LEAD Story 442

Bagac, Bataan – A "Systems Thinking and System Dynamics" workshop was recently conducted for De La Salle Bataan teachers last June 5 & 6, 2025. The workshop was spearheaded by Mr. Marlon Pareja, Basic Education Principal at De La Salle Dasmariñas with assistance from the De La Salle Philippines. The two-day seminar emphasized the importance of a holistic perspective in addressing complex issues that concern the efficient management of available resources in the community.

Day 1: Laying the Foundation
●    Introduction to Systems Thinking: The presentation highlighted that "purpose without perspective can become narrow" and that systems thinking helps individuals "see how our purpose plays out within a larger web of relationships." A key question posed was, "What is the cause of the problem?" encouraging participants to look beyond immediate symptoms.
●    Problem Tree and System Dynamics: Participants were introduced to problem tree analysis, a tool that can help identify the root causes and the basics of system dynamics - a methodology for understanding how complex systems change over time.

Day 2: Goals, Priorities, and Practical Application
The second day focused on translating the participant’s insights into actionable goals in key priority areas. 

A powerful quote adapted from Peter Senge's "The Fifth Discipline" was highlighted: "The deepest change comes not from new policies or structures but from new ways of thinking—and leaders must go first by modeling the mindset they hope to see in others."

Towards Sustainable Resource Management
A significant outcome of the workshop was the formulation of a clear, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objective and goal centered on enhancing resource management.

This objective outlines a strategic step towards integrating systems thinking into daily operations at De La Salle Bataan, aiming for noticeable improvements in resource utilization and waste reduction. To help in the implementation of the output, quarterly monitoring will be conducted. This reflects the commitment to continuous improvement and accountability, demonstrating how a shift in mindset, as advocated by systems thinking, can lead to concrete, measurable results. 

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 27 (December 2010)

In the 1920’s, a number of young German Brothers were sent on the missions to the Far East, to Ceylon, Burma, Manila, Hong Kong, Penang and Singapore. Many were to meet their sad fate at the hands of the retreating Japanese forces in Manila in February 1945. But those who were fortunate enough to be elsewhere at the time continued to make a very solid contribution to the Lasallian world of education. Among them was Brother Hubert Pilz.

He was born on the 25th September 1906 at Bung in Saxony. He was never a robust young man probably because of the hardships endured during the First World War (1914-1918). The disturbed state of the country meant that many in Germany were starving. Brother Hubert once recalled how the only food he could get was a handful of straw taken from the haggard, boiled, and given to him for breakfast before he went to school.

It is unclear what prompted him to join the Brothers but he made his Novitiate in 1923 and Scholasticate in 1924. He was earmarked for the missions in the East and so was first sent to the Brothers’ Community in London to learn English and even did some teaching in the school. He learned fast. Despite his youth, he had no problems with class management. Indeed, if for some urgent reason, he had to absent himself from his class, the students would apply themselves to the work he had set, just as if he were with them.

At this early age he also showed signs of being attracted to the presence of God, a strong Lasallian trait. At Christmas and the great Feast-days of the Church he spared no pains in helping with the decoration of the chapel. He took delight in making the Christmas crib. He had a talent for craft and would make beautiful objects to adorn the chapel and statues of Our Lady.

In 1927 he was one of the first of the German groups to come out East. He was posted to Manila. He was a born teacher with a flair for organising, but never content to follow the stereo¬type approach. He constantly tried to construct some initiative, something new. In his short stay in Manila, 1927-1932, he made great personal impact on his pupils. Forty years after, they remembered him and on his visit at their invitation, he was presented with this plaque by his alumni.

His next tour of duty was in St Joseph’s College, Hong Kong, where he taught and was prefect of boarders from 1932 to 1937. It was an exciting time, with preparation for and celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the College. One Brother who was with him at the time recalls:

“He was a gifted organnist and on Sundays used to play in the Cathedral at High Mass and Benediction. He took great pains to make the Boarding Department distinctive. Most of the Boarders came from overseas: Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, Indone¬sia, Thailand, Indochina, and a few from Japan. The Boarding Department then was the main source of income. Teachers were not paid by the Government, but by the College, and outside the low school fees charged, the Government gave a small capita grant. St Joseph's Boarding Department soon became attractive to parents: famous for its games facilities, clubroom with billiard table, concerts, choir of young boarders, musical sketches, plays during the year. The Y.M.C.A. held an Annual Basketball Tournament and Brother Hubert raised a team which won several Championships over the years.”

Brother Henry Pang was a student in St Joseph’s at the time and wrote as follows: 
“As a young Brother, Brother Hubert was versatile, capable and possessed boundless energy. As a result he was given a number of jobs which would have taxed a saint with the power of bi-location. He was Prefect of Boarders, Supervisor of the Lower School, Community Bursar and Sports-master. In spite of the multiplicity and variety of activities occupying his attention, Brother Hubert's loyalty and love for the Institute never made him lose sight of priorities. He showed a deep interest in local vocations even in those far off days. He found time every week to gather a number of promising boys in the Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament to speak to them about vocations. 

I was fortunate enough to be one of those on whom he bestowed his attention in those days and I know at least of one other Brother who is in the Institute today and doing valuable work, who, after God, also owes his vocation to Brother Hubert.” The other Brother being referred to was Brother Anthony Cheung who responded as follows:

“Yes, Brother Henry, I am that one; and yes, under God and my father I owe my Lasallian vocation to good Brother Hubert.
It was in 1935 that I first became, with lots of boys my age, a great admirer of Brother Hubert. I am no sportsman, but it was Br Hubert’s basketballers, relay runners, tennis players, athletes that made me and others look up to Br Hubert, as well as his reputation as a Science Master and his job as Prefect of Boarders. I still remember how Br Matthias then Director of St Joseph’s College, Hong Kong, and he and the winning inter-school relay teams would come round the classes; and amid loud applause from us the lower forms kids, our heroes poured orange crush into the large trophy cup and would share the drink in our presence. Also the motorcade honking all the way from Caroline Hill along Queen’s Road East and up Garden Road to celebrate yet another Interschool victory! Br Matthias and Br Hubert made us love the School so! And so with Br Henry and other Catholic pupils we trooped into the Chapel or to the Science room to hear our great Brother talk of winning races for God! And some of us were ‘caught’! And we went to La Salle Juniorate! Thanks Be To God!”

Brother Felix Sheehan also recalled those far off days:

“I first enjoyed the company of Brother Hubert for about six months in 1937 before he left for the Second Novitiate. I had just come to Hong Kong and was very impressed by Brother Hubert both as a religious and a teacher. Held in high regard by his Superiors he performed with great efficiency the functions of Prefect of Boarders, Senior Science Master, Sports-master and Organist. Highly esteemed by Brothers, teachers, pupils and the public, he tempered the qualities of discipline and efficiency with humour and kindness. Towards us younger Brothers with whom he was charged, on rest days, to the Country House at Castle Peak, he showed great generosity and understanding.” 

