Maryknoll Fathers' School

Maryknoll Fathers' School Chinese: 瑪利諾神父教會學校
Truth and Loyalty
Location
2 To Yuen Street, Tai Hung Tung, Kowloon Hong Kong
Information
Type	Government funded co-educational, primary, secondary
Established	1957
School district	Shek Kip Mei
Principal	Mr. Leung Hoi Tin
Grades	P1 – U6
Affiliation	Maryknoll (Roman Catholic)
Website	www.mfs.edu.hk

Maryknoll Fathers' School is a government-funded school with both primary school and secondary school sections, located in Tai Hang Tung District in New Kowloon, Hong Kong.

The medium of instruction is English for the secondary school section.

History

The history of Maryknoll Fathers' School, in many ways, parallels the development of Hong Kong in the past fifty years.

In 1957, Hong Kong was experiencing a time of turbulence and almost explosive growth. It is difficult for many born in recent years to comprehend the difficulties faced by Hong Kong officials and citizens in dealing with the huge numbers of incoming mainlanders and their social and spiritual needs. The hills of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island were strewn with wooden shacks. Their inhabitants faced the hazards of fires, of landslides, of epidemics and similar calamities. When the authorities realised that the people did not plan to return to their mainland origins, it became necessary to make long-term provision for safe housing, for medical care and for education for the many youngsters whose parents clamoured for schools.

Faced with this challenge, the HK Government and many religious and social organisations cooperated to build and operate schools in areas which previously had been empty fields and hillsides. Among these groups, the Maryknoll Fathers took their place in answering the needs of many parents and their children. In Kowloontsai area, Fr. Peter A. Reilly, M. M., had already been working for three years, following his expulsion from his former mission work in Wuchow, South China. In addition to a social canter and a small church, a study room and hired teachers provided some rudimentary education for the youth of the area. But Fr. Reilly realised that more was needed and he applied to the Education Department for permission to erect a subsidised school. He was given permission not only for a desired primary school, but also for an unexpected bonus – a secondary school.

Maryknoll Fathers' School

The task facing Fr. Reilly was daunting. Fortunately, he found a most willing and able ally in the person of Mrs. Tong Yu Sheung Woon, the school's first principal, who brought all her experience and skills to the task of organising, enrolling, hiring and guiding the first pupils and teachers in both primary and secondary sections. As originally planned, the primary school was a 12 classroom, double (AM & PM) vernacular and coeducational six-year school and the secondary school was to consist of parallel streams of Form 1 to 5 English and C. M. 1 to S. M. 3 classes with 12 classrooms and additional science rooms. The two buildings were erected alongside the stream or nullah from which Tai Hang Tung (Big Nullah-East) District is named.

All during 1957, the work of enrolment and hiring went along with the actual construction of the school buildings until the long-awaited day of Official Opening and blessing with Rt. Rev. Bishop Lawrence Bianchi and his Excellency Sir Alexander Grantham presiding. On 26 September 1957, these dignitaries and a large number of participants showed their support for the Maryknoll Society and for the dedicated efforts of Fr. Reilly, Mrs. Tong and their co-workers.

Following the dedication of the school in 1957, the task of developing and improving its educational work continued. The first graduates of the secondary section emerged in 1959 from the Form 5 and S. M. 3 classes. The excellent results achieved by these earliest "old boys and old girls" gave great encouragement to the staff. Of course, students in those days were highly motivated since success in examinations was the main avenue to recognition and status in society. At the same time, Fr. Reilly and other Maryknoll priests and brothers assisted in teaching English, Ethics and religious studies and numerous students received the gift of faith and God's call.

The success of the secondary section and the expanding need for education in the district encouraged the Maryknoll Fathers to apply for an expansion of the secondary school to double its size. The Education Department approved the acquisition of the site behind the school for a new wing which was completed in time for the new term in September 1965. The school was honoured to have Rt. Rev. Bishop Frederick Donaghy, M. M., formerly bishop of Wuchow where Fr. Reilly had served for over 20 years, to bless the New Wing on 17 February 1966. It provided space for a much needed library, 12 additional classrooms and improved science facilities. A hall with space for 500 provided room for public examinations and school ceremonies.

In the following years, Maryknoll Fathers' School experienced, as Hong Kong itself, a time of consolidation and steady growth. With the passage of time, the Chinese Middle School section was phased out and the secondary section became a four-stream Anglo-Chinese school from FI to FVII, with matriculation classes in Arts and Science. It is estimated that over 6,000 graduates have come from the school to enter all walks of Hong Kong Life, as well as in various countries around the world.

Alumni Relations

The first official alumni unit is the Maryknoll Fathers' School Peer Counsellors Alumni (MFSPCA). Established in 1996, it aims at maintaining contacts for ex-Peer Counsellors, mentors of student mentoring scheme held by the Counselling Department. From time to time MFSPCA holds activities, such as Christmas Snowball, summer outings, pen-pal scheme for its members.

In 2005, the official alumni unit for all graduates was established. Currently the lifetime membership is HKD$1000, alternatively members can pay an annual fee of HKD$50. The unofficial Vancouver chapter of the alumni unit is most active at the time of writing (August 2005).

The annual Watermelon Cup, held just after final exam in the summer, is a famous activity for graduates to compete in with current MFS students.

External links

• Maryknoll Fathers' School Official Website

Coordinates: 22°20′03.07″N 114°10′22.94″E / 22.3341861°N 114.1730389°E / 22.3341861; 114.1730389