It was a double-joy occasion for the Lasallian alumni when Brother Dr. Michael Jacques FSC and Brother Paul Ho Kok Chee FSC were each conferred the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) by the Penang Governor in conjunction with his 71st birthday. The DSPN award which carries the title of Datuk. Their Datukship is well deserved.
Brother Michael spent more than 50 years of his life educating and touching the hearts of young Malaysians. He joined the La Salle Order in 1935 at the age of 19. As a young Brother he served the Institute of the De La Salle Brothers of the Christian Schools in various capacities from 1938 until his retirement in May, 1985. Even in retirement, he actively serves in different capacities in the various State and National School Councils/Boards, always having the students at heart. Now at a golden age, he continues to play an active role as the Advisor to the Malayan Christian Schools Council, the Malaysian Federation of La Sallian Associations, the Xaverian Club Kuala Lumpur and the St. Francis’ Club, Kuala Lumpur – not mentioning his involvement in the Boards of several Lasallian Schools as well as that of Stella Maris Primary and Secondary Schools. As the first Asian to be appointed as the Assistant Superior General for Asia in 1966, he was responsible for the Brothers’ Communities and Schools in Burma, Ceylon, Pakistan, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. For the next ten years of his tenure, he was based in Rome during which time he guided and moderated the forces of change affecting the Brothers’ work in one country after another. Brother Michael recently celebrated his 93rd birthday at a recently held dinner organized in his honour. [Note: Articles on Brother Michael can be read at the e-Lasallian Family website. URL: www.e-Lasallian.org] Brother Paul Ho needs no introduction. He is a dedicated, approachable educator and is well-acknowledged by rogue students as one who does not tolerate any nonsense when it comes to discipline. He recently retired as the Principal of the St. Xavier’s Institution, Penang, a post he held since 1993. The students, teachers, staff and Old Xaverians bid him farewell at a memorial concert. It was an emotional evening. Tears filled the eyes soon as the school band started striking up Time to say goodbye, Memory and When will you come back again. It was indeed a unforgettable evening. Bro. Paul became a La Salle Brother at the age of 20. He feels that life as a Brother is wonderful especially when it comes to touching the lives of young people. He confesses that the driving force behind his religious life is prayer and God's inspiration. "Only God and prayer can help me to hold on as a Brother." Bro. Paul will be taking things easy for a while before migrating to Australia to be with his family members. Members of the e-Lasallian Family Network wish him all the best in his next mission. We hope he will continue to keep us abreast of the good work he will be doing. [Note: You can read more about Brother Datuk Paul Ho at the e-Lasallian Family Website under the “La Salle Brothers” category. URL www.e-Lasallian.org] Note: Two other Brothers who have previously received a Datukship for their immense contributions to Malaysian education are Brother Datuk Charles O’Leary (Sabah) and Brother Dato’ Lawrence Spitzig (Kuala Lumpur).
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