In 1937 he was selected to do the Second Novitiate at Lembecq, Belgium, a sign that the Superiors thought highly of him and that he was expected to make a major contribution to the Lasallian mission.  On its completion he was posted to Rangoon and he was to spend the next 28 years in Burma as teacher and Director of Lasallian schools in Rangoon, Mandalay and Maymyo. St Paul’s High School, Rangoon, was the largest Lasallian school in the world at the time, catering to about 5,000 pupils.
One of his students, who was later to become Brother James, remembers:
“It was in 1947 that I first met Brother Hubert. He was then the Director of St Paul’s Rangoon. He was very kind and charitable to poor boys. It was because of his encouragement that I am a Brother today. I can never forget the advice he gave me as a boy. ‘You want to be a Brother some day? Say your prayers well daily and go to the sacraments as often as you can.’ ”

Brother Austin De Lemos takes up the story:

“It was in December 1950 that I first met Brother Hubert. He was then the Director of St Paul’s High School, Rangoon, Burma. He received me with open arms, a warm heart and a gracious, welcoming smile. That impression remained with me, and grew during the thirteen years that I was in Burma.

Brother Hubert’s community was a happy and well-integrated one. He not only directed his community, he led his Brothers. He was a kind, understanding and generous Director. One of his aims seemed to be to make community life happy. He was Director of St Paul’s for many years; but he also was the Director of St Peter’s High School, Mandalay, and of St Albert’s High School, Maymyo; and in each of these he directed and led a happy community. Before taking over the reins at St Albert’s he was granted home leave. He had not seen his homeland for all of eighteen years.

Brother Hubert was a very efficient Director of a school. As administrator, disciplinarian, schoolman, and science teacher, he was quite up to the mark. Teachers and pupils knew well that what he wanted of them was application to their respective duties. His kindness and understanding were, generally, not taken advantage of; and, when it was necessary to do so, he did not hesitate to call the offending parties to order. Under his direction, progress in academics, sports and the school’s moral tone were maintained and heightened.”

In April 1965, during the long vacation, like a bolt from the blue, came the news that all the schools had been taken over by the Government. Some eight or ten months before this, all the Irish and English Brothers were told to leave Burma. This, surely, was a hint of what was yet to come; but, in the meantime, things continued to function normally, with only an occasional faint rumour of nationalisation. When the ‘Big Grab’ did occur and the Brothers lost their school buildings, furniture, books, science laboratories, music and band apparatus and practically all the money in hand, the shock was considerable and painful.” It was with a heavy heart that Brother Hubert had to say farewell to the land and the people he loved. The parting, in 1965, seemed like the end of the road.

His old stomping ground, Hong Kong, came to the rescue and received him warmly. In 1966 he was assigned to De La Salle Secondary School in the New Territories, a school close to the border with mainland China and which had just opened its doors the year before. Here he would spend 13 years as teacher, Director and school Supervisor. 

As usual he endeared himself to both staff and students. One endearing trait as Supervisor was to announce occasional half days out of the blue. It soon became apparent that these half days tended to be on Fridays. Brother Hubert would then retire to the Brother’s house, enjoy a whiskey before lunch, followed by siesta. The staff and students did not object in the least! As Brother Felix remarked, ‘he made life happy by his wit, and droll humour and many a prank.’

All his life Brother Hubert had never shirked work. After his so-called ‘retirement’ he was still doing a tremendous full day job in Fanling, teaching Chemistry and Music. He also took care of the catering and keeping the accounts of the Community. So it must have caused him some stress when he found his general health deteriorating. He had no physical infirmity or pain but became a bit slow on the legs. He could hobble around on a stick and tried to remain his normal, cheerful self. 

In May, 1979, he was relieved of his duties and responsibilities in Fanling and, together with Brother Paul O’Connell, took up residence in the new La Salle College Community, Kowloon. With up-to-date accommodation, Chapel, Refectory, Lounge, and Library, all on the flat, he was very happy. 

His months of retirement were pleasant. He could amble around without difficulty with a walking stick. God was good, his eyesight was not impaired, and he could watch T.V. and read. He had a mixed batch of books on his desk: “The Wise Men from the West”, “The Honourable School Boy”, “Live Your Vocation”. He had a word and a smile for all and was determined to cause the least amount of trouble.

He had no severe pain, was never in bed sick, and was up every morning faithfully for the Chapel exercises at 5:45 a.m.  Six days before his actual death, he did not appear in the Chapel for morning-prayer. Brother Director paid him a visit and was a bit alarmed. Brother Hubert seemed to have a heavy flu with heavy breathing. The doctor was called and he diagnosed heart trouble. He was placed in the intensive care ward in St Teresa’s Hospital.  The chest condition quickly cleared up and the doctor thought his condition had so much improved that he could go to the ordinary ward. A doctor visited him very early in the morning on 4th March and found him much improved, but at 9:25 a.m. the heart stopped beating. His death was peaceful but its suddenness came as a shock to the Community.

“I was very much surprised at the turn-out at the graveside,” wrote Brother Michael Curtin. “He had no connection with La Salle College, never taught here. Old Boys, teachers, pupils did not know him. Even his connections with St. Joseph’s was way back in 1932, forty-eighty years ago. But the cemetery in Happy Valley was crowded with priests, nuns, the elderly, old-timers, Burmese doctors, business men and of course, pupils and staff from De La Salle, Fanling.” 

Brother Hubert was a very sincere man, a man of very solid religious conviction. Though not very talkative he was very genial; he would listen to your jokes and laugh, and remember amusing incidents of by-gone days in Hong Kong, the Philippines and Burma. Always a charitable man, he never gossiped. He was a mature man, never grouchy or over-sensitive, or sorry for himself. He believed in Community life and the sharing of kindness. For all these reasons, he was a much-loved figure in the Brothers’ Communities.

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 26 (October 2010)

"I was born in Burren on 8th September 1908, where my mother was Principal of the village school", wrote Brother Lawrence."My father worked in Lavelle's bakery, Main Street, Castlebar, and he used to cycle there and back to Burren daily. When my mother died, my father took a house, No. 5 Chapel Street, Castlebar, and so my father took us to town, and my grand¬father, Tom McGreevy, took over Burren school."

Lawrence Kelly's father was also called Lawrence and his mother was Catherine McGreevy. He had two brothers, Tomás and Aodh and two sisters, Dolly and Kitty. “The family environment was very musical and intensely patriotic", writes his brother, Tomás. "Father played the violin and Mother the piano. Young Lawrence was an outstanding singer, and his solo singing as a boy at Masses and concerts left a very memorable impression”. 

