PETALING JAYA: Teachers often leave a lasting impression on their students.
The alumni of the St Francis Institution (SFI) of Melaka vividly remember how a total of 150 Lasallian Brothers (Catholic teachers) served their school for 120 years, in an extraordinary way.
Franciscan Club of Kuala Lumpur (FCKL) president Eric Chan told The New Straits Times that they were now preparing to publish the 'Remembering the Heritage, Continuing the Legacy' book to commemorate the 120th anniversary of SFI on Oct 1 at its school grounds.
"Other than a commemorative dinner that night to thank all our teachers - past and present, we will also launch a Heritage Centre at the school to preserve its historical memorabilia," said Chan.
He added that the brothers had educated and empowered hundreds of thousands of young Malaysians of all races and creed, across the country.
"We are truly indebted to these brothers for their dedication, love and service - without whom many of us will not have excelled in our careers and lives today," Chan said after hosting a reception for three visiting foreign brothers at the La Salle Provincialate, off Jalan Gasing.
The three are Lasallian East Asia District Auxiliary Visitor, Antonio Cubilas from Mexico, and Carlo Rementilla and Miggy Crisostomo from the Philippines.
At the reception, Chan handed a copy of the book 'The SFI Love Story: The Story of St Francis Institution Malacca -125 Years (1880-2005)' to Cubilas.
Present were Brother director of Malaysia Andrew Loke, SFI director Ambrose Loke, David Liao, Malaysian Federation of Lasallian Alumni Associations (MFOLSA) and FCKL secretary James Sia, FCKL vice-president Tan Chin Shu and its past president Francis Mahendran Kutty.
Chan said other Lasallian alumnus and FCKL had arranged for Cubilas, Rementilla and Crisostomo's trips that include a few of the Catholic schools in Peninsular Malaysia.
"Since their arrival in Penang on June 12, the three had visited St Xavier's Institution there, St George's Institution in Taiping, St Michael's Institution in Ipoh, La Salle Petaling Jaya, SFI and finally St Andrew's School in Muar, Johor.
Catholic brothers are teachers at hundreds of St John Baptist de La Salle schools worldwide.
"The De La Salle bothers serve with a mission of 'teaching minds, touching hearts, transforming lives'," said Chan.
There are now 29 La Salle schools in Peninsular Malaysia and six associated schools in Sabah and Sarawak. St Xavier's Institution in Penang is the first Lasallian school in Asia.
Chan said the teachers and students of the Lasallian schools were eagerly awaiting to celebrate the 'La Salle Brothers in Malaysia's 170th Gala Dinner' in November.
Chan said the Lasallian Brothers' arrival in Melaka dated back to Sept 30, 1902 with the arrival of Maurice Josephus Freeze (director), Andrew Avellino Wright and Constantine Jeremiah.
"On the next day they took over the administration and running of St Francis School from the Catholic Church.
"The St Francis Xavier Church vicar Father Elisee Ferdinand Delouette, founded the elementary school on April 5, 1880 at Riverside.
"The two-storey building was purchased from Sisters (women teachers) from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus.
"The building stood at the site of the old Portuguese St Dominic Bastion.
"The origins of the school could be traced to St Mary's School at Praya Lane that was established by Father Maximillian De Souza in 1872," Chan said.
He added that in 1907, St Francis' School relocated to Banda Hilir and was renamed SFI in 1914.