Montfortian Education in Singapore since 1936

Montfortian Education
in Singapore since 1936

1

Brother John Kallarackal
Superior General
Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel

I am happy to learn that the Province of MalaysiaSingapore is bringing out a Souvenir on the Heritage of
Montfortian Education in the Province during the past
three quarters of a century. A Souvenir is doubtlessly a
tribute to the past, providing a kaleidoscopic view, and
a symbol of gratitude to all those who had laboured
tirelessly towards the growth and development of the
educational institutions in the Province.
In the first place I wish to place on record
my sincere appreciation to the founding
fathers who laid a strong foundation, and
to their dynamic successors who built
on it with competence and commitment,
responding to the clarion call given by
the Rule of Life of the Montfort Brothers
of St. Gabriel: “Your active share in the
evangelizing mission of the Church as a
Brother of St. Gabriel, lies in the privileged
field of education, particularly that of the
school going youth” (RL 63).
It is heartening to note that our lay
collaborators continue the education mission
in our institutions with the same Montfortian
spirit that animated the Brothers. I wish to
express my sincere gratitude to each one
of them, on behalf of our Congregation,
for their significant contributions. Quality
education in the present day world is said
to be a monumental task which can be
accomplished only with the involvement
and commitment of both the school
and the parents.We certainly value the
participatory role played by the parents
in their children’s education. My sincere
appreciation to all the alumni for being the
brand ambassadors of Montfortian values
in society. It is only common knowledge
that the destiny of a nation is being shaped
in her classrooms, and that school is the
best training ground for the students to
discover, identify their God-given talents,
and develop them to their full potential.
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Therefore it should be the endeavour of
every school to create a conducive climate
and to provide ample opportunities for
students to facilitate this process of selfdiscovery and self-actualization.
All great educationists attest to the fact
that quality education in the present day
is a non-negotiable essential for personal
development and for societal progress. By
the same token, education to be relevant
should meet the changing needs of our
changing society. Human Rights Education
and Environmental education ought to
form a part of the holistic education that
our Montfortian institutions offer to their
students today.
As stated clearly in the Montfortian
Education Charter, Montfortian Education
has the person in society at its centre.
It should be our endeavour to train our
students to be physically fit, intellectually
rounded, emotionally mature, spiritually
oriented and socially responsible citizens
of the country and the world.
It is my earnest hope that the Montfortians
around the world will commit themselves
to the service of their fellow brothers and
sisters, and help leave behind a more
civilized society and a safer environment
than the one they themselves have inherited.

Brother Francis Chua Soo Ngee
Provincial Superior
Province of Malaysia-Singapore

The Educational Heritage of the Montfort Brothers of
St. Gabriel can be traced back to the final year in the
life of St. Louis Marie de Montfort. In 1715, there were
four Brothers who had been with Montfort and were
entrusted to take care of the charitable schools for the
poor children of that time. For some 300 years, this
educative mission had grown and spread to thirty-two
countries, with over two hundred schools and other
welfare centres for children and their families.
The fact that this educative endeavour is still around after all these years bears witness
to the relevancy of Montfortian education in today’s world. We are all inheritors of this
long tradition of education for the most needy of our children in our society. If Montfort
were to be around today I am sure he will say to us: “Well done, good and faithful
servant!… Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:23). The Montfortian education that we
have today must be faithful to the spirit of Montfort.
The core of what this educative mission is about is embodied in the Montfortian Education
Charter promulgated by the Congregation of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel
in September 2010. Thus, for us to be a truly Montfortian educator, we are called to
embrace the spirit and tenets of what the Montfortian Education Charter seek to emulate.
All of us associated in various ways in this educative heritage are called to be a true
reflection of the spirit of Montfort in our context today.
Montfort lived a passionate life for the cause which he believes in and was granted to
him from God, especially for the poor among us and a spiritual vision of God in our midst.
He always preached the need for us to renew our commitment in all that we do. For
Montfort, there is no half-measure and thus a total giving of oneself is essential.
As such, to be truly Montfortian in our educational endeavour means that we have to
enkindle and stoke the flame of love in us and give of nothing but the best of who we are
in all that we do.
I wish to thank all who have worked tirelessly to trace the roots of our Montfortian
education here in this region of Singapore and Malaysia. In returning to our roots we
can inspire ourselves with the spirit of all those who have toiled before us. Though more
than three quarters of a century have gone by for us in our educational pursuit in this
region, now is a good time to take stock and re-position ourselves to make Montfortian
education relevant for our society while remaining creatively faithful to the Montfortian
education that we have inherited.
May the Perfect Love of God reign in our hearts!

