Administration

Vision and Mission

Vision and Mission

1.1 St. Francis Xavier’s College shall operate as a “Catholic” school. Its “Catholic” identity shall be recognized in so far as it conforms with the criteria set by the Catholic Church [see Canon 803 §§1-3 and related Canons 804-806 of the Code of Canon Law (promulgated in 1983), quoted in the Appendix; also refer to Vatican II, Declaration on Christian Education (28 October 1965), 8-9; Congregation for Catholic Education, Instruction “The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School” (7 April 1988)].

With a determination to carry on the contribution of the Catholic Church to education, the School, as its vision and mission, shall uphold and pass on the following core values to young people to prepare them properly for their life and future responsibilities –

1.1.1 Truth: It is what the human intellect is searching for –

(a) Human reason’s capacity for truth must be upheld, and the desire for truth, especially the truth about God and about the meaning of life, must always be encouraged and kept alive.

(b) Wisdom, which enables a person to distinguish right from wrong, and good from evil, must be treasured above all other kinds of knowledge.

(c) Honesty demands that a person tell the truth and put it into practice, even at the cost of making a great sacrifice.

1.1.2 Justice: It is the moral virtue that consists of a constant and resolute will to give to God and one’s neighbours their due –

(a) Justice towards God is called the “virtue of religion”; and justice towards one’s neighbours disposes one to respect the rights of others and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to individual persons and to the common good.

(b) Human dignity can be protected and promoted, and the wellbeing of society can be achieved, only if human rights are respected and individuals undertake their responsibilities for one another, for their own families, and for society.

1.1.3 Love: It is the greatest of all virtues –

(a) God, the source of life and goodness, has created everything out of love, and has called the whole human family to be His children. As a member of God’s family, one’s goals in life are to share God’s happiness, to love God above all things and love one’s neighbours as brothers and sisters.

(b) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of humankind, is the model of selfless love and humble service to others.

(c) The practice of all the virtues is to be inspired and motivated by love, so that all aspects of human life and interpersonal relationship may be bound together in perfect harmony.

(d) Love surpasses the strict measure of justice and urges one to care for the poor and the needy, and to make a preferential option for the underprivileged and marginalized in society.

1.1.4 Life: It is a priceless gift from God and is sacred in itself –

(a) Every human person is created in the image of God and has the right to life, which must be respected from its conception to its natural end.

(b) In the spirit of the “Beatitudes” as taught in the Gospel, the tribulations and adversities in life are to be faced with serenity and hope.

(c) Every person is entitled to have whatever is necessary for a decent and dignified existence.

(d) Only a society which respects human life can bring happiness to all.

1.1.5 Family: It is the basic unit of society –

(a) Only pure love, the unreserved mutual self-giving between husband and wife, is truly gratifying; a happy, wholesome marriage is prepared by the practice of the virtue of chastity and sustained by fidelity and an indissoluble, lifelong commitment.

(b) Inasmuch as sex is an integral part of conjugal life and has its own dignity, a balanced sex education must follow a holistic and in-depth approach, with emphasis on the virtues of self-discipline and mutual respect between a man and a woman.

(c) Marriage is the foundation of a family; an intact and united family is a permanent support for husband and wife, and for parents and children, in achieving their goals in life; an intact and united family is likewise a most favourable setting for the upbringing of children and young people, and a necessary condition for the wellbeing of human society.

1.2 The School shall cultivate the above core values by –

1.2.1 upholding the time-honoured practice of respecting and collaborating with stakeholders with diverse backgrounds in achieving the School’s vision and mission as set out in this Article, in the awareness that the success of education depends on the joint effort of all parties concerned (refer to Canon 796§2 and Canon 800§2 of the Code of Canon Law, quoted in the Appendix);

1.2.2 providing a family environment imbued with mutual trust and love in the School; and

1.2.3 incorporating in the formal school curriculum Religious Education courses designed by the SSB (as defined herein), and fostering a Catholic spirit through religious practices held regularly in the School, such as morning prayers and religious activities held regularly for staff and students.

1.3 The School was established by “The Visitor in Hong Kong of the Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools” whose founder St. Marcellin Champagnat had passed on the following beliefs and ideals as an integral part of his educational vision and mission –

1.3.1 That we should make Jesus known and loved among the young and the children, especially the poor and the least favoured.

1.3.2 That to bring up children properly, we must love them, and love them all equally.

1.3.3 That each of our students would cherish the love of God and accordingly develop his potentials fully, lead a meaningful life as an individual, and take a contributing role in society.

1.4 With due regard for the core values set out in Article 2.1, the School shall also strive to put the aforementioned beliefs and ideals into practice by inculcating in the school environment the following –

1.4.1 Opportunity be provided for the students to learn the Gospel of Christ in order to enrich their spiritual life.

1.4.2 Our students be nurtured with Marist Style of Education that they may get a whole-person education and develop their moral, intellectual, physical, social and aesthetic potentials.

1.4.3 That our students be instilled with the proper moral values so that they have positive goals of life, and have concern about others in the society.

1.4.4 That our students may build up with confidence, interpersonal relationship and leadership skills so that they are able to meet future challenges and changes.

School Motto

Our spirit is clearly stated in the School Motto:

“Gentle in Manner; Resolute in Action” (溫良剛毅)

and is rightly signified by the school colours: Green and White.

