PETALING JAYA: The dedication, sacrifices and services of the La Salle brothers still lives on - after 170 years of their arrival on Malaysian shores.
It all began with six pioneering La Salle brothers - Bro Liefroy Bajon, Bro Lothaire-Marie Combes, Bro Venere Chapuis, Bro Gregory Connolly, Bro Switbert Doyle and Bro Jerome King were roped in by a young French priest Father Jean-Marie Beurel.
Together, they left Antwerp, Belgium in December 1851 arriving in Singapore on March 29, 1852.
"Their journey, via the La Julie French ship, marked the beginning of a new dawn in the East.
"This year (2022) will be a new milestone for the La Salle Mission in Malaysia.
"To commemorate their arrival, we will host several run-up activities towards a grand, gala dinner towards the year-end," said James Sia, secretary of the Malaysian Federation of Lasallian Alumni Associations (MFOLSA).
Sia said that brothers Bajon, Doyle and Connolly stayed in Singapore while Combes, Chapuis and King set out to Penang at the invitation of Beurel, arriving there on April 16, 1852.
"Almost immediately they took over the administration of the existing St Francis Xavier Free School in Church Street, which was later renamed as St Xavier's Institution (SXI).
"St Xavier's Institution was to be the first of all the Lasallian schools in Asia.
"From then on, the brothers moved to India, Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Vietnam, Hong Kong and eventually the Philippines," Sia told the New Straits Times in a special interview in conjunction with the 170th Gala Dinner in celebration of the La Salle Brothers in Malaysia at the La Salle Hall, here.
Present were MFOLSA president Micheal Simon, its treasurer Paramjothy Kandiah, its advisor Bro Andrew Loke and celebration organising chairman V. Nanda Kumar.
Reminiscing the brothers' arrival, Sia said that by 1875 they had already set up at least ten schools in the region.
During the early period, Bro Aloysius Gonzaga Pin was appointed as the Brother Director from 1879 to 1898 while serving at SXI.
"In October 1902, 50 years after the establishment of SXI, another three brothers arrived in Malacca to re-open St Francis' Institution (SFI) that was closed in early 1902 because the government withdrew its aid due to lack of progress.
"With the La Salle Brothers at the helm, the quality of education at SFI improved and soon the school breathe new hope," said Sia, also a secretary of the Franciscan Club of Kuala Lumpur.
He added that the government lauded the brothers for making a great step-forward for SFI.
"Later, at the request of the Education Department and the bishop of the Malacca diocese, the brothers established St John's Institution (SJI) in 1904.
With the progress made in SXI, SFI and SJI, Visitor of the brothers of the Christian schools Bro Gabriel Archange was asked if the La Salle Brothers would take-over St Paul's Institution (SPI) that was founded in 1899 by Roman Catholic priest Father Antonin Catesson of the Paris Foreign Missions.
"However, the demand for the brothers was heavy for an immediate take-over.
"It was only in 1909 that the La Salle brothers eventually took-over SPI," said Sia.
Meanwhile, Michael said that with the reopening of international borders on April 1, following the Covid-19 pandemic moving to an endemic stage, their plans for the 170-years celebrations were progressing well.
"The Covid-19 pandemic had crippled the world, the past two years.
"We experienced a number of Movement Control Orders and very strict standard operating procedures, enforced by the government due to the Delta and Omicron virus variants.
"With sadness and disappointment, the Lasallian family in Malaysia was unable to organise any meaningful events to commemorate the very significant date on the Malaysian Lasallian calendar.
"Nevertheless, with the reopening of the borders MFOLSA is confident of organising eve "With sadness and disappointment, the Lasallian family in Malaysia was unable to organise any meaningful events to commemorate the very significant date on the Malaysian Lasallian calendar.
"Nevertheless, with the reopening of the borders MFOLSA is confident of organising events and programmes during the third and fourth quarter of the year," said Michael.
On another note, Nanda Kumar said the celebrations were a tribute to the brothers who were an institution that drove education to a higher level.
"Their sacrifices and services will not be forgotten by past and present students of all races and religions who greatly benefitted from their teachings.
"The brothers belong to the St John's Baptist de La Salle fraternity that imparted quality education for all levels of society, especially the last, lost and least.
"If not for them, only the elite and upper-class society would have gained knowledge through education," he said.
Frenchman St John Baptist de La Salle is the patron saint of teachers and founder of the Institute of the brothers of Christian schools.
On the 170 celebrations, Nanda Kumar said it would involve all the La Sallian alumni (old boys associations), former teachers and brothers, including two serving in China (Bro David Liao) and Singapore (Bro Paul Ho).
"It will reignite the La Sallian heritage, to better understand the pedagogy and best practices put forth by the brothers.
"The series of events will also be a good avenue to catch-up and renew camaraderie," said Nanda Kumar.
Among the events lined up are the Malaysian Lasallian Educators Conference in Taiping, Perak on Sept 8-10; 170 Years La Salle Golf Classic later this year; and a thanksgiving mass at the Church of St Francis Xavier, here.
This will be followed by gala dinner at a prestigious hotel.
Looking back, Nanda Kumar said there were now a total of 32 La Salle schools in Peninsular Malaysia and 12 associated schools in Sabah and Sarawak.
