothers. The event took place on 11 October 2024 at the Lasallian Youth Centre in Sheung Shui. Fr. Jerry Perocho SVD opened the program by presiding over the mass. After the mass, a panel discussion ensued on the topic of the protection of minors focusing on the Online Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation of Children with guest resource persons Ms. Miwa Chan of the International Justice Mission and Undersecretary Alexander Ramos, the Director of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center of the Philippine government. Family photographer and artist Ms. Samantha Fong oversaw a mobile photography session following lunch. Games planned by Br. Edmon Viroomal and the Lasallian alumni with awards like tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland marked the last event of the day.

Lead by General Superior Sr. Thérèse De Ta Thi Thoa, the Hong Kong Lasallian Family kindly welcomed four La Salle Sisters of Vietnam for an exploratory visit from 08-13 October 2024. This unique program sought to expose the Sisters to many Lasallian educational projects in Hong Kong. The Sisters toured several Lasallian colleges over five days: La Salle College, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle), St. Joseph's College, and De La Salle Secondary School NT. Further underscoring the Lasallian dedication to service, they observed community outreach initiatives as the Lasallian Educational Outreach and an event involving Filipino domestic workers. Their trip also provided a window into the strength and variety of the Hong Kong Lasallian community. This visit not only strengthened the Lasallian Sisters' and the Hong Kong Lasallian Family's closer ties but also opened up possibilities for future joint projects, thereby supporting the common Lasallian goal of education, service, and community.

Last 04 September  2024, Br. Ricky Laguda FSC and Br. Chris Patiño FSC , members of the General Council, left Hong Kong feeling satisfied and grateful.  And it’s not just because of the Chinese food served to them during their stay.  No, but it’s something equally satisfying. Read on.

The 3-day visit kicked off with a meeting with the Brothers assigned in Hong Kong. Brs. Ricky and Chris found out about the multifaceted nature of the Brothers’ apostolate in the Sector, a fact that is often overlooked by many — governance of schools, classroom teaching, supervision of work in the peripheries, recalibrating Lasallian formation and vocation efforts among others.  The general councilors also remarked that the experience of Lasallian mission in Hong Kong, where Brothers from other sectors come to serve, could be shared to other sectors and Districts if only to allow “cross-pollination” and to encourage innovation.

Other meetings lined up for them in the succeeding days included both formal and informal sessions with administrators, staff, and volunteers.

In their early morning chat with Ms. Nikki Chan, they talked about creating opportunities for the Youth Movement in Hong Kong to share their best practices with the rest of the youth groups in LEAD and PARC.  In the afternoon, Brs. Ricky and Chris learned about the regular outreach program run predominantly by retired Lasallian Partners in partnership with some Lasallian schools.  Br. Ricky encouraged them to continue reaching out to the peripheries and addressing the needs of the people there.  Over 10 volunteers (mostly retired administrators) joined the conversation. Br. JJ Jimenez FSC, LEAD Visitor, and Br. Iñigo Riola FSC, Auxiliary Visitor for Formation, were also present in the meeting.

In a rather formal setup, the Principals of the eight schools in HK, as well as the Lasallian Education Council gathered to talk about some major concerns of the schools.  Br. Ricky and Br. Chris showed eagerness to understand the state of the Lasallian schools in HK and how Lasallian spirit is maintained in each of them.  It inspired them to know that the Lasallian administrators are committed to fostering positive change in the Lasallian educational offering in the Sector. Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Institute, Br. Ricky commended the administrators’ accountability and transparency in carrying out the Lasallian mission.  Though meeting the De La Salle Brothers for the first time, newly-appointed Principal Charles Tse noticed how the Brothers “embody a spirit of collaboration and support.”  He added that this synergy can foster innovation and strengthen the collective mission between and among eight schools.

The timely visit of Brs. Chris and Ricky further animated the preparation of the entire Hong Kong Lasallian Family for its celebration of the 150 years of presence of the Lasallian mission in HK.  Their visit and their kind words have given the Lasallian family in HK encouragement and inspiration, such that will last 150 years more.

2020 March 19
Solemn Feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary

Dear Lasallians in the Frontlines,

Greetings of peace and well-being! We salute and support your gallant efforts to quell COVID-19 as you perform your responsibilities beyond the call of duty while putting yourselves at great risk. We stand in solidarity with you as part of the health and medical team directly assisting the sick and infected, or as researchers and scientists pressed to review test results or find effective antidotes to the virus, or as round-the-clock logistics and security forces, public servants and volunteers doing your share to reassure the public, restore and maintain order and provide much needed services to everyone.

We are one with you during this very challenging time and assure you of our fervent prayers as your fellow Lasallians in East Asia. We will especially remember you as we pause for a few minutes of quiet prayer daily to remember all Lasallians in the frontlines and to intercede for all those who are working earnestly in many different ways to provide solutions and address the challenges we face.