The child does what he sees, and having gone to school to the Brothers in Castlebar, County Mayo, and having liked what he saw of them, young Kelly decided to join them. This is how he himself puts it: “The Head Brother in my young days was Brother Joseph Teehan and, as I used to spend a lot of my time in the Brothers’ garden and grounds, we became great friends. On the 28th August 1913 I was taken to school and, my English not being so good as I spoke mostly Irish at home, I was put in low infants. Our teacher was Brother Senanus who was a great favourite with all of us, a fine musician. He was replaced by Brother Francis when I graduated to high infants. I have also very happy memories of him. 

During this time I met Brother Philemon and told him that I would like to become a Brother. Being a specialist on vocations he gave me all the facts and I decided to go. I left Castlebar on 24th June 1924 and set out for Castletown, Co Laois.

He spent one year, 1924-25, in the Juniorate in Castletown and entered the Novitiate the following year where he was given the name Brother Raphael. Later in life he reverted to his family name and became known as Brother Lawrence. On completion of his year’s novitiate he pronounced his First Vows and proceeded to Kilmacow Scholasticate where in 1928 he qualified for entry to De La Salle Training College. In 1930 he graduated as a qualified teacher. He was posted to a small town called Hospital, Co. Limerick, in 1930 and spent five happy years there.
Then in 1935 he received an obedience to go to South Africa, to East London, a harbour town on the South Coast.

During Brother Lawrence’s seventeen years in South Africa he filled the following positions:

De La Salle, East London ………….    ……Jan.’36 - Dec.’37.    Teaching.
St Joseph’s, King William’s Town ……....    Jan ’38 - Dec.’39.    Teaching, 
St Anthony’s, East London ………………    Jan ’40 - Dec.’ 43.    Teaching, 
St Anthony’s, East London ………………    Jan ’44 - Dec.’46.    Principal. 
St Joseph’s, King William’s Town …….    Jan ’47 - Dec.’49.    Director. 
St Anthony’s, East London ………………    Jan ’50 - Dec.’53.    Principal. 

His arrival in South Africa was over¬shadowed a few days later by the tragic drowning of Brother Calixtus, as Brother Adrian Farrell explains:

"Brother Lawrence arrived in East London on December 21st 1935. On January 24th Br Lawrence, Br Calixtus and Father Erasme, O.M.I., went for a swim to a beach west of East London called Hickman’s River. While swimming Br Calixtus was washed out to sea and was drowned. His body was recovered shortly afterwards but all efforts to revive him were in vain. He was buried in the cemetery in East London.

"Brother Lawrence was transferred to King Williamstown on the 1st of April 1937 and taught there until 1939. On January 27th of that year the Parish school, St Anthony’s, was taken over by the Brothers. Br Boniface was Principal and Brother Lawrence was on the Staff.

"In 1944, he was made Principal and he held this post until 1954. During his time as Principal he was respon¬sible for the building of a new and modern St Anthony's. He was an excellent Principal and was very well liked by pupils and parents alike. He was an excellent coach both of soccer and cricket and won many cups and trophies during his stay in St Anthony’s. As a confrere he was always pleasant, chatty and always in good humour. He had a great sense of community and was noted for telling the most out¬landish yarns!"

"He was my Director in Kingwilliamstown in 1947", writes Brother Kilian Quinn. "He showed great organisational skill, refereeing soccer or umpiring cricket. He was an extraordinarily entertaining community man and an enchanting singer with a voice that could outshine the song-birds. He played a fine game of tennis and cricket."

Brother James Dinneen had been a companion of Brother Lawrence in formation and they soldiered together again in South Africa. "I have known Brother Lawrence almost all my life. He was a fine singer and an excellent game ball-player; he was also a good companion in any undertaking and in community. He could talk on any or all the people we both knew, and their idiosyncrasies and humorous ways and sayings. Brother Lawrence was also a serious religious Brother. I worked on his staff for some time in St Anthony's Primary School, East London. I always found him fair and just in all matters of school-work and conduct. He was never slack at Community prayers or exercises. He had a good sense of humour and he could make a joke and carry off a situation with aplomb. He was never bitter and always appreciated others. God rest his happy soul!"

Brother Lawrence was recalled to Ireland in 1954 and after a few months in Kildare he was posted to the Training College in Waterford. As well as teaching the trainee Brothers, he also taught geography and mathematics to the secondary pupils. Brother Gabriel White knew him when he was a young student in Waterford. “I can still see him out in front of the College mowing the lawns and clipping hedges. He was a good worker and took pride in his work. He always had a smile for and a chat with the young Brothers. He was popular with us all."

From South Africa, the next step was Hong Kong. "Brother Lawrence arrived in Hong Kong for the opening of the school year in September, 1958", writes Brother Peter Phelan. He was assigned to teach in St Joseph’s College. He was then 50 years old and this was his introduction to life in the Far East. He was teach¬ing mainly in Fourth Year Secondary classes.

He was a very competent and conscientious teacher and took great interest in his students. After a couple of weeks one of his non-Christian students approached him in private and said, 'Brother, please call me PETER'. It seems that Brother Lawrence’s pronunciation of the boy's full Chinese name was a source of embarrassment to some and amusement to others. It is to Brother Lawrence’s credit that he was very humane and kind in rectifying the matter, and ever afterwards he had a special regard for the embarrassed student.”

"When Brother Lawrence came into our lives in St Joseph's College, in the 60s", writes Brother Patrick Tierney, "he appeared like a genial genie. Puckish and spritely, belying his age, he glided around the school community dispensing his own inimitable form of benedict¬ions. He held his classes in thrall and well we knew how. For many a time he held us Brothers under his spell too, as he wove and spun yarns galore. Daredevil exploits, hair-raising stories and exotic constructions were his raw material. When some of us sought sometimes to separate fact from fiction, we were left so entranced at Lawrence’s astute sidestepping that we ended up either laughing or dumbfounded. Lawrence was a character and as such he was an adornment in Community, often lightening a dull day with a touch of humour and a twinkle in the eye.”

"Once settled in", writes Brother Meldan Treanor, "we found him to be a very happy addition to the Community and he was a very popular Brother with one and all. He wasn’t too happy at first in the higher classes so Brother Brendan Dunne, Director and Headmaster, gave him a lower class where he was a great success and very well liked by the pupils and the parents.

