St Joseph’s School (SJS) celebrates 60th anniversary

Mar 05, 2015

By Vincent D’Silva
We remember with nostalgia and gratitude,the Brothers of St Gabriel who founded St Joseph’s School (SJS) 60 years ago, because of their love for JesusChrist and His mission to educate young people of all races and religious.

Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang said this in his addressat the 60th anniversary of the founding of St Joseph’s School in the city.

Bishop Francis, an old boy of the school was the guest-of-honour at the celebration held at the Persada Johor InternationalConvention Centre, February 14.

Present for the reunion were former brother director Bro Mark Tee, SG, Dominic Chirayil, the first local principal for the secondary school, Alec Antony, first local primary school headmaster, P. Kathirasoo, the school’s first teacher and supervisor who began teaching in 1955 and the oldestinvitee at 91 years, Fr Dr Michael Teng, a former old boy of the school and Msgr James Rajendran, the vicar-general.

The evening’s event was attended by 48 retired principals,teachers and 600 old boys gracing the occasion dubbed as “Homecoming of Former SJS Boys.” A numberof current school teachers and members of the Parent-Teacher’ Association (PTA) were also in attendance.

Bishop Francis was excited to see that a number of his teachers who are in their 80s and 90s were present with others of the alumni who are already in their 60s, includinghimself.

He congratulated all those who have kept the spirit and ethos of the school till today.He said, “The Religious Brothers have left the scene and the school is practically running on its own,” adding that the only direction that the school gets is from the Ministry of Education.

He pointed out that the Catholic Church, however, is involvedproviding the land for the school which is under the ownership of the Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Melaka-Johor Diocese and still belongs to the Catholic Church.

The Bishop also wondered if the gathering was only about glorification of the past or an occasion to reflect on where we can go from here.

The 64-year-old prelate urged the alumnus, especially those residing in Johor Bahru, to take a more active interestin the school.

There is the opportunity to link with the school through the Board of Governors and even in the appointment of the principal.

The bishop then posed a question to the audience, “Are there more avenues to continue the mission schools so that they can contribute to a better quality of education and help the young in nation building?”

He called on everyone to remember and celebrate the past and to continue to encourage the present principals, teachers, staff, workers and students to keep the original spirit of the school alive, though it may be challenging at times.

He added that it is an honour that mission schools have, since the beginning, been open to all races and religions, contributing towards nation building in Malaysia.

Dominic Chirayil gave a touching speech about the school in the early days and spoke of the teachers and studentsthen.

Chirayil said, “I am happy to have served this Catholic mission school for almost 25 years. It will never be erased from my memory.”

Alex Antony, 78, who flew in from Australia to attend the event said, “I was so happy to have worked with the Brothers of St Gabriel in those days,” adding that the Brothers then had foresight for the spiritual, academic, social, material welfare and well-being of the youths of Johor Bahru.

P. Kathirasoo said that she began teaching in this school in 1955, when she was approached by the late Fr Noel Goh.

“I am happy to have taught in this mission school and did not expect such a wonderful reunion of past teachers and students.”

Earlier in the day, the school had given a grand welcome to its old boys and former teachers led by the current headmistress,Madam Loke Kwai May, who greeted them at the school gate.?

Former teachers and students had teary eyes when they peeked through the windows to catch a glimpse of the class rooms where they spent much of their time long ago.

A video clip, of the school in the early 50s was shown which took the audience down memory lane.