For you, all Lasallians in East Asia will gather together and by association in their respective homes and communities at around 5:00 p.m. beginning today March 19, feast of St. Joseph, Protector of our Lasallian Institute, and ending on May 15, feast of our Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. May the good Lord ever keep you in the palm of His hand. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

Fraternally yours,

Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC

Loving Father, our Lasallian Family draws near to you in fervent prayer for all those affected by COVID-19. 

In FAITH, we lift up to you our fears and anxieties and the sufferings of those who have been infected always remembering that even in our darkest hours we are in your most holy presence. 

In SERVICE, we beg you for strength and wisdom to do all that needs to be done knowing that we can be channels of your healing grace when we do all our actions for the love of you. 

In COMMUNION, we stand in solidarity with all the frontliners who risk their lives for others and pray for all medical teams and support personnel who earnestly seek its cure and provide remedy and comfort to those who are sick and most vulnerable. Most Loving Father we entrust our lives and the health and well-being of our families and communities to your care and protection for with you we will be safe and secure.

Amen.

In this time of strife, we, the Lasallian East Asia District, remain faithful in our resolve by inviting everyone to spend a few moments of silence in joining us in prayer for Hong Kong. We believe in a God who makes all things possible by making us instruments of His peace and ministers of His justice.

#PrayForHongKong

Loving God, Father of All
bless the people of Hong Kong
today and in the days to come.

Look with kindness
on the aspirations of your people
especially the youth in the city.
Bless them, enlighten them, and protect each one of them.
Be present with them so they may truly feel
your love especially during these troubled times.

You are the God who makes all things possible;
Come to the aid of your people who call upon you,
Bring peace to your beloved city--
a just peace that fulfills the dreams and hopes
of all the people of Hong Kong
whom you hold dearly in the palm of your hand.

May we become instruments of your peace
and ministers of your justice. Amen.

(Hong Kong) - Dennis Lo recently received a highly prestigious award for his work on cell-free fetal DNA for prenatal testing. Dennis is an old boy of St. Joseph’s College, Hong Kong, to which he remains strongly attached.

Find out more: https://laskerfoundation.org/winners/noninvasive-prenatal-testing-using-fetal-dna/

Here are his acceptance remarks:

“I was born and raised in Hong Kong. My father was a psychiatrist in the public sector. He often rehearsed his conference talks in front of me. This gave me an early exposure to what it was like to present one’s research to peers. I was always envious of my father for his travels to exotic destinations. A seed was thus planted in me for pursuing a scientific career one day.

My father also gave me his ancient rangefinder camera and allowed me to build a darkroom at home. Developing photographs in those days was basically a wet-lab experiment and this experience gave me another nudge towards being a scientist.

I decided to pursue my undergraduate education at Cambridge. The small-group supervision—or tutorial—system there gave me the opportunity to interact closely with scientists, and see first-hand how they plan experiments. I then moved to Oxford to pursue my clinical medical education, where I learned about the practice of prenatal diagnosis and how invasive methods such as amniocentesis were associated with risks to the fetus.

Since the 1960s, there have been efforts to develop non-invasive prenatal testing. One approach was based on the detection of fetal nucleated cells in maternal circulation. Many researchers, including myself, attempted to utilize such cells, but their low concentrations eluded their practical use.

Shortly before I moved back to Hong Kong in 1997, I came across two papers talking about the detection of cell-free tumor DNA in the circulation of cancer patients. I thought that a fetus growing inside a pregnant mother had some similarities to a tumor growing in a patient. So I decided to look for cell-free fetal DNA. Inspired by my experience of cooking instant noodles, I tried boiling plasma and serum, and used a few drops of the boiled material for PCR. Surprisingly, this crude preparation allowed me to detect circulating fetal Y chromosomal sequences.

My team and I then spent the next 10 years trying to use cell-free fetal DNA for prenatal testing. We tried many different approaches. Some were not sufficiently accurate or practical, but all taught us important lessons. Eventually, we developed a highly accurate method based on the use of massively parallel sequencing. Competition was intense but served to push us forward.

I am pleased that since its launch in 2011, non-invasive prenatal testing has become a standard of care. It has also stimulated a global interest in the diagnostic applications of plasma DNA, especially in the area of cancer liquid biopsies and transplantation monitoring. I look forward to seeing these and other yet to be developed applications improving healthcare worldwide."

Organised by the Hong Kong Lasallian Family, the Tercentenary Thanksgiving Mass for the completion of the earthly journey of our Holy Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle was held on 21st September 2019 at La Salle Primary School. Five Old Boy Priests, eleven Brothers, and stakeholders from all our eight Lasallian schools in Hong Kong attended the mass and thanked God for his continued blessings throughout the years.

All of our schools offered help in one way or another in the organisation and operation of the mass. There were eight readers, one from each of our schools, offering the readings. Apart from the usual offerings of bread and wine at the altar, the offerings included the student handbooks and the school ties from our students. These gifts represented our desire to continue being faithful to our rich heritage, together with our Catholic and Lasallian ethos.