I say Brother Lawrence was a very happy addition to the Community as he was always in good humour and had a fund of stories, jokes and incidents, some true, some probably true, but most in the realm of the purest fiction. One for instance was about how he drove a tank from Capetown to Cairo, the time the allied armies there were in dire straits. When asked how he managed to cross the big rivers he said they were all dried up, as it hadn’t rained for months! Another yarn was that mosquitoes never bit him and he never used a mosquito net over his bed in Hong Kong. The little lizards on the wall always came to his help when mosquitoes were about to attack him and gobbled them up! This was told in Castletown during his retirement there. No Brother used a mosquito net in Hong Kong! Everyone learnt to accept these stories without contradiction for to contradict him was to spoil the fun and maybe curtail future stories re¬quiring a greater degree of pretended acceptance.

Before he left Hong Kong he organised a farewell outing for his class in St Joseph’s and I was invited to the picnic in the lovely village of Shatin in the New Territories. He and I led the boys across the Kowloon range of mountains and down the northern slopes to Shatin, a most pleasant walk on a cool, windy and sunny day. When we arrived in the village we found that many of the parents had also arrived there by car, bus and train! A real gathering of the clans! Even some Grannies made the journey. Lawrence did not arrange this for he was as much surprised as I was and delighted that the boys themselves had arranged it. I took a different route near the end to see some plants I admired and when I arrived in the village there was Lawrence in the midst of a group of happy parents with a good tumbler of scotch in his hand! This is an example of how the boys liked Lawrence and of how the parents were so pleased to see him, thank him and bid him farewell."

In the New Year of 1965 Brother Lawrence was transferred to Sabah, Malaysia. Brother Peter Phelan writes: "He began as a teacher in La Salle Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu, in January, 1965. Later that year, in Sept-ember, he was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart Primary School, This did not involve a change of community but now he had to commute a few miles to school each day. Again he showed great dedication in this post. He read widely and was particularly well-versed in all forms of sports."

"He was a good community man", writes Brother Charles O’ Leary, "always willing to lend a hand and to liven up the conver¬sation whether at meals or when we sat down for a game of bridge or some social occasion. He was noted for his ‘tall stories’ and everybody enjoyed them and looked forward to what might be his next concoction. He told these stories with such verve that he himself seemed to believe in every word of them. Once he told of how he played golf in the snow on Kilimanjaro and when some sceptic asked how he could see the ball, he quickly replied without batting an eyelid, ‘I used a black golf ball, of course'. You could never catch him out or embarrass him as he told those stories, so quick and imaginative was he.

Tall stories aside, Brother Lawrence had another side to him. He was a good teacher and administrator and he was much loved by the teachers and pupils of the Primary School. He had a way with young children and, no doubt, his gift at story-telling was part of his success with them. He could come down to their level and go on picnics and outings with them.

Rarely did he miss morning Mass or a chapel exercise. He could be happy alone, reading a book, and yet, on social occasions, such as a feast day, he could be most entertaining. On a few rare occasions, he would dress up and give a rendering of the 'Zulu Warrior' in highly dramatic fashion. His stay in Sabah was short but long enough for him to make an impact on the people he served."

One of his former students, Mr John Tham Kun Hin, pays him this special tribute: "The one single person who had the greatest impact upon my life as a youth was Brother Lawrence who was my principal in Sacred Heart for the year 1965 and 1966 as well as my maths teacher.

I completed my primary Chinese education in 1963 and was admitted into Sacred Heart in 1964. In the Chinese School I was branded as naughty, mischievous and a trouble-maker. I had very poor self-esteem. In Sacred Heart, Brother Lawrence saw the beauty in me. He was most kind and under¬standing. He restored to me my sense of self-worth. He made me feel important and lovable. He gave me responsib¬ilities and he helped me to discover my talents. Brother Lawrence was like a real father to me. His arithmetic lessons were interesting and stimulating. I loved and adored him as my principal, my teacher and above all my educator. To a large extent he is responsible for what I am today."

"In the latter part of 1967", says Brother Peter, "he suffered from angina pectoris. It was decided that a return to Hong Kong would be good for him; better medical attention would be available and it would not be necessary to commute to school."

"Brother Lawrence returned to Hong Kong from Borneo where he had suffered a mild heart attack", writes Brother James Dooley. "But he was not a man to rest for long and soon he was Form Master of a Third Year class, a class made up mainly of overseas students whose parents were on tours of duty in Hong Kong. The boys whose studies were often disrupted could sometimes be difficult to manage, but not for Brother Lawrence. He had great class control, taught his well- prepared lessons with zest and spirit and held his students spellbound when, on a weary Friday evening, he relaxed a bit and devoted the last period to story-telling.

His next assignment was as Principal of St Joseph’s Primary School. His concern for his pupils, his appreciation of the staff and his ways with parents all contributed to the good name the school enjoyed locally. He had to step down as Principal in June 1971 because of failing health and he was replaced by Brother Gilbert Perrier. In July he was strong enough to go on home leave and he sailed away in a hail of glory buoyed up by the excellent results in St Joseph’s Primary School, a lovely parting gift.

I cannot recall ever having seen Brother Lawrence angry or in a bad mood. He was a most cheerful, helpful and supportive community member. He was actively loyal and intensely proud of the Institute, school and community. He was a successful teacher, and a man of strong relig¬ious convictions. He attained the 'eighty for those who are strong’ - long years well spent in the service of God and of youth.

His favourite China-based story dealt with the time the Red Guards shanghaied him during the Cultural Revolution. It was his Irish passport and his earlier invol¬vement in the Irish People’s struggle against Imperialist running dogs that saved his life!" And then they rolled out the green carpet…

"When he reached retirement age", continues Brother Meldan, "he thought he could settle down in St Joseph’s doing odd jobs around the place, one of which was making and repairing rosaries. Soon, however, he tired of generally inactive life and could spend hours leaning out of the window of his room, five or six stories up, looking down over the harbour to far-off Kowloon City and down Kennedy Road to the area where the primary school was situated. The desire to return home became more intense as this type of existence could not go on forever. We were all sad when he packed his bags and returned to Ireland."

"My fifteen years in the Far East were very happy and I was very sorry to leave, when, having reached retiring age, I decided to return to Ireland in 1973", he wrote. A few days before his departure he gave an interview to some of his former students in St Joseph’s. His parting advice was: “Be loyal to your family, your school, your country, your friends. But most of all, be loyal to your religion. That’s one of the anchors of your life.” He admitted he very much regretted leaving Hong Kong. “But I want to spend the twilight of my life among my own people.”

He was first assigned to the Irish speaking school at Ballyvourney, Co Cork before being transferred to Raheny, Dublin, in 1974.

"He wasn’t here long enough to make any history", writes Brother Canice Kearney, "but, if always being in good form, showing a ready smile and being ever helpful mean anything, well then, I consider he was super. I found him a wonderful community-man and I will never forget his kindness. He told tall tales by the score but we all knew that he knew we were not being fooled. He loved to be called on to supervise classes for absent teachers and the lads drank in and swallowed all his stories to the last letter. Many a lad asked me if it was really true that Br Lawrence had driven a tank from the Cape to Cairo during the war!

