 |
| Brother Hidulphe-Marie
- The First Director of St. Joseph's College |
In 1875 Bishop Raimondi appealed
to the Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of
the Christian Schools and was given the assurance that a few
Brothers would be sent to him as soon as possible.
Consequently, after a tedious voyage of 42 days, on 7' November
1875, the "Hougli" of the Messageries Maritimes
steamed into port, bringing the six pioneers who formed in
Hong Kong the first community of the Brothers of the Christian
Schools: Brothers Hidulphe-Marie, Hidulphe-de-Jesus and Herbertus-Joseph
from Marseilles; Brothers Adrian-Edmund, Adolphus of Mary,
from London, and Brother Isfrid from Paris. Brother Benilde-Henri
had also preceded them by a fortnight and together, addressed
fervent thanks to God for the safe arrival of their little
band, Brother Hidulphe-Marie took charge the very next day,
8" November 1875, of the English school, placing it under
the protection of St. Joseph, special patron of the Institute
of the Brothers. Henceforth St. Saviour's College was to be
known as St. Joseph's College.
 |
| Buxley Lodge, Caine Road
(1876) |
On the arrival of the Brothers,
75 boys were attending the English classes and were accommodated
in four rooms in Pottinger Street; this limited space had
so far been sufficient for all the boys that had enrolled.
But the Mission was poor and so was the Catholic population;
and thus it was decided that for the lack of accommodation,
no Chinese boys would be accepted for the time being. This
restriction, however, was not pleasing to Mgr. Raimondi, who
in June 1876 purchased for $14,000 a fine house situated at
9 Caine Road, and the Brothers at once moved into it.
 |
| Buxley Lodge, Caine Road
(1876) |
Though the problem of finding accommodation for the ever-increasing
number of new students was temporarily solved, the school
authority had to contend with financial worries as well. This
problem was solved when Sir John Pope Hennessy, then Governor
of Hong Kong in 1878, modified the education policy. With
the creditable record of the College, the school was entitled
to Government Grants under the grant-in-aid scheme.
|