HONG KONG - We Hong Kong Lasallians are truly blessed as we could be part of, not just one, but two Final Profession of Vows within a year since half a century ago. Following the Eucharistic celebration of Br Paolo in December last year, on 30 July 2022, Br Edmon Viroomal made the rite of his final vows.

With the live broadcast and the presence of Br Edmon's family, friends as well as Hong Kong Lasallians, we all shared this utmost precious milestone together. We are grateful for Br Edmon's commitment to the Lasallian Family. We are all looking forward to working with Br Edmon in association for the educational service of the poor and be more inspired to embrace our role in the ministry of teaching minds and touching hearts. (Text: Ms. Alice Lau - CSKPS Vice Principal; Photos: Jeffrey Or)

First time in HK after half a century

HONG KONG - December 8, 2021 is certainly one date the Hong Kong Lasallian family would never deign to forget as Br. Angelo Paolo “Br. Paul” Mata FSC had chosen it to be the day he said forever to the Brothers. For a sector that has not seen the rite of final vows of a De La Salle Brother in over fifty years, Br Paul’s profession in Hong Kong is, as one might say, precious.

Prior to the Eucharistic celebration, Br. Patrick Tierney reminisced about his rite of final vows in Hong Kong which took place in 1967. In the same sharing, he helped the attendees understand the meaning and impact of Br. Paul’s profession on the current state of the Brothers’ ministry in the country.

Though he was unable to make his profession in the Philippines, his homeland, due to travel and health restrictions, Br. Paul was grateful to have received so much support from Hong Kong Lasallians, who made the mass and the rite of final vows possible. The evening's Mass was presided by Fr. Jojo Ancheril CMF with Fr. Alan Wong SJ, Fr. Joseph Haw SJ and Fr. John Wang SJ concelebrating. The altar servers, Eric Wong and Dustin Li, were old boys from La Salle schools in HK. Ms. Edith Ng of De La Salle Secondary School made sure solemn music was in place by bringing with her the Charis choir. Present, too, was Br. Jeffrey Chan who served as commentator. Br Mikey Cua, Ms Maggie Lam of St Joseph's Primary School and Ms Amy Lo of St Joseph's College served as lectors. Mr. Raymond Chu of Chong Gene Hang College and Ms Wendy Wong of La Salle Primary School led the Prayers of the Faithful.

Working behind the scenes were dedicated HK Lasallians that comprised the technical team headed by Ms. Nikki Chan. Together with Dr. Timmy Lo of De La Salle School, she was in charge of the event’s social media live feed among others. The highlights of the event were documented by Mr. Mark Huang and Mr. Jeffrey Or, the main photographers of the program.

Aside from Br. Patrick, Brs. Dennis Magbanua and Tom Lavin were also present to perform customary yet significant roles in the program. In his shared reflection, Br. Dennis revealed how well he has known Br. Paul even before the latter joined the Brothers. His exhortation centered on how Br. Paul has always embodied the image of “Kuya” to the people he has met. He explained that the very word, which also appears in Br. Paul’s email “kuyapaulfsc@gmail.com”, aptly defined his passion for being an “older brother” to his students.

Br. Tom Lavin, on the other hand, formally accepted Br Paul’s vows on behalf of Br Armin Luistro FSC, LEAD Visitor.

Before Fr. Jojo said the final blessing of the Eucharistic celebration, Br. Paul was given the chance to share his response. “This journey has empowered me to share my voice and presence. The Brother’s life has allowed me to find fellow companions who, to me, may not be related by blood but have significantly become ‘family.’ Today I am chosen. Today I also lovingly and humbly choose the One who has chosen me. Today, this ‘yes’ leads me to a tomorrow I know not, but with a certainty that the One who called is already there,” said Br Paul. He ended his response with a prayer that he himself composed:

Dear God,
THANK YOU!
For the grace to find you and meet you in the many
faces, places,
For the truth of the here and now,
For the hope that tomorrow carries,
For the shadows that have been brought to light,
For the resilience to carry what continues to weigh medown,
For the courage to let go of what is no longer necessary,
For the smile in my heart,
For those and that which make my heart smile,
For the many “NOs” that have allowed me to preservethis “YES”
For the “yes” that has brought me to where I am today,
For the “yes” that is You in its beginning and its end...
Amen.

The on-site mass attendees were each handed a six- decade rosary as a token of thanks for witnessing the event.

Br. Angelo Paolo Mata FSC is a De La Salle Brother from the Philippines. His tour of ministry as a Brother includes teaching assignments in Iligan and Singapore, and now in Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Brothers, he had served in De La Salle Schools in the Philippines responding to the Lasallian mission in various capacities. In Hong Kong, Br. Paul is more commonly known as Br. Paolo. (Text by Br. Edmon Viroomal FSC, Photos by Mr. Jeffrey Or and Mr. Mark Huang)

For the first time in the history of our Hong Kong Lasallian Family, managers from our eight schools came together on the 19th September for a training programme. The programme was held in the Hall of La Salle College and there was a large turnout of about 90 participants.

