Bro Emmanuel

Writeout on 60^th Anniversary of Bro Emmanuel as Brother of St Gabriel’s in 2013 for SGSS School Annual

Always jovial, inspiring and a role-model for so many of us, Brother Emmanuel first came to Singapore in 1954 and began his teaching career at Montfort School, then called Holy Innocents’ English School. He was also Principal of Boys’ Town English School/ Assumption English School (1960, 1963 - 1966), St Gabriel’s School (1960 - 1963,1969- to 1974) and Director of Boys’ Town for more than 30 years.

Born on 28 October 1933 in Montreal, Canada, Brother. Emmanuel came from a family of 10 children and grew up in a Gabrielite institution. During an outing to a Gabrielite training centre at St Bruno,  one of the Gabrielite brothers told Bro. Emmanuel ,“Have a good look. This is the place where people who wish to give their lives to God as brothers can come. And I think God may have an invitation for you.”. Those words  inspired him as well as a desire to help others like St Louis Marie de Montfort did. Other Brothers like  Bro. Dede , his teacher, nurtured his vocation

Brother Emmanuel became a Singapore citizen when Singapore gained independence and has dedicated himself to his adopted country. His many services to the nation were recognized when he was awarded the Public Service Medal by the Singapore Government. In 1995, he was given the Public Service Star in appreciation of his commitment to the youth of Singapore. He continues to serve as Justice of Peace, Chairman of the Catholic Welfare Services and of course, our beloved Supervisor of Schools!

During these 58 years in Singapore, Brother Emmanuel has touched countless lives at Holy Innocent's English School, St. Gabriel's and Boys' Town and through the many Catholic ministries he has been involved in.

God Bless You, Brother Emmanuel! Thank you for the very special and unique Montfortian way you pray, care and inspire us l! Ad Multos Annos!

A self portrait of a Smiling Tiger

The gentle soft-spoken Gabrielite Brother has a nickname ‘The Smilng Tiger;, a disciplinarian who whose cane has graced the backsides of many old boys – perhaps even of some priests who were his students. He was strict but always fair, reasonable and caring. 

My policy is,  “If you are brave enough to break the school rules, you are brave enough to take the punishment. I don’t think any of the old students who got caned have come to me and say I had mistreated them because I always give them a chance to explain themselves.” Bro Emmanuel said. “No one should ever cane a boy on impulse.” he cautioned.

Many of those whom he caned have told him of the need for the discipline they received from him and he is happy to know he has been a positive influence in their lives. They tell him, “What you told us is true, Brother”. Brother Emmanuel had told them that “if you continue like that, you will end up in prison some day.” And those who went away with bad memories are the ones who return with their children!” Brother Emmanuel laughed. “It is very sacred because when they become role models, it’s worth 10 lessons of my cathechism classes!”

 Brother Emmanuel promised God that he would not stop serving and is living his proise, actively serving the needs of the Catholic community in Singapore at Boys’ Town and through the Catholic Welfare Services, just to name a few. The Gabrielite Brother aspires to go on for as long as God is willing.

Bro Fernand Joseph

Bro Fernand Joseph was born Jean-Paul Blouin and a Canadian missionary who came to the East without much fluency in English. he started his missionary work in Singapore Boys' Town in t he Printing section. He grew to become very knowledgeable about farming.

Bro Fernand was a quiet worker and shy by nature. He was introverted but a devout and religious man. He could be shy but he when he opened up, he had a fantastic sense of huour.

He quickly mastered the English Language and served as the Secretary of the Superintendent of Montfort Boys' Towh in Shah Alam for many years. As he grew older, he desired to return to retire in Canada and to be with his elderly brother and sister.

He left Malaysia for Canada on 24 June, 1977. Several years after he returned to Canada, he passed away in 1990 at the age of 76,

Bro Henry@Henri Auray

Bro Henri was born in France and first did his Missionary Work in India. When he heard that help was needed in Singapore, he wasted no time in offering his help to be sent to Singapore. He worked in Singapore for some time at Boys' Town Singapore for some time as Head of the Carpentry section.

He built a well-known reputation for the products his students made and attracted customers who ordered all kinds of furniture from him.

When Montfort Boys' Town was set up in Malaysia, he accepted an offer to work there and arrived in January 2, 1960. He had to start everything from scratch. He built his own workshops and programmes for the boys. He was so popular that demand for his products escalated beyond the Home's wildest dreams.

