Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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Good evening,

Brothers, and distinguished guests.

It is my pleasure this evening to be here, and to launch the book, "LaSalle Brothers, Malaya & Singapore, 1852-1952". Since the LaSalle Brothers founded St. Joseph’s Institution in 1852 on the site of this very building, the De LaSalle Brothers have made and I believe, will continue to make a significant contribution to the educational development of Singapore. This book chronicles the story of the LaSalle Brothers’ mission. I would like to commend the author, Mr Francis Brown, a former teacher of St. Joseph’s Institution, for his objective and readable account, which I am sure is a labour of love.

In the light of our effort to teach our young the story of Singapore, Mr Brown’s book can become another resource material. The story of the LaSalle brothers is instructive. It speaks of a time and age when people strongly believed in and respected hard work and sacrifice, and people maintained faith even in the face of extreme adversity. The early Christian Brothers had to endure a different climate and continual hardship in a foreign land. Their way of life was austere and in war time, they were not spared persecution, imprisonment nor death. Yet the Brothers persisted in their good work, never doubting the importance of providing an education for the people, an education from which many benefited, including the poor and the disadvantaged. I too have benefited from this noble cause. My growth and development as a person has its roots in the nurturing that my alma mater provided for me in my youth. Thank you, Brothers.

I share the Brothers’ conviction in the importance of education. In fact, the Brothers so firmly believed that education is the key to a bright future that they would put their combined salaries in a common fund and invest the sum in new schools. Such traits of selflessness, hard work and resilience mark the work of the Brothers. And it is these very traits which we hope to inculcate in our young. There is more than a lesson that we can encourage our children to take from the pages of this book.

The Ministry of Education recently launched the document, "Desired Outcomes of Education". These educational outcomes distil what principals, teachers and educators have always subscribed to in their professional calling. From the account of the good work and life habits of the LaSalle Brothers, I am sure the Brothers can readily identify with the spirit of the Desired Outcomes of Education. I hope their story of hard work and selfless sacrifice, combined with moral integrity and a strong sense of social responsibility, would inspire our young to be resilient, resolute and robust, always putting the interest of others before self.

The mission of the LaSalle Brothers has had an honourable past in furthering the cause of education in Singapore. It has functioned as a guiding light for many who have passed through the doors of the mission. May this beacon of light continue to be inspired by the vision and spirit of the LaSalle Brothers, and continue to shine on those whom they come into contact with.

Thank you.

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