The event was blessed by the Brothers and coordinated by St. Joseph’s Primary School. The chief presenter was Ms Asha Sharma, a partner in a very reputable law firm and herself a manager of St. Joseph’s Primary. Indeed, her family has been closely associated with us over the years, her father, Mr. KC Sharma, having been a long-standing teacher at St. Joseph’s College.

Ms Sharma gave a splendid overview of ‘School-Based Management Governance’, ‘Guiding principles of Handling Complaints’ and of ‘Case Studies.’ The roles and responsibilities of school managers were clearly outlined as well as the most important documents for reference.

Feedbacks from participants were very encouraging and it is hoped that the Hong Kong Lasallian Education Council will organize similar workshops for our school managers and administrators in the future.

Leadership. Sustainability. Vitality. On 9-11 January 2020, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, stood witness to these values from the Lasallian community as it became the venue of 3 simultaneous Pacific-Asia Regional Conference (PARC) meetings and a Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD) District Council meeting. 

48 Brothers and Partners from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Rome, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the meetings. 

Brother Visitors and Auxiliary Visitors from the PARC Region gathered for PARC46, which was presided by Br. Ricky Laguda FSC, PARC General Councillor.

Concurrently happening in another meeting room, the PARC Bursars met with Br. Martin Rocha FSC, General Bursar of the Institute.

The PARC Workshop on Pastoral Ministry on Youth and Lasallian Vocations took place in a 3rd meeting room. Brs. Rey Mejias FSC and Antonio Cubillas FSC facilitated the 3-day workshop with young Brothers and Lay Partners from all over the PARC Region.

On 11 January, more Brothers arrived to meet for the 33rd LEAD District Council. It was, through God's grace, a successful event – one that is certainly productive and optimistic.

HONG KONG – The String Orchestra and the Chinese Orchestra of La Salle Primary School (LSPS) have captured a Gold Award and a Silver Award respectively in the 2021 Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows. The String Ensemble performed the set piece named “Hungarian Dance No. 5” by Johannes Brahms and arranged by Merle J. Isaac. The Chinese Ensemble performed the piece of own choice named “塔塔爾民歌” arranged by Mr. Ng Chiu Shing.

Even in times of difficulty, the two teams continue to strive. In the past two years, the orchestras have been practicing virtually over Zoom, where students had to take turns playing for one another. This year, the competitions ran in a video submission mode due to the epidemic situation and the control measures in force. Following the guidelines by the Education Bureau, the orchestras were finally able to rehearse synchronously in person before the competitions. Despite all the challenges and limitations, the performances by the two ensembles were nevertheless praiseworthy. Students have shown remarkable perseverance and resilience throughout their music practices and performances under the epidemic, and they have once again proven that their enthusiasm for music is unbreakable. (Text & Photos: Ms. Chandni Rakesh - LSPS Principal)

HONG KONG - The Brothers of Hong Kong held their Assembly on 23rd December 2021. Brothers Armin, Visitor, and Br David Liao are members of the Sector and were able to attend via Zoom. We were also happy that Br Antonio joined us.

We kicked off with an inspirational address by Br Armin. Besides encouraging us in our various endeavours, he challenged us to think outside the box, not to be content with maintaining the status quo, to look towards the peripheries. He stressed that the Lasallian mission is expanding all the time and we can be part of it.

All attending Brothers then had their say. The latest arrivals shared their first impressions of Hong Kong and of their mission here. They are spread over a number of schools and thus have the opportunity of broadening their vision. The older heads much appreciated the advent of younger Brothers, a sign of hope for the future. All agreed there was much work to be done both inside and outside our schools.

Br David Liao brought us up to speed with developments in Malaysia and with his own mission views, while Br Antonio shared some views which give food for thought.

The Assembly forms part of our sector conversation as we prepare for our General Chapter in 2022 and District Chapter in 2023. We continue to have dreams and hopes, for the needs are great. (Text: Br. Patrick Tierney FSC; Photos : Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC)

HONG KONG - The Kick-off Ceremony on 10 September marked the official launch of activities and events to celebrate the 90th anniversary of La Salle College.

The ceremony was simple but solemn. Brother Thomas reminded the assembly about how the college was started by Brother Aimar 90 years ago, and how Brother Cassian took headship after the war.

Caleb Chung, the one who designed the 90th anniversary logo, was given recognition. It was followed by LSC IMC members giving the 90th anniversary pins to the student representatives. Mr Tong, the school principal, shared about the Lasallian spirit of Faith, Service and Community.

The ceremony ended when over 200 guests and students blew their party poppers at the same time! (La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

The LEAD District Council members met in Hong Kong on 11 January for the 33rd LEAD District Council (DC33) Meeting. This may be the shortest DC meeting, which only lasted for half a day.