Yes, he was a prayerful man too, who carried out without ostentation all his religious exercises conscient¬iously. He was very much missed both in school and in Community when he was transferred to Ballaghaderreen."

In 1975 Brother Lawrence, who had laboured in so many far-flung places, found himself in retirement in his native West of Ireland.

Mrs Rosemary Gallagher, Principal of the Boys' Primary School, Ballaghaderreen, writes: "In my memory he was always there, and we seemed to be working together in extra-curricular activities with the boys. He supervised in the yard for the eleven o'clock break and at lunch time. He in-spired unremitting affection in the boys and indeed even now I often think of him as I stand in the yard where he observed their games, and arbit¬rated in their altercations. For me Brother Lawrence fitted no narrow slot of what I imagined a 'Brother should be. He loved his prayers, his garden, the boys, his visits to the family farm, being useful and seeing the fruit of his labours, be it boys playing happily after a row he had settled or producing a basket of garden fresh vegetables for his many friends."

Brothers who attended the De La Salle pilgrimages to Knock in the early 1980s will recall how the various centres were ranked in the procession according to the alphabet. 'Balla’ led the way with its school band; but leading 'Balla', in robe and mantle, was Lawrence, a picture of dignity and devotion.

"I had the pleasure of living with Brother Lawrence for one year in Ballaghaderreen", writes Brother Dermot McLoughlin, and during that short time I found him to be a man of many parts. Essentially he was a truly religious man and he took his spiritual exercises seriously especially when he was on his own, as he was for most of the day, being retired. He was a simple-minded man who delighted in cowboy stories, especially on T.V., and he had no time for programmes which portrayed any form of loose morality.”

"I lived with Brother Lawrence for a year, the last year the Brothers were in Ballaghaderreen", writes Brother Ferdinand Lynch. He loved the simple things of life and his lively imagination often enlarged them into enthralling and en¬trancing experiences. Zane Grey was one of his favourite authors, but any book dealing with the Wild West was welcome, and he whiled away many a happy hour among the cowboys, rustlers or Indians.

He kept in close touch with his family and their mutual visits afforded him much pleasure and was often the topic of his conversation. He was interested not only in their temporal welfare but also in the quality of their lives and their faithfulness to all their religious duties. He was proud and happy to belong to a close-knit family”.

"Brother Lawrence retired to Castletown in August 1985", continues Brother Meldan Treanor. "I had arrived there on June 29th and was feeling a bit down and out and lonely. Lawrence’s arrival cheered me up to no end and we continued to be good friends till he died. He was always in good humour and full of jokes and stories of different kinds - ones I had not heard in Hong Kong. On one occasion he sang the ZULU WARRIOR and that was the last occasion. This had been his favourite song in Hong Kong and when there was occasion for any comm¬unity celebration there was a loud demand for the ZULU WARRIOR.” 

"I have nothing but the happiest memories of him", writes Brother Albert Tierney. "He was an ideal community man. He had a marvellous sense of humour, narrating numerous anecdotes which at times could reach epic proportions. Far¬fetched though some of the stories might be, they brightened up the atmosphere at get-togethers, at meals or round the fire of a winter’s night.

He was always in good form even when his health came against him in the latter years. He appreciated the smallest favour, whether it was taking time off to visit him in his room, or even such a simple thing as giving him his favourite bar of chocolate. You felt good after visiting him; he could never let you go without cracking a joke or relating a funny incident. Even though he was childlike and gentle in his manner, when it came to certain principles which he cherished or considered important, he would display a lot of courage in arguing and upholding his viewpoint.

He prayed a lot without making any display. Sticking to what is of faith he was, one could say, a faithful ad¬herent of the ‘old’ religion. He was most faithful to his daily religious exercises, but you would often find him also in the prayer room, deep in his personal prayer, whether it was saying the Rosary or making the Stations of the Cross. He had a great devotion to the latter.

He had a great devotion to the Mass and it was a sad day for him when, due to the deterioration of his health, he couldn't make the parish Mass. Once he realised he couldn’t attend Mass, then, even though he loved the Holy Family Community, he asked to be changed to Miguel House, where Mass would be available daily for whatever time the Lord had still left for him."

"I visited Brother Lawrence many times in Miguel House", says Brother Meldan, "but when he grew weaker and older and en¬tered more into himself, he did not like long visits or too much talk. He wanted to be left alone and he prayed a lot and spent long visits in the Oratory. Despite all his disabilities, towards the end he was generally happy, content, full of faith and never gave way to depression. He was a good and faithful Brother and did good work in Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong and Borneo."

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 25 (September 2010)

Francis Gaughran, later called Brother Fridolin, was a small man with a big personality. He was born on the 15th of November 1915 in Trim, on the plains of County Meath, Ireland and was always to hold a special affection for the County of his birth, the ancient seat of the high kings of Ireland. He was one of a family of seven children. They were brought up to love and serve God according to Catholic teaching. He received his early education at the local Primary school. In 1930, he joined the Juniorate of the De La Salle Brothers in Castletown, County Laois. He entered the No¬vitiate the following year and took the Holy Habit and was given the name Brother Fridolin of Jesus. A further year of studies followed the Novitiate before he was selected to complete his studies at Inglewood in England. A companion at the time records that Brother Fridolin was quiet, steady and sincere, and not given to fanfare. 

It was in the lovely surrounds of Inglewood that he felt called to volunteer to serve in the East. Before departure, he was allowed a short holiday home which he much appreciated. As the holiday was nearing its end, however, and Brother Fridolin was visiting relatives and friends, tragedy struck. He saw a crowd on the banks of the River Boyne and went over to see what was happening. Alas, the body of his younger sister was being taken from the river. She had fallen in accidentally. Brother Fridolin attended the Requiem Mass and burial service and had to leave for the East the next day. He carried this tragic loss in his memory all through his life, mentioning it only very occasionally.

He sailed for the East towards the end of 1934 and was not yet 19 years old when he began his missionary career in the classroom starting in St Patrick’s School, Singapore and then in turn St John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur, St Xavier’s Institution, Penang and St Joseph’s Institution, Singapore. From the start he was a fine teacher, capable and conscientious. Though short in stature, he never faced discipline problems, even with the oldest or slowest students. Indeed, he was quite opposed to any form of corporal punishment. A former student wrote: 

“He always wore a smile on his face and had a quick wit and a pleasant sense of humour. He never failed to give a word of encouragement to the needy, irrespective of race or creed.”

One aspect of his personality soon became evident, a passion for cleanliness, neatness and order. As one Brother put it, he was “the trim wee Brother from Trim”. Everything had to be in its proper place. His bedroom was spick and span. He carried this passion for neatness and order into the classroom.