3

Brother Dominic Yeo Koh Tuan Kiok
Supervisor of Schools
St. Gabriel’s Foundation

In the 1930s, contacts were made for the Montfort
Brothers of St. Gabriel to begin a mission here in
Singapore and Malaysia (Malaya in those days).
Finally, in November 1936, Bro Gerard Majella arrived
from Bangkok and shortly after, he was joined by two
younger Canadian Brothers, namely Bro Adolphus
(Francis Tessier) and Bro John de Brebeuf (Jean
Hurtubise). This initial nucleus began a journey
undertaken over the last seventy odd years to grow
into a family of schools and youth welfare centres.
Today the education scene has changed much from the time the Brothers set foot in
Singapore in 1936. More than three quarters of a century has gone by and we now have
a family of six schools and a Boys’ Town here in Singapore. We have also more than 700
people collaborating in this educative endeavour of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel.
The number of Brothers may be small and of advanced age, but the number of people
closely associated with the Montfortian education has grown over the years.
This for me is where the spirit of the Montfortian education must take root in another
group of people, namely the governing members of the school management committees,
the school leaders and all the staff members in our schools and institutions.
This also involves a larger and important community of the alumni of our schools, the parents
of our children both today and in our past, the local Catholic Church and all people of goodwill
who in one way or another can identify with the Montfortian Education ethos.
The path trodden by those who have gone before us is a heritage that we cherish
dearly. The challenge for us today is to remain faithful to the fundamental mission of
a Montfortian educational project which forges ahead creatively while preserving and
growing the Montfortian heritage we have received.
This launch of the Montfortian Education Charter is a significant event for us as it
articulates for us the core of what we are about and how the tenets of the Montfortian
education can remain relevant in our society today.
In our effort to position our schools for the world of today and tomorrow, we face the
challenge of losing sight of what our schools were first started for. The circumstance
might have changed but our purpose and mission remains much the same. We are
inheritors of this long chain of an educational movement, a beautiful tapestry which is still
so relevant in the society we live in. This vision calls forth from us the need to appreciate
and to live whole-heartedly, without reservation, the Montfortian educative mission in our
context and to realize that we are part of a larger movement in the world.
Let me conclude that it is the responsibility of each member of the school community
to play his part for a Montfortian education that is truly dynamic, open and energizing,
where there is always a freshness and newness about it.
4

Mrs Irene Loi
Director
Boy’s Town

Montfortian Education,
and what it means at BOYS’ TOWN
Our mission in Boys’ Town is to work with youths-atrisk, so that we can nurture their God-given goodness.
We serve all who come through the gates of Boys’
Town by providing “A Caring Milieu” for them.
In this community, we value and treasure the qualities of all, reminding everyone to be
like Montfort – a Servant Leader who demonstrated love, care and God’s goodness for
others. We constantly pray that God will send us good shepherds to look after his flock
and become role models for the boys.
When our youths experience rejection, anger, misunderstanding and mistrust, we
counsel, process and pray with them, to help build up their sense of identity and peace
so that they too can reach out to their friends and others who are also in need.
Montfort wrote:
“If we do not risk anything for God, we will never do anything great for Him.”
We believe that God has given everyone their uniqueness and talents. At times, our
youths may not know what talents and gifts they have in them. As a community, we learn
to appreciate these unique gifts and challenge our youths to go beyond their comfort
zone - to discover and develop these gifts which are from God.

5

Mr Wee Tat Chuen and Mr Eric Leong
(w.e.f. 27/12/2013),
Principals of Assumption Pathway

The purpose statement of Assumption
Pathway School is as follows: APS is a
Catholic educational institution transforming
and empowering students unable to access/
complete mainstream secondary education
to be carers achieving personal success.
To live out this purpose, the school is guided
by 3 principles: Connecting Lives; Nurturing
Individualised Growth and Flourishing
through opportunities. Within each of these
guiding principles, the various dimensions of
a Monfortian education are being lived out.
Montfort’s ideal of “God alone” reminds us to always seek the truth and to live by it. It is
a reminder that unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. The work in
APS is not easy and leaders of the school, first and foremost must continuously rely on
the Lord in all things done to advance the school’s purpose. The Monday’s staff prayer
meetings where staff gather voluntarily to pray is a good start. But we must press on so
that our lives and our prayers become unified as one.
At APS, where students’ profile are diverse and where needs are deep, there is a
strong impetus to provide and embrace a truly inclusive education. We must stay true
to admit those who really need us, we must work hard to provide an education that will
increase our students’ opportunities to succeed in life and we must continue to be strong
advocates and help our students to be advocates for the poor and marginalised.
The school’s thematic approach of discovering self, caring for others, serving the
community and achieving personal success serves as a powerful platform to enact this
inclusive education at APS. We must build on our current efforts to help our students
to go deeper in their appreciation of service to the community; and we must role model
these ourselves.
In all things, APS will strive to keep the best interests of every student at the centre of all
we do. First, we must continue to assure the basic needs of students within the school
as well as outside. We have worked with various partners to do this but the challenges
lie with meeting their needs outside of school. We must work hard at this if we want to
see our students become successful in school and in life.
The school’s social workers play a key role in this but it will take all of us to make the
difference that is needed. We need to work in synergy to ensure that students’ needs are
being met. In addition to this, we must continue in our quest for excellence in teaching
and learning to draw out the hidden potential in every student.
Over the past 5 years, APS has made good progress in some of the areas mentioned
above. But the journey ahead is still long and filled with much exciting possibilities. We
must continue to reflect on how the dimensions of a Monfortian Education should be
lived out in the context of APS; and then seek to enact it in our school’s experience in a
purposeful and intentional way.
6