The DC members didn't waste time and went straight to the first part of the meeting, which was the Chapter of Vows.

During the break, cakes were given to Brs. Felipe and Dennis, who celebrated their birthday on 7 January and 11 January, respectively.

Mr. Jay Gervasio, a member of the LEAD Executive Team and Chair of the Mission Council, gave a report on the LEAD Mission Council and alumni engagement. Other business matters were discussed and the meeting ended in record time.

HONG KONG - The youngest La Salle school in Hong Kong, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School, celebrates its Golden Jubilee this year.

Ms. Jenny Lam, one of CSKPS’ vice-principals, wrote an article on the 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Mass & Open Day. You may view it here: CSKPS 50th Anniversary Article

'CSKPS 50th Anniversary: Envisioning Beyond Legacy’ video provides a glimpse of the history and school life of CSKPS. View it here: CSKPS 50th Anniversary Video

Enhancing students’ self-directed learning skills and promoting reading across the curriculum through interesting self-study journey.

HONG KONG - Aerospace is always a hot and fascinating topic for students. Since the students of Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School love it, we launched a one-month self-study journey for P.1-P.6 students.

There were five stations in the self- study journey. At each of the stations, students were given different types of materials such as videos, websites, fact sheets and storybooks to support their learning. Students learnt according to their learning pace, goals and interests. For students to be successful in self-directed learning, they were encouraged to engage in self-reflection and self-evaluation of their learning goals and progress at the end of each week.

Let’s meet our Student Space Ambassadors. Our Space Ambassadors organized the Space Quiz activity for all their schoolmates. During recess, they asked their schoolmates questions about space and gave unique gifts to students who answered them correctly. The gifts were cards designed by one of the Space Ambassadors, Kan Wing Yu. (Text & Photos: Ms. Samdy Fong - CSKPS Teacher)

The Pacific Asia Regional Conference (PARC) convened a 3-day workshop on Pastoral Ministry on Youth and Lasallian Vocations held in The Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong last January 9-11, 2020. Participated in by representatives from Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, the workshop aimed at gathering the Pastoral Ministry of Vocations (PMV) leaders in the region to heighten awareness of the culture of vocations, be more involved in promoting Lasallian vocations, participate actively in identifying high potential candidates to the Brother’s life, and discover other forms of Lasallian communities that cultivate the Lasallian spirituality and charism.

The program included presentations and discussions on the state of Pastoral Ministry on Youth and Lasallian Vocations in the Institute level, dialogue of vocational experiences and PMV work, models of Pastoral Ministry and Lasallian Vocations, various ways in involving the youth in vocational discernment, use of social media in PMV, interaction with the Lasallian youth in Hong Kong, interaction with the visitors in the region, and strategic planning on PMV for the region.

As an output of the workshop, the PMV representatives in the region proposed to take actions on the following agenda: (1) common digital platform for collaboration in sharing PMV documents (photos, videos, and programs), international intentional community in the region, ministry for the poor volunteer program, and alignment of the existing Lasallian youth and partners’ gatherings in PARC like Asia Pacific Lasallian Youth Conference (APLYC) and Asia Pacific Lasallian Educators Conference (APLEC) with pastoral ministry of vocations.

The 3-day workshop was filled with dialogues and sharing of perspectives on the realities of the pastoral ministry in the region. The delegates ended the program with excitement for more collaboration and hopes for more vocations in the region.

HONG KONG – One central topic and over seventy representatives.

The number seems to speak for itself – Hong Kong is ready to address meaty topics regarding mission opportunities in the sector, notwithstanding the inconvenient pandemic situation.

Various representatives of the HK Lasallian family showed up in an online platform to take part in conceiving, planning, and rethinking the current and future state of the Lasallian mission in Hong Kong. Joining the spirited discussions were members of the Lasallian Education Council, alumni, youth volunteers, administrators, teachers, and students each taking with them their distinctive insights. The Brothers were also present and performed valuable duties during the two-hour assembly.

In order to bring all participants to the same plane of understanding and expectation, Br Dennis Magbanua FSC explained that the discussions that morning would mainly revolve around the strengths, the challenges, and the future of the Lasallian Educational Mission in Hong Kong.

The actual conversations didn’t start until after the short prayer service led my Br Paolo Mata FSC.

Br Patrick Tierney FSC’s report focused on the Acts of the second LEAD Assembly held in 2018. Stipulations in the said assembly includes (1) the promotion of shared mission within the district, (2) ways of inspiring young Lasallians, (3) engaging the HK Lasallian family more deeply, and (4) mobilizing HK resources for the benefit of LEAD.

The report proved to be ample to jumpstart the detailed discussions eventually enriched during the Breakout Sessions, which lasted for 45 minutes. Each breakout group consisted of about 8 members who were expected to share their thoughts and reflections on these two prompts:

1. How would you describe our existing Lasallian Educational Mission in Hong Kong in terms of its strengths and challenges?
2. What dreams do you have for the Lasallian Mission in Hong Kong, and what steps can be taken to achieve these dreams?