It was during these early years, while serving at St Xavier’s, Penang, that Brother Fridolin took his first lessons in playing the violin. With practice he became quite proficient and playing a few tunes became a regular part of his afternoon routine. He joined the school orchestra and had weekly orchestral practice. Performances were given on Prize-giving and Speech days and Concert nights at which he played with great finesse and enjoyment. He also loved a singsong and particularly appreciated some of the old Irish rebel songs. His own favourite was “A Nation Once Again”.

Brothers, young and not so young, are not exempt from occasionally joking or teasing. Brother Fridolin’s 5’2’’ stature was the butt of many jokes which he took with good grace. Questions like “Do I hear a voice?” or “Where is he?” would be aimed in his general direction. Or when playing games he might be advised to keep a “low profile”. Whatever he lacked in height he more than made up for in spirit and determination and would fight his corner to the last.

The sudden onset of the War brought an end to those happy and relatively carefree days. Brother Fridolin was in St Joseph’s, Singapore, at the time. He survived the initial deadly Japanese bombardments and, when things settled down somewhat, was allowed to teach in a government school but the learning and teaching had to be in Japanese. His main task was teaching Japanese songs to the accompaniment of his violin. When the chance of escaping the watchful eyes of the Japanese came, Brother Fridolin, together with a large number of other Brothers, the Bishop and some Catholics, headed for the jungles of Malaya. The Japanese authorities had led them to believe that everything was in order for occupation and settlement. The reverse was the case.

In a place called Bahau, some miles from the town of Seremban, the settlers had to start their jungle occupation almost from scratch. Duties were assigned and Brother Fridolin was first assigned to kitchen work, washing and drying dishes. Later he was to take charge of livestock but only managed to purchase a few skinny goats from the local farmers. The worst scourge of jungle life was contracting the dreaded malaria disease. Brother Fridolin succumbed to a serious attack but fortunately recovered before the War ended in September 1945.

As soon as peace was declared the Brothers returned to Singapore and home leave was arranged in turn. Brother Fridolin’s turn came towards the end of 1946 when he was told to take a holiday home followed by a degree course in University College Dublin. It had been 12 years since he last saw his family and there was much rejoicing. His degree course finished in 1950 and in November he was setting sail once again for the East. He was posted to St Xavier’s, Penang.

Just over three years later he was given a much tougher assignment. He was to be Director and Principal of a school called Sacred Heart in Sibu, Sarawak, East Malaysia. He had to start a new Community of Brothers, take over the running of both the primary and secondary school and find means of paying the staff, a daunting task. He set to work assisted by Brothers Austin Moylan and Justin Phelan and later Brother Columba Gleeson. Conditions were pretty primitive, the school consisting of three wooden shacks and the Brother’s house a wooden hut. Yet when Brother Fridolin left Sibu ten years later, the old wooden shacks had given way to a sturdy two-storey concrete school, complete with large hall and modern science laboratories and the Brothers were housed in a fine new community building. The secret of this success was Brother Fridolin himself. The people grew to love him and his straightforward and gentle ways. They were happy to help him in every possible way. Brother Columba Gleeson, who lived with him at the time, says it well: 

“He was a great religious, strict, almost scrupulous, in ways; a man of simple faith and deep commitment. But he was also deeply human, a man of great kindness and gentleness. I never remember him punishing a pupil physically; it wasn’t necessary and he would not have had the heart to do it”.

Sacred Heart school built up a reputation for strong academic performance, for good discipline and for extra- curricular achievement. As Brother Fridolin himself wrote: “The boys are good, hardworking, intelligent and generous. They are anxious to succeed”.

More pioneering work beckoned in January 1963 when he was sent as Director and Principal of St Mary’s School, Sandakan, Sabah. This time he was assisted by Brothers Frederick Lynch and Xavier Jones. The school was in poor condition and consisted of a two storey structure with eight classrooms. It was on the edge of a swamp and mosquitoes and rats abounded. When school opened in January there were several teachers short and there were no books for the students. It was a constant draining battle to find and keep qualified teachers on the meagre salaries available, as well as to raise money to improve the school. But once again Brother Fridolin attracted widespread public support and within a few years a transformation had taken place as Brother Xavier recalls: 

“Brother Fridolin built a fine three storey block, comprising office, library, classrooms and two science laboratories. He also recruited teachers so that Sixth Form classes were started. He himself taught English, English Literature and Scripture in Forms 4 and 5, something that could be said of few Principals, then or now”. 

Whatever the conditions, Brother Fridolin would remain upbeat and was averse to negative comments about people or about the school.

In 1967 he was transferred to La Salle School, Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of the state of Sabah. He taught for a year in the secondary school before being appointed Headmaster of the primary school some distance away. He was much relieved to be saved from the burden of high office. It was in Kota Kinabalu that he graduated from the push bike to a motor cycle and it was a sight to behold the small headmaster whizzing up to school at some speed. Brother Charles O’Leary sums up his memories of Brother Fridolin at the time: 

“He was a born community man. He loved companionship, a joke, a song. He loved a party and would contribute his share. He was a true Lasallian. I doubt he ever missed a chapel exercise. He was a man of simple tastes and simple lifestyle”.

Completely new pastures called in August 1971 when Brother Fridolin was transferred to Hong Kong. He taught English and Bible first at La Salle College and then in the summer of 1973 was transferred to St Joseph’s College where he continued to teach until retirement in 1976. It was the era of English compositions and précis and which the students did in their exercise books. Brother Fridolin would sometimes refer to such exercise books as “sizzling on my desk.” Even in retirement he continued to do some teaching and could be seen, book in hand, heading for the classroom well in advance of the bell. He taught the English Readers ‘across the two’s’. In addition he was a much loved Spiritual Director of Our Lady of the Star Praesidium of the Legion of Mary.
A strong interest was supporting the school sports teams. He would regularly go to the large sports-ground in Happy Valley to watch the football teams in action against other schools, a custom he observed throughout his life. He thought all games should open with a ‘blitzkrieg’, to pulverize the opponents from the start as it were, and was frustrated unless or until his team scored when he would dance with joy. “Why don’t they kick it?” was a constant refrain, referring to the football of course.

Another hobby was hiking and he was a familiar figure among the Kowloon hills and walkways of Hong Kong. He would usually head for the countryside every Saturday, always without headwear and often in the broiling sun. As a consequence his face became as red as a beetroot. A favourite walk was through the 14 villages in the New Territories. He would invariably end up in a shebeen and enjoy a cool beer and the company of the local people, the salt of the earth, as he would call them.