Mrs Mabel Leong

Principal
Assumption English School

Assumption English’s journey in education is illuminated
by Montfort’s spirit of charity and love, where the heart
of an Assumptionite is galvanized by a dynamic yet
pragmatic set of values while they circumnavigate the
path ahead.
For our students to acquire love and abundance, they first learn how to give them away,
by practising Compassion for their friends and community.
While ascending the tower of knowledge and skills, we remind them to start by descending
so as to lay an unshakable foundation of Humility.
To forge solidarity in our community of experiential learning, Assumptionites make new
friends along the journey through the Respect of differences in their everyday encounters
with the new and unfamiliar.
When tiredness sets in on our young travellers, we beckon them not to give in to taking
shortcuts and the lures of the world. But to uphold honesty and loyalty with courage, as
they labour on as masons to erect a cloud-piercing gateway of Integrity.
Assumptionites know that to escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today is
always a futile effort in completing any journey. To clad an iron armour and to embrace a
Sense of Responsibility towards accomplishment is undeniably a more meaningful and
fruitful choice.
After a long and arduous journey when the destination may still be unclear, Assumptionites
learn to place their complete Trust in God, that no journey will be in vain because He is
on the journey, too.
Labor Omnia Vincit !

7

Ms Genevieve Chye
Principal
Montfort Junior School

“Look at how thoughtful this boy is and how much he cares for others. He must be a
Montfortian!”
These are the words that I would like to hear when people speak of our Montfortian boys.
Since joining the Montfortian family in 2008, I have been struck by the spirituality and
ethos of the Montfortian family. Foremost is the desire to serve others who are less able
to provide for themselves and to uphold their dignity as individuals.
This has been a guiding principle for me in leading the school as it reminds me constantly
of the importance of recognizing the dignity of each person who walks through our doors,
regardless of age, status, race, religion and nationality. The other tenets of a Montfortian
education that guide us in MJS are: being socially responsible and being in the service of
others. This formed the basis of our Vision statement, “A Montfortian, A Man for Others”
and hence the decisions we make in the school encourage us to develop this service
orientation and care for others in the boys and in ourselves.
Above all, the tenet that guides our Catholicity is that of being guided by the Rosary and
the Cross. The hope is that each boy is able to leave the school, having experienced
and been touched by the Catholic ethos and spirituality, and with a fundamental knowledge
that they are special and loved by God. I have seen this in my interactions with alumni
members and know that if we continue to uphold these tenets of a Montfortian education,
we would have done our part to nurture spiritual persons who are also contributing
citizens for the future.

8

Mrs Catherine Chiang
Principal
St Gabriel’s Primary School

Our founder, St. Louis Marie de Montfort was a man for
the poor and the destitute and the St. Gabriel’s schools
were set up for this very purpose, six decades ago. Today,
Singapore is a first-world country and we have one of the
highest GDP in the world. It is no surprise that some in the
community are asking whether our mission is still relevant.
The answer to this is an unequivocal YES. Not only do
we remain relevant, I am convinced that Montfort’s way
is the way forward in the uncertain times we live in today.
Many remain neglected, not just in the economic sense,
but are also emotionally neglected and spiritually barren.
St. Gabriel’s Primary School’s mission to
shape the lives of our charges in service
to God and nation remains a clear and
unambiguous goal that we must all strive
to meet. The Montfortian Charter espouses
education that puts the best interest of the
child as the primary consideration, done in
partnership with many others. Taking our
direction from Montfort’s beliefs, we strive to
do our best for the children whom God sends
to us by keeping to the following tenets.
Keeping the Flame Alive
To truly educate is to nurture the flame
of inquiry and keep it burning, so that
every student will be equipped with the
knowledge, skills and attitude for lifelong
learning. It is not only the answers that
matter, but also the ‘why’. Thus, academic
success must be complemented by the
continual nurturing and cultivation of
intellectual curiosity in order to prepare the
child for a life of learning.