The habit of being “Gentle in Manner” arises out of our respect for others. The realization that each individual is as much the child of our Heavenly Father as ourselves, requires us to consider the well-being and feelings of others just as important as ours: hence the avoidance of hurting people whether intentionally or out of negligence.
 
Being “Resolute in Action” is a basic attitude of those who are to achieve anything worthwhile. The Patron Saint of our school, St. Francis Xavier himself, is a very fit example of firm resolution. When he was convinced that love of God is more important than fame or success, St. Francis Xavier spent the rest of his life leading people to a fuller life of grace.
 
Anyone who possesses the qualities described by our motto, is one who has sufficient confidence in himself. He does not need to boast, to show off, to despise others, or to possess expensive articles so as to uplift his self-esteem. At the same time, for worthwhile objectives in life, he takes steps and works hard to attain them.
 
Green is the colour of most plants, the best example of gentle strength. The growth is so “Gentle” that it is almost imperceptible, however, it is so “Resolute” that nothing seems able to stop it. This strength from within is the one that really lasts.
 
The white colour, that stands for purity, is another expression of this interior strength. We do not need pleasant and decorative colours to hide ourselves behind, for there is nothing ugly inside. Xaverians are courageous enough to accept their uniqueness and limitations, and are conscientious enough to develop and make use of their strengths and talents, simply and without arrogance.
 
In short, a true Xaverian is one who strives resolutely for excellence while being considerate and respectful to others.

Missionary Society - St. Marcellin Champagnat and Marist Brothers

The Marist Brothers were founded in 1817 by St. Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest who combated the illiteracy and spiritual poverty in Post-Revolutionary France.

Marcellin was born in Marlhes, France on May 20, 1789. During the French Revolution, Marcellin did not attend school regularly like all the other children in that period. He only attended school for one day at age 11 and that experience was horrifying as Marcellin watched a school teacher beat a student who tried to answer a question that had been posed to Marcellin. He left school that day and did not return to formal education until he entered the seminary at age 16.

Although gifted with natural intelligence, Marcellin had to struggle to become a seminarian. With determination and perseverance, he managed to meet all his academic requirements. Marcellin's concern for the education of children and young people was rooted in his own educational experience. The memories of the teacher beating the student and the recollections of his academic struggles were the basis of his educational philosophy, “To educate children you must love them and love them all equally.”

After receiving his ordination in 1816, Marcellin was called to the Montagne home where 16-year-old Jean-Baptiste Montagne was dying. From the confession of Jean-Baptiste Montagne, he realized that the young man had little religious or academic education and that convinced him of the importance of combating the illiteracy and spiritual poverty of the young people in rural France.

After his ordination in 1817, Marcellin gathered a small group of associates who shared the same vision and founded a religious community called “The Little Brothers of Mary” -- now called “The Marist Brothers of the Schools”. Marcellin said that the community of Marist Brothers was dedicated to helping young people, especially those most neglected, and educating them about the love of Jesus Christ through Mary. The Marist Brothers are known for 5 distinctive education styles: Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, Love of Work and In the way of Mary.

The first Marist school opened in LaValla, followed by Marlhes, France in 1819. Soon, the Marist Brothers earned a reputation as teachers. Marcellin's mission quickly spread to other countries. By the 20th century, the Marist Brothers were found in many countries around the world.

Marcellin died in 1840, at the age of 51, due to ill health caused by his frequent travels and endless hours of manual labor. In 1955, Marcellin Champagnat was declared Blessed by Pope Pius XII. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 18, 1999.

Today, Saint Marcellin Champagnat's legacy lives on with more than 3,400 Marist Brothers worldwide. The Marist Brothers continue to change the lives of young people through education and spirituality.

Patron Saint - St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier was born on 7th April 1506 in Xavier Castle, Navarre, Spain. He was raised in a noble family, however, his childhood was disrupted by his father’s death and the invasion of Navarre. He left his family and went to study at the University of Paris in 1525. In 1530, he obtained the degree of Master of Arts and taught philosophy where he later met St. Ignatius Loyola, who became his faithful companion.

Xavier decided to devote his life to Catholic missionary service together with Loyola and other associates, in which they founded the Society of Jesus in 1534. They vowed poverty, chastity and apostolic service at Montmartre.

In 1536, he went to Venice and worked in the local hospital helping the sick. Then he became a priest in the following year and went to Rome, where he and others in the society offered their services to the pope. Impressed by the Jesuits, Xavier was appointed to evangelize in India where he was admired by the people of that country for his ability to live and work in solidarity with the poor.

In 1545, Xavier travelled to Malacca, the Molucca Islands, the Banda Islands and the Malay Peninsula where he continued to preach the Gospel. During his time in Malacca, he learned about Japan from a Japanese man named Anjiro. Anjiro went back to Kagoshima, Japan with Xavier in 1549 and he helped Xavier to adapt to the local life there.

Leaving Japan in late 1551, Xavier’s next focus for missionary work was China. With the help of friends, he arranged a commission to China. He travelled to Sancian Island, near Canton, but he was not able to get there as the borders had been closed to foreigners. Before he could find a way inside the country, he fell severely ill. He died on December 3, 1552 at the age of 46.

Although Xavier passed away at a relatively young age, he had achieved great accomplishment. Besides being one of the founders to the Society of Jesus, he also baptized 30,000 people. His efforts left a significant impression upon the missionary history. Xavier was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619, and canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. He is now the patron saint of missionaries. In order to commemorate the contributions of St. Francis Xavier, our school is named after him as St. Francis Xavier’s College.