Having left the breakout rooms, the participants returned to the plenary to have quick exchanges on whatever transpired in their respective breakout discussions. Later on, Br Tom Lavin FSC had every one’s attention as he gave his synthesis of the entire sector conversation. Among the items that he capitalized on were (1) the importance of forging bonds and network between and among schools, (2) incorporation of the spirit of service in the formation programs of students and staff, and (3) sharing of resources in a more structured way.

When the assembly reached its end, new directions, new aspirations, and new hopes for the sector were included as intentions in the closing prayer which was led by Br Mikey Cua FSC.

Br. Jeffrey Chan FSC was the master of ceremonies. (Text & Photo: Br. Emong Viroomal FSC)

HONG KONG - A special Mass of thanksgiving commemorating the centenary of the establishment of the legal entity of the De La Salle Brothers in Hong Kong was held on the 6th November 2021 in the school chapel of St. Joseph’s College. A large gathering of the Hong Kong Lasallian Family attended.

Although the Brothers arrived in 1875, it took 46 years for them to become a separate legal entity. Up to that time, we were a Catholic Mission school, under the auspices of the Bishop.

As of 4th November 1921, the Brothers became a legal entity under the title ‘The Director in Hong Kong of St. Joseph’s College.’ In this way, we had to stand on our own feet as it were. It also indicated that the Brothers were fully committed to educational development in Hong Kong. The legal title was also given as a ‘Corporation Sole’ and our legal advisers assure us that today it is a rare and privileged status.

The man who brought this all about was none other than Brother Aimar Sauron, who played a significant role in the development o f Lasallian education in Hong Kong.

Brother Patrick has officially handed over the legal status to Brother Dennis Magbanua and we wish him well in his new role.

At the end of the Mass, there was a special ceremony awarding medallions of the Founder to three of the early members of the Hong Kong Lasallian Education Council (LEC). They are Mr. Nicholas Ng, Mr. Lester Huang and Mr. Chris Lau.

Finally, the celebrant priest, Father Carlos Cheung, had a pleasant surprise for his school day Primary Principal Mr. YC Yung. Since Father Carlos had just returned from Rome, he brought along a special blessing from the Pope to Mr. Yung and his family. (Text: Br. Pat Tierney FSC; Photo: Mr. Paul Tam)

On 14 April, Easter Tuesday, a small team of Brothers and Lasallian Volunteers visited the homeless in Sham Shui Po, an area in Hong Kong where a good number of poor people live. The group went there to give out masks and hygiene products.

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, prices of masks and hygiene products have escalated. The Hong Kong Lasallian Family Office was lucky enough to have received donations of these items from different parties. Thanks to the Brothers and Lasallian Volunteers for the repacking and distribution of these products within a short period of time.

Through the activity, the team was able to reach out to street cleaners and the homeless, most of whom have been suffering from social inequality for some time.

This is the time for us Lasallians to be the spark during these dark hours and be the change we want to see. (Text & Photos: Ms. Nikki Chan)

#1LaSalle #FaithServiceCommunity #StaySafe #MightyLasallian

Brother Visitor, Armin, wasted no time after the PARC and District Council meetings in January 2020. Straightaway, he embarked on the canonical visit to the two Brothers Communities in Hong Kong - St. Joseph’s College and La Salle College.

Personal Interviews of each Brother took time, followed by a general meeting of all the Brothers in the community. Br. Armin asked the community to reflect on the Brothers’ ministry of presence to the different La Salle schools. This opened up explorations on what it means to be a Brother in LEAD having a mission in a very secular society and discovering the God-encounter in this context.

The community was also reminded to keep in close contact with one another and have joint community gatherings regularly.

Moreover, now that Hong Kong has had some experience in welcoming new Brothers, perhaps an evaluation can be carried out with a view to possible improvements.

Brother Visitor also threw out a challenge, wondering if international Lasallian volunteerism can be promoted in Hong Kong. The possibility of creating an intentional and international community of Lasallians is well worth a try.

A fine buffet dinner at a nearby hotel rounded off the proceedings.

Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College (CSK) opened its doors to the general public for its 50th Anniversary Open Days on 7-8 December 2019 with the theme: Roots to secure our past, Wings to fly high in future. The De La Salle Brothers in Hong Kong attended the kick-off ceremony, followed by a campus tour. 

Various school clubs put up booths and exhibitions at the quadrangle that showcased their respective club activities. Some have interactive games with tons of freebies and prizes. Others offer arts and crafts located inside classrooms. The PTA handled food stalls. There were also variety shows like musical and drama performances. 
Introduction sessions for potential S1 students and their parents were also held to give them more information about CSK. Old Boys came back with their friends and family to reminisce and have mini-reunions with their batchmates and former teachers. 

All efforts paid off for definitely it was a weekend full of fun!