Students who exercise their choices own
their decisions. They become responsible
for the choices they make and real learning
takes place when they want to learn, not
because they are told to do so.
The Gift is Theirs
Every child is ‘gifted’ and we will look at
such ‘giftedness’ as multifaceted and
help them to capitalise on their strengths.
Both creative and practical abilities are
important in life. We need to focus on
what abilities each one has to cope in an
increasingly competitive world. Each child’s
giftedness will be given due recognition so
that the confidence they experience will
inspire them to discover their potential.

The Community Connect
As much as each individual child is unique
and should be given the opportunities to
develop their individualism and abilities
to the fullest, the greater importance of
education is the critical need to teach the
young how to strive for the common good
Giving Students a Voice
In building a foundation of self-esteem, – to be socially responsible citizens who
students will be encouraged to articulate would learn from the youngest age how to
their opinions and ideas, to challenge give of themselves for the greater good.
old assumptions, and to form compelling
arguments. They will be given recognition for The launch of the Montfortian Charter today is
the courage to try and the tenacity to keep a significant milestone in our journey towards
trying. Students who can convey their ideas excellence in educating the young, inspired by
coherently have a better chance of sharing with our founder, and by the mission of our Christ.
and contributing to this world. An important
Labor Omnia Vincit.
element of Voice is also the notion of Choice.
9

Mr Andrew Tan

Principal
Montfort Secondary School

We are guided by our school vision a
Man for Others – a Scholar, Sportsman,
Gentleman and Leader.
We believe that every Montfortian must
grow in service of others – to recognize
the dignity of every human person, to have
a sense of social responsibility and be in
service of others. Each Montfortian must
therefore work hard in school to develop
the attributes of a Scholar, Sportsman,
Gentleman and Leader and use their
knowledge and talents for the good of those
around them.
We believe that every Montfortian also
understands that he is a spiritual being
which is an integral part to who he is and
should never be separated nor ignored.
These have guided our approach to
providing holistic school experience.
The 8 dimensions of the Montfortian
Education Charter (MEC) provide us strong
guidance on how we can achieve the goals
of our education. I am particularly heartened
by the tagline “Montfortian Education in the
21st Century” and indeed in reflecting on
the 8 dimensions, they are more relevant
and necessary today than ever.
10

It adds powerfully to the conversations of
the day and help us make better sense
of the multiple priorities of education. It
will shape our thoughts and actions and
provide the presence and voice of the
Montfortian Charism to what we must do
in our schools.
Beyond this launch, the important work of
reflecting, understanding and integrating
the 8 dimensions of the MEC into our
Montfortian Education begins. This needs
to be done with all our stakeholders –
staff, students, alumni and parents. What
is exciting is that each individual institution
will not be doing this alone but together
with the Gabrielite institutions in Singapore
and beyond - what a powerful, life-giving
network this will be!
My wish and aspiration is that the Gabrielite
schools continue to grow in its Montfortian
Charism and contribute significantly to
how education, in particular Catholic
Education, is provided for in Singapore.
Age Quod Agis!

Mr Stephen Chin

Principal
St Gabriel’s Secondary School

Being called to serve in St. Gabriel’s Secondary School has been a privilege and honour for
me. I have been richly blessed by the collegiality and warmth of a family deeply dedicated to
shaping lives for the service of God and Nation.
“I am ready to sacrifice my time, my health and my life for the souls of the poor in this
neglected house, if you think it the right thing for me to do.” St. Louis de Montfort
With this blessing, I am touched to serve the needs of our Gabrielite family while at the same
time, learn to grow with them. I believe that everyone has a positive core, no matter how
small that might be. And when we build on these positive cores, we will be able to harness
the strengths that will enable and encourage others. We seek to grow the strengths of each
Gabrielite so that we can begin becoming servant leaders who are lifelong learners and
gracious citizens.
“There is nothing more divine, nothing more noble or agreeable to God then to cooperate in
the work…” -St. Louis de Montfort
In this great Gabrielite family, we grow our community with respect, responsibility, resilience
and care. As educators, we endeavor to live our lives as authentic examples of growing
servant leaders. My motivation to serve comes from the deep love our educators have for
our students, who are full of mirth and life. I am inspired by being part of the larger global
family of educators and students who strive to live the values of our founding saint, St Louis
de Montfort.
“We are invited to live more and more in partnership with others and this is to be extended to
all people of good will.” -St. Louis de Montfort (No. 37).