In addition to carpentry, Bro Henry also loved plants and flowers. The Home's garden was his pride and joy. He also developed his talents in sculpture and painting. He spoke several languages such as Tamil, Telegu, English and even some Malay.

On 7 Dec, 1992, Bro Henry  passed on in Montfort Boys' Town, Shah Alam.

Bro Evariste

Bro Evariste Zephir Bourassa came to the East after more than 30 years as a Brother of St Gabriel in Canada. During his time in Canada, he served in schools, especially in a Reformatory School for boys in Montreal.

Along with Bro Elzear, he left Canada for Singapore  in 1949 and made his way to Malay. It is believed that he was in his 40s when he left Canada and when he left, he vowed never to return home. Such was his dedication to the educative mission of the Brothers of St gabriel.

He dedicated the rest of his life to education and character formation to all whom he cared for when he was in Malaya and Singapore. He was a builder, a teacher, a musician and a jack of all trades. Bro Evariste passed on in 1985 at the age of 86 in Montfort Boys' Town, Shah Alam, Selangor.

Bro Elzear (Bertrand Roberge)

Bro Bertrand Roberge also called Bro Elzear was trained as a teacher and served as a missionary in India and Singapore, before beginning his missionary work in Malaysia.

He arrived to take charge of St Gabriel's School from 1954 to 1955. He had also taught at Holy Innocents' English School. He was one of the 4 pioneer Brothers who went on to start out at first Serandah Boys' Home and then later Montfort Boys' Town in 1959 and served until Jan 11, 1965. He was responsible for more than half of the early buildings at Boys' Town Youth Centre in Shah Alam.

He was a brilliant and courageous man who loved the challenges of difficult projects. he also loved hunting as a sport. He was extremely prayerful and played a key role in the evolution of the missionary projects in Malaysia.

Under his leadership and with his personal charisma, he attracted many benefactors to the development of the Gabrielite Brothers in Malaysia. In the ensuing years, Bro Robierge returned to Montfort Bos' Town between 1970 to 173 where he helped to intiate evevn more new buildings and workshops.

He later left the Brothers of St Gabriel and became a Capuchin monk and  founded the Prayer Center in Ulu Tiram. He was also Vicar-General of the Diocese of Johor. Bro Roberge died when he suffered a massive heart attack in General Hospital in Johor in 1990 at the age of 69.

According to Bro Basil who visited him in Ulu Tiram when he was a a monk, the place was located behind an abbatoir where pigs were slaughtered. The pigs would squeal at 3am in the morning and that was the time when they would wake up for prayers. The prayer center of funds and money was on the shortfall. Divine Providence however came to their aid. On one occasion, it was said that it was raining heavily and a thunderstorm lashed out at the church where he lived. Lightning however struck the electricity meter and when they go the electricity running again, they discovered that the meter was no longer working but the electricity was runnin gas paer normal. They needed to pay only a few cents that month for their electricity. The Lord works in deed in mysterious ways.

Bro Bernardine

Bro Bernardine came to Singapore in June 1947 to teach in Holy Innocents'  English School. In early 1947, he was sent to India and in 1950, he returned to teach in Canada. In August 1960, he returnd to Singapore to teach at St Gabriel's School for 4 months before he was transferred to Montfort School in December the same year. He remained in Montfort School for 10 years. In January 1970, he went to Malaysia to teach.

In January 1972, he went to Papua New Guinea to teach and returned to Canada in April 1976.

According to an old boy of the school, he loved Science so much that he told boys that they should not take part in CCA so much if it affected their studies but instead focus on their studies!

Bro Andrew

Bro Andrew was born Andrew Charbonneau and lived between 1925 to 2007. In 1959, he arrived in Singapore and served as a teacher in Montfort School until 1965. In February 1966, he went to Rome for a renewal course and went on sabbatical leae to Ccanada. In Dec 1966, he returned to teach in Montfort School until Dec 1971. He was then transferred to Papua-New Guinea in 1972 and stayed there until 1974. He returned to teach again in Montfort School in 1975 to teach for a year. He spent his retirement in Canada until his death in 2007.

Bro Andrew was well-loved as a Brother and his passion was for music and starting the band in the school.