EVENTS | LUMEN 9 been teaching English and Literature in St Francis Institution ( SFI ) for many years and is the last remaining teaching Brother in West Malaysia . SFI , established in 1880 and headed by Brother Director Ambrose Loke since 1988 , has a student population of 1,200 .
Br Butch Alcudia who currently resides in Bacolod , Philippines , is a young Brother who shared his experience about what it means to him to serve God as a La Salle Brother .
Over the four days , the boys from multicultural backgrounds bonded over meals , games , movies and football , to experience the life of community living . In the quiet rustic laid-back environment in the Brothers ’ bungalow , the boys also took time to reflect on their lives and their relationship with God .
The boys from SFI also became tour guide for a day , and brought the Brothers and boys on a tour around the city and to their school , which sits at the heart of Malacca town . Exploring the heritage walk along Jonker Street and Heeran Street , and up the hill where St . Paul ' s Church sits , the boys spent a quiet moment to
By the end of the camp , the boys took to heart the mission and vocation of St John Baptist de La Salle and the La Salle Brothers ... that the Brothers ’ vocation is equally important like the priests and sisters ( in convents ), and their role in the schools .
This page ( top left ): The Brothers and the boys
This page ( top right ): The boys on the heritage trail at Melaka city centre
This page ( centre ): Bro Butch shares with the boys what it entails to be a Brother today
This page ( bottom left ): The beautiful chapel at SFI recite a decade of rosary around the former tomb of Saint Francis Xavier , an active pioneering Catholic missionary of Southeast Asia who had visited Malacca in 1545 . ( His body was temporarily interred in St . Paul ’ s Church burial vault from March – December 1553 after his death in China in 1552 , before being transferred to Portuguese Goa on the west coast of India where it remains today .)
By the end of the camp , the boys took to heart the mission and vocation of St John Baptist de La Salle and the La Salle Brothers . Shaun Tan from SFI , learnt that the Brothers ’ vocation is equally important like the priests and sisters ( in convents ), and their role in the schools . He would , if God ' s will , consider becoming a Brother .
Rahul Ashwill Dennis from St John ' s Institution , learnt much about St John Baptist de La Salle , and he hopes to attend this camp again in future .
Jared Daniel De Souza from St Patrick ’ s School shared that the world would be different without the La Salle Brothers . He felt the most meaningful time was spent in the Chapel .
Matthew Gan ZiQin from St Joseph ’ s Institution , said , “ Before coming for this camp , I didn ' t have much understanding and respect for the Brothers . But from this camp , I learnt about the sacrifices the Brothers have made and the work they have done .”
The La Salle Brothers will be conducting vocation camps twice a year . If you are interested to know the Brothers better or are considering the vocation as a Brother , email Bro . Kelvin ( bro . kelvin @ sji . edu . sg ) for more details . Live Jesus in our hearts , forever .