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St Louis, The Eternal Educator

St. Louis Marie (Grignion) De Montfort:
Our Eternal Educator and Founder of the Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel

When we look at St Louis de Montfort’s life as an eternal
educator, you find many episodes of his life where his
simplicity, creativity and love for the innocence and education
of the young shine through. As a boy, he was the eldest
of the Grignion family and in helping his parents with the
education of his siblings, he delivers us a beautiful message
on educating others, “You will be beautiful and everyone will
love you if you love the Good God above everything else”.
It is this simple spiritual vision which guides and remains the cornerstone of the Montfortian
Brothers of St Gabriel’s who draw inspiration from Montfort, our eternal educator.
St Louis Marie (Grignion) De Montfort travelled thousands of
kilometers on foot identifying himself as one with the poor
and he was an undaunted champion educator of the poor.
This habit of walking summarizes his whole person as one
who walked his talk. The ones he chose to fulfill his calling
was always among the poor - the orphaned and ‘unteachable’
youths in the sub-urban parish, the Poorhouse and hospital
at Poitiers. At a school for the physically disabled, he placed
a large wooden cross in his class and he called it Montfort
La Sagesse (wisdom), and it is this wisdom which we try to
emulate and impart. An Eternal Wisdom.
His teaching method as an educator was to make teaching meaningful beyond just
content. It was to “touch hearts” and to appeal to the conscience and wisdom which
resides in us. He spoke effectively the language of the common people he served.
He was gentle, calm, charming and used simple stories and popular songs composed on
the melodies of his time to embed his message of love. His schools were run in an orderly
way and in his words, “God’s love for us is not only affective but also effective”. St Louis
de Montfort was an eternal educator and it is this spirituality which continues to inspire
us today. He was an educator, a missionary, an ascetic, a mystic, and also an architect,
a painter, a sculptor and a writer of spiritual books. He composed over 20,000 verses of
hymns on the popular tunes of the day and it is in his praise for ‘GOD ALONE’ that we sing
and celebrate our Gabrielite institutions today.
Our INSPIRATION;
St Louis Marie de Montfort & Our School Founders the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel
O Jesus living in Mary
Come and live in Your servants,
In the Spirit of Your Holiness,
In the Fullness of Your Might,
In the Truth of Your Virtues,
In the Perfection of Your Ways,
In the Communion of Your Mysteries,
Subdue every hostile power,
In your spirit, for the glory of the Father.
Amen.
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The Spread of the Gabrielite Mission

Organizations, institutions and histories go beyond one’s life and the spread of the Gabrielite
Mission is a beautiful story of creativity, innovation, rebirth, prayer and hope. It is this simple faith
which sows its movement as a worldwide network.

A Humble Beginning (1716 to 1815):

After Montfort’s death in 1716, the religious congregation he founded remained in France
and never exceeded more than a handful. In his will, “the Brothers of the Community of
the Holy Spirit” were set up “for the running of charitable schools”. The century however
ended in tragedy with the anti-religious movement of the French Revolution. Several
Gabrielite religious were killed, driving many into hiding.

Our Refounding (1821-1841):

In 1821, under the leadership of Fr Gabriel
Deshayes, the seventh Superior General of the
Montfortian religious congregations, the Gabrielite
community was revitalized. The Brothers who were
engaged in education were transferred to a house
called “Saint-Gabriel” and soon the inhabitants
of this house were known under the name: “The
Brothers of St. Gabriel ” in 1825. This name
replaced their former one and became official when
the Brothers were authorized to teach all over
France by a decree from Emperor Napoleon III on
March 3, 1853.

France & Canada (1842 – 1902):

The Brothers focused on Primary and Secondary School education, working at times
with Jesuits and other Priests. Their greatest contribution in this period was in the
education of the deaf and the blind and this movement slowly spread to Canada (1888)
and Egypt (1890).

The Seeds Scatter (1903 – 1945):

In 1903, another anti-religious movement led to the closure of Catholic Schools and the
banishment of 20,000 religious in France. This disaster led to the establishment of many
Gabrielite Brothers and their institutions in other European countries, Asia and Africa.

The Blossoming (1946-1965):

After the turmoil of World War Two, more provinces are founded throughout the world.

Iraq, Congo and
Central Africa, 1957

Columbia, 1961
Peru, 1962

Brazil, 1949

Senegal, 1954
Cameroon, 1964
Rwanda, 1965

Malaysia, 1955
Sri Lanka,
1956

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Thailand:

In Oct, 1901, Bro Hilaire (L) and Bro Martin de Tours
(R) arrive to run Assumption College in Bangkok.

India:

(L to R) Bro Denis, Bro John Baptist de la Sale and Bro
Martin de Vertou arrive in Pondicherry, India to run Petit
Seminary College in Sept, 1903 .

Malaya and Singapore:

(L to R) Bro John de Brebeuf, Bro Gerard Majella and
Bro Adophus were the first Gabrielite Brothers to arrive
in Singapore in 1936 to run Holy Innocents’ English
School (Montfort School) and set up St Joseph Trade
School and Orphanage (Boys’ Town and APS).