He did not neglect his old friend, the violin. Every so often, we would hear the strains of the violin from his room. In his younger days he had been among the first violinists in the school orchestra of St. Xavier’s Penang. And for a while during the War, as we have seen, he used the violin to teach Japanese songs. We knew that the day he hung up his violin would be a personal milestone.
Brother Fridolin had enjoyed excellent health throughout his life, apart from a malaria attack in the jungle camp at Bahau towards the end of the War. Now however the years began to take their toll, a stroke affecting his mobility. He could only walk the corridors in St. Joseph’s College and even that with difficulty. His decline in health resulted in hospitalization a number of times. He hated putting people out. In these circumstances he requested a transfer to Castletown, Ireland, where elderly Brothers are cared for. This was in 1986.

In the Holy Family community at Castletown he had the company of many Brothers including Meldan Treanor and Lawrence Kelly who had been out East. They were known as the three wise men. Fridolin liked the lovely countryside around Castletown but could not roam freely because of his stroke. He accepted his limitations realistically and never complained. He also appreciated any little kindness done for him. Some of the time was spent watching television, especially programmes on Irish dancing, music and folklore.

His Director at the time in Castletown was Brother Albert Tierney who had this to say about the end days: 
“In his final illness he must have suffered a lot before he complained. When the pain did intensify he had to be rushed to Portlaoise Hospital and from there to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He lingered for a week but we felt the end was near. He had no illusions himself about impending death and endured his final sufferings with great Christian fortitude. He just asked us to keep praying for him, that all would come well in the end”.

Family members and Brothers came to visit him in hospital. The end came suddenly enough and Brother Fridolin died peacefully in Beaumont Hospital Dublin on 6th August, 1988. Brother Columba Gleeson delivered a touching homily at the Requiem Mass. Brother Fridolin was buried in the Brothers’ cemetery in Castletown in the presence of a large number of family friends and confreres, including many who had worked with him on the missions. 

To all who knew him he was a blessing, a gift from God. We can leave the last word to Brother Albert: “Brother Fridolin was a beautiful person. I felt he had a presence of some kind. When he left us so did the presence, and no one else can fill it”.

Originally published in The Gateway Issue No. 24 (June 2010)

Brother Anthony was born in Toronto on the 28th October 1916, the youngest boy in a family of eight. He was called John at baptism. Both his father and mother were Catholics and were of German extraction.

While John was still very young tragedy struck the family with the death of his father. His mother worked heroically to bring up a young and large family. She never gave way to discouragement and managed to keep the family together through thick and thin. Her selfless devotion and strong faith were not lost on her children.

Young John received his Primary schooling at St Helen’s, Toronto, and it was here that he had his first contact with the De La Salle Brothers. He particularly admired a Brother Clement and they developed a lifelong friendship.

In 1931, at the age of fifteen, John asked to join the Brothers’ Juniorate and was accepted. Here he shone both at studies and sports. Ice hockey was his forte but he sustained a serious knee injury which often came back to haunt him in later life. His surplus energies now went into his studies and he became a star pupil.

In 1934, at the age of eighteen, he entered the Novitiate and on the 3rd of September received the Brothers’ robe and rabat and the new name of Stephen Anthony. In future he would generally be known as and called Brother Anthony. He adapted well to Novitiate life, to the periods of silence, prayer, reflection and manual labour.

After completing his Novitiate he made his first vows on the 4th September 1935 and moved to the Scholasticate for further formation and studies. Here he made remarkable progress and soon gained admission to the University of Toronto. He enrolled in the university in the fall of 1936 and soon began to make his mark.

Suddenly, a complete change of prospect came into play. In 1937 a higher superior made a strong appeal for volunteers for the missions in what was then called the Far East. Brothers Anthony and Lawrence Spitzig were among the volunteers and were selected. They were hurriedly put on a ship for Southampton. They survived a mighty Atlantic storm and after arriving in England were sent to the Brothers’ Scholasticate in Inglewood, Berkshire, to sit for the Oxford School Certificate. This they passed without difficulty and by August 1938 they were again packing their bags for the long voyage to the East.

They passed through France en route to Italy and on the 22nd September they boarded the Conte Biancamano at Naples. Twelve days later they steamed into Singapore and to their first taste of the Far East. Brother Anthony was posted to St Joseph’s Institution, a prestigious Lasallian school in the heart of urban Singapore. There was a Community of about 20 Brothers. Rising was at 4.30am and lights out at 9.15pm. The time between was filled with spiritual exercises, teaching and marking scripts, and games. Brother Anthony taught Standard 3, taught all subjects and had no free periods. His gentle and even disposition ensured that he got on well with the boys.

What unfolded on the morning of the 8th December 1941 would soon turn everything upside down. The Japanese bombing of Singapore had begun. On government instructions the Brothers and teachers tried to run the school along normal lines in the new year. It could not and did not last and school was formally closed at the end of January 1942.

The school was converted into a military hospital and the Brothers had to spend a lot of the time in the air raid shelter they had constructed on the ground floor. Gradually the Japanese bombardment intensified. The din was appalling, the buildings trembled, the air was stifling and the heat suffocating. Surrender by the British came on the 15th February.

Brother Anthony was one of the first of a group of “enemy aliens” marched off to the notorious Changi prison. The prison was built to accommodate 600 but during Brother Anthony’s stay the number rose to 4000. At first he performed a variety of tasks until he was asked to look after the old, sickly inmates. Some were bedridden or handicapped and many were emotionally traumatized. Brother Anthony fed them, washed their laundry, waged an ongoing battle against bugs and mediated in endless disputes. Food, or rather the lack of it, was a problem for all.

About mid 1944 the inmates at Changi were transferred to a more open-style camp in Sime Road which had been formerly used as an emergency RAF barracks. Brother Anthony immediately set up a ward for the old people in his care. He also found time for teaching the camp boys, for learning chess and for a little gardening.
The biggest problem continued to be the shortage of food and by now Brother Anthony was very emaciated. He took to eating frogs or toads but developed a painful body rash and lost his appetite. Malaria was to follow and he was reduced to a skeleton. Throughout his ordeal he somehow retained his calm and gentle ways as well as a sense of humour.

Liberation came in August 1945. Brother Anthony and Brother Lawrence Spitzig were among 500 civilians taken aboard a troop ship heading for the UK. From there they boarded the Queen Elizabeth 1 for the trip to Canada and to a rapturous homecoming. Brother Anthony, however, was still critically weak and needed a year’s convalescence before heading back to Singapore in late 1946.

At the relatively young age of thirty one, he was now catapulted into the hot seat as Principal of St Joseph’s Institution. He pushed ahead with improvements to the school, adding a new science laboratory and upgrading the school field and school library. In particular he had extensive renovation done to the school chapel. 

Brother Henry O’Brien was on the staff at the time and had this to say: “I cannot remember that he ever punished a boy; he had a winning way with students; they couldn’t but respect and like him.” 