Br. Armin, Visitor of East Asia, took the opportunity of his visit to Hong Kong to call on Br. Lawrence Blake FSC in St. Theresa’s Hospital Kowloon where he is recovering from an accident in his motorised wheelchair. He was accompanied by Br. Tom and Br. Mikey. Br. Larry, who is now 89, is a member of La Salle College Community Kowloon and served on the staff of the school for a number of years. In his earlier years he taught at La Salle Secondary School Kota Kinabalu Sabah, and served as teacher and Principal in Chan Sui Ki College and Chong Gene Hang College Hong Kong. We look forward to Br. Lawrence being discharged in the near future and will keep him in our prayers. (Text: Br. Tom Lavin FSC)

HONG KONG - The Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination results have already been released and one student from La Salle College came out as a top scorer. Jason Cheung Yan Shek got 5** in seven subjects. What’s also interesting is that, at his young age, he has already written a textbook about organic chemistry that encompasses everything within the HKDSE syllabus as well as interesting facts and knowledge beyond the syllabus.

Congratulations, Jason! (Text & Photos: Mr. Joe Au Yeung, LSC Math & ICT Teacher)

Find out more:

https://tinyurl.com/topick01
https://tinyurl.com/topick02

HONG KONG - Our boys in the Student Leadership Enhancement Program underwent a once-in-a-lifetime experience on the Adventureship over a two-day camp. The camp not only enhanced their collaborative skills and problem solving skills, but toughened their hearts to conquer every ill! (La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

#lasallecollegeofficial #LaSalleSpirit #LSCSLEP

Let us welcome Br. Lourdhu Jude FSC from the Delegation of India. He is assigned in La Salle College, Kowloon, Hong Kong, where he will be teaching English and Math subjects. He is an athletic Brother, playing and coaching basketball, volleyball, football, and other sports.

Welcome, Br. Jude!

HONG KONG - The 2022/23 Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Football Tournament ended successfully on 10 March. The champion of this year's competition was won by St. Joseph's College (SJC) after winning on penalty kicks from the Diocesan Boys' School ( D B S ) . SJC regained the championship after a 24-year absence. Congratulations, St. Joseph's College! (St. Joseph's College Old Boys' Association, Hong Kong Official Facebook Page)

Click here to view the full article on sports.Now.Com

HONG KONG - The light of CSK! Lin Ming Fu, a student of Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) College, set a score of 7.89M in the long jump in the Hong Kong inter-school track and field competition, which not only broke the school record, but also broke through his personal best result, surpassing the record of 7.8M won by the champion of the Hong Kong men's long jump open group last Saturday. Congratulations, Ming Fu! Congratulations to the coach and Vong Sir! (CSK50 Official Facebook Page)

Find out more here: sportsroad.hk

HONGKONG - The College successfully broke the Guinness World Record for "The Largest Spherical Jigsaw Puzzle", as a finale of our 90th Anniversary celebration. We are looking forward to seeing another prosperous decade in the long history of La Salle College. (Text: 4G LU Runbo; La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

View a short video of the glorious moment on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaeVuWQJngQ

Here are some world records held by our schools in LEAD. Click on the images for more information. Photos courtesy of Guinness World Records.

Largest human image of a diamond La Salle Primary School (Hong Kong)

Largest umbrella mosaic formed by people De La Salle University - Dasmariñas (Philippines)

If you know any other world records held by any member of our LEAD Lasallian Family (individuals, groups, or institutions), please let us know by contacting sec_lead@lasalle.org . Thank you!

HONG KONG - Volunteers from the Lasallian Youth Movement, joined by Br Jude and Mr Peter Leung, contributed to the Food Angel community service in the morning of their holiday on 4 November 2022.

The volunteers prepared food and almost 2,000 lunch boxes for the underprivileged communities in Hong Kong. They have put the Lasallian Spirit of Faith, Service and Community into action. (La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

#faith #service #community #fsc #younglasallians #1lasalle #lsc

HONG KONG - As part of the yearlong celebrations of La Salle College’s (LSC) 90th Anniversary, the school launched the Aerospace Exhibition and Virtual Campus Tour during the Founder’s Day 2022. (Photos: La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

Click on the image to view a video of the Founder’s Day activity on YouTube.

Click on the image to experience the virtual campus tour.

Find out more about the LSC 90th Anniversary activities here: https://sites.google.com/lasalle.edu.hk/lsc90th/home?authuser=0

HONG KONG - In the spirit of Christmas, the Student Leadership Enhancement Programme of La Salle College conducted two outreach activities to benefit our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Toy Reborn 2021 (in partnership with HK YMCA & La Salle Primary School) gave a second chance to donated toys which put a smile on the faces of the underprivileged children. #lasallecollegeofficial #Service #Community #LaSalleCares #ToyReborn #LSPS #PassItOn (La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

Lasallians live up to the school motto again! Our boys rolled up their sleeves and prepared close to 3 tonnes of food for the communities in need, and they went home knowing their work will warm many families. #lasallecollegeofficial #Service #Community #LaSalleCares #FeedingHK #BrJude #BrMikey (La Salle College Official Facebook Page)

It was probably a first, setting a record. On Wednesday 17th June 2020, three teachers and one student of La Salle College, Kowloon, took part in the Rite of Acceptance for Baptism in the College Chapel of La Salle. The three teachers were Charlotte Chung, Martin Ma, and Timothy Szeto while the Form 1 boy was Alvin Kwok.