A New World (1965 till today):

The Council of Vatican II and the emergence of nationalism led to new challenges in
the 1960s. Lay collaborators started to play a crucial role in the educational mission of
the Brothers. More Gabrielite institutions were opened in Papua New Guinea (1968),
Mauritius (1969), Fiji, (1973), Haiti (1976), Tanzania (1983), Tonga (1989), Madagascar
and Poland (1997), the Philippines (1998), Guinea (1995), Burundi (2006), and Burkina
Faso (2007).
Today, the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel are in 32 countries, carrying out their mission
in education in all its aspects: Primary and Secondary Schools, Colleges, Universities,
Vocational and Informal education, Schools for the physically and mentally challenged,
social and human rights activities, religious and human formation and many more. They
work with other religious, lay associates and various partners to bring in a more just and
fraternal society, inspired by the Charism of Montfort and the audacity of Gabriel Deshayes.
The Gabrielite mission in the 21st century is today a world-wide movement. It brings new
challenges but also great opportunities for the education mission of the Montfort Brothers
of St. Gabriel. The courage, commitment and the spirit of innovation in the Congregation
lives on and it is this inheritance and spiritual vision of Montfort and Gabriel Deshayes
which guides us.
14

Timeline of the Brothers of St Gabriel in Singapore
The
Assumption Heritage
Assumption English School Assumption Pathway School

The
Montfort Heritage




The
St Gabriel’s Heritage

Boys’ Town

1936

1937 1941

Bro Gerard Majella arrived in SIngapore in 1936 to
run Holy Innocents’ English School.

1938
More Brothers came to teach in Singapore.
L to R: Bro Noel, Bro Adolphus,
Bro Louis Gonzaga, Bro Guy Stanislaus.
St Joseph’s Trade School started with 14 boys under
Bro Robert and Bro Galmier. Training was conducted
in two buildings donated by the Aw Brothers, Messrs
Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par.
15

1937 1941
1948

St Joseph’s Trade School reopened after the war with
fifteen orphans from Kampong Bahru Orphanage with. Bro
Vincent as Director. Boys’ Town was also officially founded
by Bro Vincent with the support of Mr. W.T. McDermott.

Singapore fell to the Japanese. From Dec
1943 to Oct 1945, several Brothers, teachers
and Catholics relocated to Bahau, Negeri
Sembilan where more than 500 settlers
lose their lives. Bro Vincent was interned in
prison with Mr. W.T. McDermott and the idea
of setting up Boys’ Town (BT) was mooted.

1953

1955

Boys’ Town had its own entrance from Bukit Timah
Road, thus opening Boys’ Town to the outside world.

Under Bro Louis Gonzaga, St Gabriel’s School
was set up for residents in the Serangoon and
Paya Lebar District.
Boys’ Town English School was started with Bro
Adolphus as the first Principal of Boys’ Town
English School.

1959

1960
Holy Innocents’ English School adopted the
name Montfort School.

1961 1975

Boys’ Town Old Boys’ Association (BTOBA) was
set up with Mr Wilfred James as the first President.

1969

The first graduating
batch of St Gabriel’s
boys formed the Old
Boys’ Association
(OBA) in 1961.
Pre-University Classes
were started in Montfort
School in 1961. Girls
were enrolled in the
school for the first time.

St Gabriel’s Primary School was set up at Highland
Road with Mr Paul Lee as the first Principal.

16

1971
1972

St Joseph’s Trade School was renamed Boys’
Town Vocational Institute.

The Old Montfortians’ Association (OMA) was set
up with Mr Leo Fernando as President.

1973
1974

The Secondary section of CHIJ Bukit Timah
merged with Boys’ Town English School to
become Assumption English School.

1988

Montfort School was run separately as Montfort
Junior School and Montfort Secondary School.
St Gabriel’s Primary School was relocated to
Lorong Chuan.

1991
1992

Montfort Junior School and Montfort Secondary
School were relocated to Hougang Avenue 8.

1994 1995

St Gabriel’s Secondary School was relocated to
Serangoon Ave 1.
The Primary Section of Assumption English
School was absorbed into St Anthony’s Primary
School.

1995
Boys’ Town VI was renamed Assumption
Vocational Institute to take in female students and
relocated temporarily to Dakota Crescent.

The St Gabriel’s Foundation was set up to
help run and manage the Gabrielite schools.

2001
Completion of new school building for Assumption
English School.
17

2003

2004

Montfort Junior School underwent PRIME and the
new building was completed.

2005
St Gabriel’s Secondary School PRIME Project
was completed.

New Indoor sports halls were built
for Montfort School and St Gabriel
Secondary School.

