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LUMEN | FEATURE
TheHeart Knowledge at SJI
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By Mrs Boey Wah Fong , Mrs Mishaelle Chua and Mr Nigel Fabular
Sitting inconspicuously at a corner tucked away on the second floor of Block L ( named after Brother Liefroy Bajon , the first Principal of SJI from 1852 to 1862 ), the SJI library , better known as the Beurel , has been a source of knowledge for many Josephians in the past two decades since its establishment . Once inside , patrons to the Beurel are often awed by the bright and well-lit space and the comfort it brings that makes every visitor feel at home almost immediately .
The Beurel Library was officially opened on 6 April 2001 by then Minister of Education , Mr . Teo Chee Hean , a thirdgeneration Josephian . The library was named Beurel , after the French missionary and priest
at Cathedral of the Good Shepherd , Reverend Father Jean-Marie Beurel who initiated the establishment of Catholic schools in Singapore in the 1800s . The first six De La Salle Brothers , in the footsteps of their founder , St John Baptist de La Salle , arrived from Europe in 1852 in response to the invitation and persistence of Fr . Beurel , to start a school for the poor in pre-independent Singapore . Fr Beurel offered a former chapel for the Brothers to run their school but within a year , an attap hut had to be erected to accommodate the overflow from the chapel . On 22 July 1852 , St . John ' s School started as a free school at Bras Basah Road that depended on the support of the public . As the number of students wanting enrolment in the school increased , the cornerstone of the expansion was laid on the Feast of St Joseph on 19 March 1955 . From this date , the school was named St . Joseph ’ s Institution .
The story of the school ’ s history is beautifully depicted on the huge stained glass window that catches the eye of every visitor who enters the library . Also inscribed on the stained glass is a biblical passage from Matthew 19:14 , where Jesus says ; “ Let the children come to me . The kingdom of heaven belongs to them ”. This inscription signifies a deeper mission and purpose of the school as merely an educational institution for academic progress . The school
is not just a place of learning , but also a place to encounter God and to experience the mysterious presence of the Divine . This is expressed in the eye-shaped design of the stained glass window , where the circular shape represents the eye of God and the illustration of students who are at the core of the Lasallian mission .
With its wide selection of interesting books and other resources , the Beurel is a beacon to all the keen readers in the school . The Year 1 students in particular , are invariably delighted when they visit for the first time ; they love the