Brother Anthony always had a tendency to overwork. He spent long hours in the school office, carefully checking the progress of each student. This strained his eyesight as well as his general health and after three years at the helm he returned to Canada for treatment and rest. There he decided to continue his studies and successfully completed his degree course at the University of Toronto. At the same time he underwent two separate operations for a cornea transplant neither of which was successful. Eye problems were to plague him to the end.

It was time to return East and in January 1953 he was appointed Principal of another prestigious Lasallian school, this time in Penang, Malaysia. As a result of the war bombing, St Xavier’s Institution had to function in attap sheds ringing the playing field. There was enormous pressure from stakeholders to rebuild the school. This required ongoing fundraising activities. Brother Anthony threw himself into the task in hand and by early 1954 occupation of the rebuilt school was possible. But the pressures of work and his frayed nerves yet again began to take their toll and he had to return to Canada in 1955 for further rest and treatment.

Then, in July 1956, after a year’s rest and recuperation, he was posted to La Salle College, Kowloon, Hong Kong, where he would spend the remaining 25 years of his life. Even at this late post war stage the College was “in exile” in Perth Street, courtesy of Her Majesty’s Government which requisitioned the grand old school building in 1949, using it as a military hospital. From 1949 to 1959 the school had to function in hastily constructed hutments.

Despite the less than comfortable conditions, Brother Anthony was happy to be back in the classroom. He preferred to teach the weaker pupils and lavished on them his time, energy and affection. He could be seen correcting their written work up till midnight and he became a role model for all. Many of his so called weaker pupils entered university and blossomed in life and never forgot their old mentor. He did not forget their spiritual development either, attended baptisms, recruited for the rosary crusade and was a devoted spiritual director for one of the junior praesidia of the Legion of Mary. 

One of his students at the time puts it like this: Brother Anthony always came into class well prepared and gave his lessons slowly and clearly. He was especially nice to the slower students. I remember one hasty homework I handed in and was afraid he would really get mad, but he looked at it, trying hard to find some merit, and…at last, said softly, ‘Not famous!’

Brother Anthony was a humble, gentle, spiritual person. He would lead us in morning prayer and then give a short chat on a Christian topic. I was baptized during that period, as were some of my other close friends.”

Another pupil at the time reminds us that Brother Anthony never raised his voice. He could often be seen in the classroom preparing his lessons. Perhaps because of an old wartime injury, he wrote slowly on the blackboard. To compensate for this and so as not to waste time, he would fill the blackboard in advance with notes. His pupil also reminds us that, besides teaching English, he also taught History. Strangely, he never spoke badly about the Japanese or about the way he was treated. In this way, his students, who knew something about what he had suffered, learned a great lesson in God’s love and the power of forgiveness and their hearts were touched.

Once, when in hospital, he was visited by a not too well off pupil who brought along three roses and a card. Brother Anthony was delighted and introduced the boy to the doctors and nurses saying:”This is my student” and at the same time requested a vase for the flowers. The pupil never forgot the incident. Indeed, Brother Anthony himself had a phenomenal memory for his pupils, past and present, and kept up a lively correspondence with them. He would never fail to reply to a letter.

Throughout these years his major hobby was taking long walks in the countryside. His invariable companion was Brother Paul Sun, Principal and Founder of St Joseph’s Anglo Chinese School. The two developed a deep friendship and for a few years Brother Anthony even went to work in St Joseph’s to help his old friend. He acted as Vice Principal for Brother Paul besides taking on a full teaching load of English and Religion. Brother Michael Curtin places their friendship in perspective:

“Brother Anthony and Brother Paul Sun are notorious in our Colony for their long, long walks. When I was young, at the end of the silent film, Charlie Chaplin appeared on the screen walking away from the audience down the road leading away to the horizon until he disappeared. I believe Brother Anthony’s idea of Paradise is walking down the corridors of eternity, arm in arm with Brother Paul Sun, having a glorious time.”

However, the long-term effects of the war years and incarceration in Changi prison began to surface again. Brother Anthony suffered dreadful hallucinations, persecution complex and horrid nightmares. This went on for some time before a suitable drug was prescribed. He never lost his addiction to smoking, however, which he saw as a way to soothe his nerves, frayed by his war experiences.

The Brothers knew that his eyesight was deteriorating, not helped by the long hours he spent correcting his students’ scripts. In 1977 it was therefore decided to take him off formal teaching and to put him in charge of the school library. There he was at home among his beloved staff and students. The books were treated tenderly, like old friends, and would be meticulously examined, repaired and returned to their original library slots.

It was at this time that La Salle College was on the move from its original grand old building to a gleaming new, fully endowed facility. Brother Anthony took complete charge of the library transfer, including determining the entire layout which has remained basically unchanged to this day. He personally trained all library staff and initiated a total overhaul of the books including cataloguing, accessing, recording and labeling. He insisted on exact measurements of labels, and this for over 15000 books. Scotch tape was never to be used on loose pages; white glue was the way to restore evenness of the spine. At times he looked like a surgeon, wielding a scalpel-like knife to cut and separate before the books were lovingly restored to health.

As he approached retirement and because of his personality traits, it is not surprising that he earned for himself the nickname “Grandpa”. Another image his pupils retained was of ‘the man in white’ since he wore the white robe or white suit frequently. Indeed, he was also wearing the white robe when he passed away.

The year 1981 was going well for him in many ways. The major move from the old school library to the new had been successfully completed. His sisters from Canada had paid him a welcome visit. He had at last fulfilled one of his passions in life, attendance at a concert in the City Hall.

Although he had felt faint once or twice, the end took everyone by surprise. He had been knocked down so often but had always bounced back. It was holiday time. He was up as usual to join the Community in morning prayer, placed his host on the communion plate before Mass, and, not feeling well, left the chapel for his room and did not return. At breakfast Brother Raphael, suspecting something might be wrong, asked Brother Thomas to check his room. Brother Thomas found him lying peacefully on his bed in his white robe, face calm and hands by his side. Even his shoes were placed neatly at the foot of the bed. It was the 28th of July 1981. The next day he would have completed 25 years in Hong Kong. The gentle, kind, soft-spoken Brother had slipped into eternity.
By coincidence the 28th was also the day for the distribution of the Hong Kong School Certificate results, results which would determine who could or could not proceed to Form 6. Brother Anthony in his time had prepared many a pupil for that important exam.

The funeral took place on the 30th July and attracted a large gathering of mourners, many of them weeping openly. Brother Raphael Egan delivered a moving tribute, saying in part:

“Successful and efficient men often seem hard to replace, yet the gaps they leave are surprisingly quickly and adequately filled. But lovable people are never replaced; they linger in our hearts, in our thoughts, in our prayers. Let us give thanks to God for the witness Brother Anthony bore to divine realities.”