2009 2011
A new campus was built for St Gabriel’s Primary
School after undergoing PRIME.

2009
2012

AVI was upgraded with a grant of $28 million and
renamed Assumption Pathway School with an
initial enrollment of 300 students.
Montfort Secondary School underwent PRIME
and returned to its location at Hougang.

2013

After 3 years, a new centre for children, youth and families
was built for Boys’ Town (Singapore). This is to meet the
needs of a wider spectrum of youth-at-risk today, from
young children who have suffered various traumas to
older teens who still require care and counselling.
18

Assumption English School was relocated to Queensway
Road temporarily to make way for a brand new campus
in 2015.

The Assumption Heritage
Assumption English School, Assumption Pathway School and Boys’ Town have their
origins in a letter written from the Bishop of Malacca to the Brothers of St Gabriel in
Thailand. It read:
“For the Training School and Orphanage, I would propose a magnificent estate of 35
acres which the mission has around the Church at Bukit Timah on the main road to
Johore. This Trade School becomes more and more necessary for many other boys
who cannot find employment as clerks. We must train carpenters, joiners, mechanics,
electricians and even farmers”.

Seated (L to R): Miss Stuart, Miss Lim Shu Liang, Miss Conceicao, Mr Seah Cheng Liang,
Bro Vincent (Principal), Mrs Short, Mrs Helena Seah, Miss Oorloff, Miss Annie Goh.
Standing (L to R): Mr C.D. Souza, Mr Thanarajan, Mr Fernandez, Mr Goh Lay Siong, Bro Lazarus,
Mr Goh Kow Chai, Mr Sabapathy, Mr Anthony Kay, Bro Emmanuel, Bro Andrew, Mr Tan Wee Yong

In 1938, less than two years after the Brothers of St Gabriel first arrived in Singapore,
Bro Robert and Bro Galmier were tasked with opening the St Joseph’s Trade School
and Orphanage. With the help of local philanthropists like the Aw Brothers, the Gabrielite
Brothers overcame much financial and material hardship to set up a trade school.
St Joseph’s Trade School was shut down during the war but by 1948, with the return of the
Gabrielite Brothers, the vision of providing for the poor remained unwavering, if not urgent.

St Joseph Trade School 1938

Boarders in the 1950s

Entrance to AES near St Joseph Church (AES)

Our Big Red Machine

Workshop in the 1960s
19

When Boys’ Town expanded in 1951, the boys and staff
used their holidays and free time to make bricks, doors and
window frames. That was the Boys’ Town/Assumption Spirit.

“Let’s take these boys. Most of
them may not fit into ordinary
schools. So, let’s offer them the
next best thing. Let’s give them a
skill. The secret of our formation
and our training has been to make
the boys absolutely skillful when
they do something practical“.
– Bro Vincent

In 1953, Bro Vincent started an English School in the Upper Bukit Timah area because
“some of the boys in the Boys’ Town Boarding home were brilliant but came from difficult
circumstances. That vision led to the founding of Boys’ Town English School (later called
Assumption English School)
The three Gabrielite institutions in the Upper Bukit Timah area have since grown to
become Assumption English School, Assumption Pathway and Boys’ Town but with the
same mission of serving the needs of the community.
“It has a totally different purpose from all the other Gabrielite schools. It was a school with
a very different vision and mission. We wanted to cater for the children who needed a
second or even a third chance and I think we have achieved a lot in this”. – Bro Emmanuel
“You will know they are graduates from their skill. They could compete with anybody. You
can do it. I can do as good, if not better. They had that kind of mentality and that was not
just bluff. That was reality”. -Bro Vincent

20

The Montfort Heritage
“The influence of the Brothers brought good results both at the academic level and in others
as well. The health inspector in charge of schools noticed in his report that the general
health of the children had improved, as well as the moral tone of the school. This was due
to a closer supervision of the boys, which shows that devotion to professional duties always
pays dividends”. - Bro Louis Gonzaga, 1938.

Staff of 1936. Sitting (L to R): Mr Tay Keng Hock, Fr Ruaudel, Mr P.A. D’Costa, Fr Moses Koh,
Bro Gerard Majella, Fr Edward Becheras, Mr T.N.K. Menon.
Standing (L to R): Mr V.Victor, Mr D.F. Ess, Mr Thalap, Mr Lim Peng Chan, Mr Teo Kah Leng,
Mr Cher Poh Chia, Mr Leong Koo Chye

This was how Bro Louis Gonzaga described Holy Innocents’ English School, the precursor
of Montfort School. Previously a parish school set up in 1916 by Father Laurent, Parish
Priest of Serangoon, Holy Innocents’ English School received a momentous change in
1936 when the Brothers of St. Gabriel took charge of the school.
Bro Gerard Majella became its first Brother Director in 1937 and under him, the
educational ideas of the Brothers of St. Gabriel were first introduced to Singapore. Bro
Louis Gonzaga took over as Director in 1937 and returned to run the school immediately
after World War ll. Under his steady leadership and vision, the school emerged as “the
best school we had”.