Normally, the Rite would be held in the parish church but the COVID-19 virus has changed things. The approval to hold the ceremony in the school chapel was given by Fr Gabriel Ortega, who was also the celebrant for the occasion.

Both Fr Gabriel and Br Thomas Lavin gave meaningful reflections about the journey that lies ahead. At the end, pictures were taken for the record. (Text: Br. Pat Tierney FSC; Photos: Mr. Francis Tse)

HONG KONG – ‘Go Faith!’ is a weekly extra- curricular activity in Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School (CSKPS) where a group of Primary 4-6 students learn about the Catholic faith and the Lasallian heritage. A big majority of the class are not Catholics, so most of the topics are new to them.

Aside from learning prayers and Bible stories, certain periods are dedicated to learning the Lasallian tradition and identity. Students are introduced to the life of the Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, as well as learning about the De La Salle Brothers, the Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD), and the 8 La Salle schools in Hong Kong. They carry out numerous activities, like playing an improvised board game with questions on the life of the Founder, matching pairs of school logos (also called Pelmanism game), and even crafting their own paper rabat*. They also learn that they are part of a worldwide network of Lasallian schools, present in 79 countries around the world.

It is hoped that through these activities, the students will learn to appreciate what it means to be a Lasallian. Each one of them plays a significant role in promoting the Lasallian mission, spreading the Lasallian values, and following the footsteps of St. John Baptist de La Salle. (Text & Photos: Br. Mikey Cua FSC)

*RABAT – Part of the official religious habit worn by Brothers together with the black or white robe. It looks like a white ‘bib’ which is similar to that worn by judges and barristers.

HONG KONG – In order to help students build a healthy, safe, and positive life, our school, Chan Sui Ki (La Salle) Primary School (CSKPS), joins the LEAP Programme every year. The LEAP Programme offers sequential, health based, age appropriate and interactive drug education programmes to students. Students enjoy learning the programmes with Harold the giraffe very much.

Besides the in-class programmes, our students also join the online learning programmes to further extend their learning. We are happy to see that our students are fully engaged in all the learning activities and get positive learning results. As a result of being one of the schools all over Hong Kong that had the most number of students participating in the program, all CSKPS students received a pedometer as a gift. (Text & Photos: Ms. Samdy Fong - CSKPS Teacher)

HONG KONG - As part of their Life Education Program, twenty-six Form 4 students visited St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Happy Valley on the 9th of November 2021 together with Br. Mikey Cua, Ms. Ivy Choy and Mr. KY Kiang. Three volunteer cemetery receptionists for the day - Joseph, Thomas, and Teresa – shared with the boys the history of the Cemetery, the life stories of some notable people buried there, and some personal experiences. The students were impressed when they visited the graves of the late De La Salle Brothers. After the short tour, they were then led to reflect upon the meaning of life. Br. Mikey led the closing prayer in the Cemetery Chapel to end the program. (Text & Photos: Mr. KY Kiang - CSKLSC RS Panel Head)

HONG KONG - The College is glad to announce that Chui Tsz Yeung Donald (4G, 2020-21) and his GRUEN Project groupmates from various countries have been awarded the "Heinrich-Boell-Stiftung Honorable Mention" prize. This awardrecognizes the outstandingperformance ofoneselect group from Cycle 2 of GRUEN. The participants would like to thank their Teacher Advisor, Miss Alsace Cheung, for her guidance and support.

Seven boys from Form 3 last year (2019-2020) joined the Green Urban Environment (GRUEN) Project which was held between mid-March and September. GRUEN is a project for secondary school students in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and Europe that has internationalisation at its heart. The Project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Programme of the European Union and organized by the Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong SAR.

Under GRUEN, students use a specially-designed online Moodle workshop to participate in asynchronous online discussions and share their perspectives, exchange ideas, and develop their concepts for a green urban environment while also familiarizing themselves with key sustainability principles and best practices of the EU under the 7th EAP.

The GRUEN website - https://gruencity.wordpress.com

(Text: La Salle College Official Website; Photos: Ms. Alsace Cheung)

HONG KONG - The 90th Anniversary Cross Harbour Swimming Gala was held this morning as part of the New World Harbour Race 2022. Seven Old Boys and 3 students braved the cold, early swim across the Harbour.

Br Thomas, Mr Ronnie Wong, Mr David Mong and Dr Jimmy Wong were granted the honour of firing the starting pistol for our heat.

#lasallecollegeofficial #LSC90A (La Salle College Official Facebook Page)