“All to Jesus through Mary, all to Mary for Jesus” was the motto of St Marcellin Champagnat, founder of Marist Brothers, a religious community which follows Jesus in the way that Mary did.

One of the important feast days of the Blessed Mother Mary, “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, is celebrated on 12 Dec. It is on this day that a faithful Marist Brother is laid to his final resting place. Br John Lek, FMS was 77.

During the funeral mass, Fr Adrian Yeo emphasized that Br John’s personal mission is to make a difference in the lives of others, stemming from his tremendous love for God. His failing health didn’t deter him from this mission. He chose to continue serving in Maris Stella High and in Catholic Kindergarten.

To know more about Br John as an educator, click here for a feature article we did on him a few years back.

Prayer
Eternal rest grant upon Br John Lek, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen

Catholic educators in Singapore, along with the CHIJ family of schools, mourn the loss of Sr Deirdre O’Loan, supervisor of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Schools. Sr Deirdre – or “Sister D”, as her students fondly called her – returned to the Lord on the morning of 13 August, Saturday, at 83-years-old.

A stalwart in Singapore’s Catholic education scene, Sr Deirdre committed her tireless efforts to the improvement and growth of our local Catholic schools. The eldest daughter of an Irish family, she became a nun at the age of 17, and taught in Malaysia for several years before coming to Singapore in 1974. She began teaching General Paper in Catholic Junior College upon its founding in 1975, and took on several leadership roles in her time at the school (Head of English department, vice-principal and principal).

Sr Deirdre left a lasting impression on her students at CJC, who remember her as a stern, yet warmly approachable, mother figure. From giving words of encouragement to students personally, to straightening out their uniforms, Sr Deirdre struck an impeccable balance between discipline and compassion. Khairul Nizam, 39, a CJC alumnus, fondly remembers Sister D as an educator who valued character above academic brilliance, with an open door policy. “She was probably the only person who could chastise me but would earn none of my contempt,” he recalled. “I felt that she had my interests at heart, unlike other authority figures that I had dealings with.”

Another CJC graduate, Simon Tan, 51, said her faith in him helped to realise his potential and become a litigation lawyer. “When I did badly in the examinations, Sister D never took me to task. I remember her faith in me. It gave me greater resolve and fortitude to do my ‘A’ Levels again as a private candidate during my National Service. Without Sister D, I would have given up and despaired.”

Upon completing her six-year stint as the principal of CJC, she was appointed the Supervisor of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Schools in 1994. Overseeing 11 convent schools, Sr Deirdre worked closely with their principals, offering invaluable guidance, support and spiritual direction. Throughout her 22 years of service on the CHIJ Board of Management, she was known to many in the IJ community – students and teachers alike – for her generosity, love and wisdom.

For Vivienne Lim, chairman of the CHIJ Board of Management, one thing that stood out for her was how everyone was important to Sr Deirdre. “I was constantly amazed at how she remembered the names and details of so many persons, from staff to the carpark attendant,” she said. “This stemmed from the fact that to her, every person she met was important and worth her attention and concern.”

In recognition of her immense contribution to Singaporean education, she was presented with the Public Service Star (Bintang Bakti Masyarakat) by President Tony Tan Keng Yam during the Investiture of the 2014 National Day Awards.

Indeed, Sr Deirdre left an indelible mark on the lives she has touched. In her lifetime, one of her favourite quotes is by the Blessed Father Nicholas Barre, “Whatever happens, remain always in peace and trust in God”. Ms Lim remembers how Sr Deirdre always emphasised how each child is a unique creation of God and gifted with unique qualities, and how schools should serve to draw out the best in each and every child. “Sister D gave her entire life to God, to educating our young and forming them with God’s love. We are the beneficiaries of her sacrifice.”

On the morning of 15 March 2016, Tuesday, the Singapore Church lost one of its brightest minds. As we remember Rev Fr (Dr) Robert Balhetchet, former Rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, we also examine the lessons we can learn from his service as educators.

Fr Robert – or ‘Fr Bob’, as he was affectionately referred to by his parishioners – was intelligent and deeply intellectual, having learned to speak in nine languages and doing exceptionally well in school. He attended St Joseph’s Institution, where he finished his A Levels at the age of 14. But his heart was set on the priesthood at a young age. Having been introduced by his parish priest from the Church of the Holy Family, Fr Ashness, to the Minor Seminary’s Superior in 1954, he began his priestly studies and was ordained 10 years later at the age of 24. Thereafter, he was appointed Assistant Rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

Employing his intellectual talents for the Church by studying the Vatican II documents on Ecclesiology in Rome, he earned a doctorate at the age of 37, and taught at College General in Penang. Apart from his academic achievements, he also proved to be effective at handling administrative affairs, overseeing the iconic papal visit of Pope John Paul II to Singapore in 1986.

But Fr Robert’s most notable contribution to Singapore education was in the 1980s. Back then, the Government had become increasingly concerned about the rapidly modernising trends that were shaping society. The late Dr Goh Keng Swee, then Minister for Education and Deputy Prime Minister, appointed Fr Robert to construct a curriculum for a new moral education programme to be taught in schools.

Titled ‘Being and Becoming’, the programme was implemented for lower-secondary students the year after, and resonated with the suggestions of the review committee headed by the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, then Acting Minister for Culture. Amidst the precarious religious and social dynamics of the country, Fr Robert managed to create a moral education curriculum that was suitable for all students, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.

Fr Robert taught moral and religious education at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, where he touched the lives of many young people. Sr Maria Lau, Provincial of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus in Singapore and former principal of Catholic Junior College, remembers Fr Robert as a man who gave generously of himself whenever he commits to a project or task. She added, “Fr Bob had both breadth and depth, and he taught with passion.”

Even after his work was done with the education ministry, Fr Robert still remained deeply concerned about the mission. In a 2002 interview with the New Paper, he voiced his concerns about the disparate focus on academic subjects blotting out room for the formation of values through moral education.

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:25) The Lord’s words in the Gospel of Luke captures one of the essential struggles in our education mission today. We are called to impart critical life skills and fundamental academic knowledge, while remembering to instill paramount virtues that a young person should grow up with.
Fr Robert’s life and dedication serves as a valuable example for educators to never neglect our duty in nurturing the lives of our students, and guiding them towards being upright and responsible men and women. More so than any technical knowledge, what they learn from us about integrity, truthfulness, compassion and respect will serve them well and help them maintain fruitful relationships for the rest of their lives.

We pray for the repose of Fr Robert’s soul, and that we will continue our work in shepherding God’s beloved young people.