Montfort School in 1936

Group work in the 1960s

Montfort School in the 1950s
with hawker peddling his food

“Montfort was the mother school that produced the other 2 schools. They were there
almost 20 years before the other two schools were built. They had a whole tradition
behind them. They had good results and they had a good reputation. They catered for the
rural people who were much simpler than the town people. The school was open to them,
day and night, until 8 o’clock in the evening. There were always students hanging around
in the classroom with teachers and Brothers attending to their needs which fostered a
family spirit”. – Bro Emmanuel
21

Funfair of the 1950s

Morning Assembly routine

Bro Adolphus, Bro Thomas,
Bro Louis Gonzaga, Bro Vincent
and Bro Noel on the grounds of
Nativity Church, 1940

Assembly at Holy Innocents’
English School

Prayer around the Statue of Mary
22

The Gabrielite Heritage
The setting up of St Gabriel’s School in 1953 at Hillside Drive in the Paya Lebar district
was the fulfillment of a “long cherished dream” of Bishop A. Devals to have a church,
convent and boy’s school all in the same area. In 1953, Bro Louis Gonzaga, one of the
pioneers of the Gabrielite mission in Singapore, called it a case of “good seeds” sowed
which had grown into “sturdy trees which would produce good fruit for the years to come”.
“There is strong family spirit in St Gabriel’s, a constant reference to the school
as a family and progressing as one family. There was community spirit that
was also inclusive of all who were new to the school.” – Mr Edmund James

Pioneer Teachers in 1954. Seated (L to R):
Mr Leo Remedios, Bro Raymond, Bro Elzear (Principal), Ms Kathleen Low, Mr Wong Liong Ting.
Standing (L to R): Mr Paul Lee, Mr Tan Buck Hai, Mr John Teo, Mr Sim Hak Chuan,
Mr Francis Grosse, Mr Francis Khoo

St Gabriel’s School at recess time

Studying at the Juniorate

National Day 1969

Assembly Time in 1987
23

“There was complete rivalry and even tears were shed when St
Gabriel’s Band came in top and Montfort came second. I didn’t
cry. I rejoiced because we were Gabrielite schools but people
don’t always see it that way.
There was a kind of healthy competition which made us want to
reach the top even among our own schools”.
- Bro Emmanuel

A Little Known Story
Most are familiar with the story of how St Gabriel’s school got its name from the house
where the Brothers of St Gabriel were residing during the time of Fr Gabriel Deshayes.
One more story from Bro Louis Gonzaga’s memoirs remains however, little known.
In 1944, Bro Vincent and Bro Adolphus were interned at Sime Road Concentration
Camp because of their Canadian citizenship. In prison, they found 20 boys of schoolgoing age imprisoned with them. Both Brothers took it upon themselves to educate the
youths and prepare them for Senior Cambridge Examinations. One can imagine the
hardships involved – food shortages, poor living conditions and the difficulty In getting
writing materials and books.When the war was over, the students sat for the Cambridge
examinations and many of them passed with flying colours. Bro Vincent had a name for
his class – “St Gabriel’s School”

Speech Day in 1974

1972 St Gabriel’s Sports Day

1976 Inter-Class Flag and Jersey Competition
24

Celebating as One
“To remember things is a joy forever,
and a noble past is a promise for a brighter future”
-Bishop Carlo Joseph,
Bishop of Ningxia and Apostolic Visitor for Overseas Chinese, 1961

Silver Jubilee 1961

Golden Jubilee Mass and Parade 1987

Inter-Gabrielite Games
25

Assumption Pathway School
30 Cashew Rd, S (679697)
Phone: 6879 3900

52 Hougang Avenue 8, S (538786)
Phone: 6510 1588

50 Hougang Avenue 8, S (538785)
Phone: 6510 7070

20 Lorong Chuan, S (556742)
Phone: 6280 3628

a touche design production @ 6659 1876

Assumption English School
622 Upper Bukit Timah Road S (678117)
Phone: 6572 9100

24 Serangoon Avenue 1, S (556140)
Phone: 6288 9470

Boys’ Town Singapore
624 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S (678212)
Phone: 6690 5420

ST. GABRIEL’S FOUNDATION
c/o Montfort Centre,
624 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678212
Tel: 67695711
Email: SGF@montfortcentre.org
30

Montfortian Education in Singapore since 1936

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