Yayasan Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon & Stella Maris Group of Schools

Nov 04, 2020

Yayasan Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon and the Stella Maris group of schools would have been but a dream without the vision, courage, direction and steadfast determination of one man, His Eminence Anthony Soter Cardinal Fernandez.

Concerned with the diminishing influence of the Christian Brothers and Sisters in education over the years, then Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez in 1987 convened a conference among Catholic educators and lay leaders at the IJ Convent in Cheras to discuss the situation of, and circumstances surrounding, Christian mission schools and to discern the Church’s response to the changes and challenges that were taking shape. The conference resulted in the formation of the Malaysian Catholic Education Council (MCEC) and the birth of the Archdiocese’s agenda in private education.

The agenda for private education had both supporters and detractors but firmly moved by his own convictions and vision of the future, Archbishop Soter expressed his determination to move ahead with plans to provide affordable quality holistic private education driven by our own visions of faith. Resolute in his quest to pursue his agenda in education and encouraged by the growth of the first school in Pudu, Archbishop Soter  decided to form a Foundation to control and house all of the Archdiocese’s interests in private education under one roof.  Yayasan Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon was incorporated in the year 2000 in memory of Archbishop Soter’s predecessor, the late Emeritus Archbishop Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon.

The Foundation today owns and operates four private schools including one offering an international curriculum. The building for the first school in Pudu was completed on April 27, 1994 and was blessed by the Apostolic Delegate to Malaysia H.E. Archbishop Luigi Bressan. It was officially opened on Aug 16, 1997 by Datuk Bandar of Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Kamaruzzaman Shariff. The second school in Madonna Heights in Ampang was blessed in 2003 by Archbishop Soter, the third in 2013 by Emeritus Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam and the fourth in 2018 in Medan Damansara by current Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim.

All four schools stand brightly lit as stars born from the burning quest of one man. This is his testament. This is his legacy and whilst we may have lost our mentor, a trusted ally and our truest friend, we look at what he has left us and we stand thankful and grateful to God for this great and  loyal servant of His. His Eminence Anthony Soter Cardinal Fernandez inspired us with his wisdom, his simplicity, his charism and his compassion, always urging us to grow and expand with an engaging smile that betrayed a resolute determination to move  beyond, despite handicaps, for “whatever your cross, whatever your pain”, he would say, “work in the Lord’s vineyard is always the most difficult but be encouraged, for the Lord is with you”. –– By Brig-Gen (Rtd) Dato’ Richard Casimir Robless



Instrumental in elevating the precepts of good financial stewardship
I was saddened after hearing the passing of His Eminence on Oct 28, 2020.

“My heartfelt condolences to his family and the clergy fraternity.

“It has been a privilege to serve under His Eminence during his time as the second Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. His Eminence had been a significant role model to us the staff of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. His cordial and humble nature always drew us close to him.

“Reading his Obituary, I realised that I need to add a few of his other achievements, notably on financial stewardship in the Church.

“Working in the Archdiocesan Finance Department, I realised that His Eminence had been instrumental in elevating the precepts of good financial stewardship in the Church. With his foresight, the Pastoral Direc tory - Parish Financial Administration was issued in 1989. This has become our “operating bible” since then. With his leadership, he introduced the concept of financial audit to the Church. The Archdiocese of K.L. accounts was the first to be audited before this best practice was expanded to the parishes and later ministries’ level. There are too many other notable financial achievements he had initiated to mention here. 

“May His Eminence soul rest in eternal peace in the Kingdom of God. Amen. — Ong Cheng Watt, Acting Financial Administrator, Archdiocese of KL



A living example of love
 I came to know His Eminence Soter Fernandez after he accepted me to work in the Archdiocesan Finance Department following my retirement from government service in 1998. I will miss him dearly.

“His Eminence (then Archbishop) was a living example of love. He was very patient, gentle in words, and trusting, and never missed an opportunity to show concern for the welfare of staff or those who came to seek his help. He did not seek titles or worldly fame. Instead, he left behind memories of a shepherd who identified himself with those suffering in illness and in pain.

“Even as his energy was ebbing away he did not fail to pray over and bless me. Rest in peace Your Eminence. ––Dato Lim Boh Ang, Former Assistant Financial Administrator, Archdiocese of KL