St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, was founded on the 2nd March 1896 by French missionaries led by Rev. Fr. Christophe-Etienne Bonjean.
I am delighted in penning down my tribute to all our respected and distinguished Reverend Father Rectors and teachers, past and the present, who have worked laboriously to produce multi-talented Josephians and making our college as the leading school. They are the real practitioners of pedagogy.
Practitioners of pedagogy are called “pedagogues”, translated literally from the Greek meaning “to lead the child”, originally used to denote someone who escorted a child to school. Pedagogy is the “art, science or profession of teaching”. The term pedagogy boils down to the study of different teaching methods. Through this methodology we were transformed by our legendary educators.
Hence, our tribute to those distinguished Reverend Father Rectors and teachers of our hall of fame Educational Institute.
Dear Most Respected Reverend Father Rectors and Teachers,
“Thank you seems too short a word to express our gratitude to your good selves who have taught us. We are unusually indebted to all our parents, Reverend Father Rectors and teachers who have inspired, guided and moulded us. Much of our accomplishments in our lives have come from our association with your good selves. Your good selves have provided constant enthusiastic encouragement and advice besides enhancing our knowledge.
Your good selves are amazing teachers and you only deserve the best. You are our sunshine and you have brightened our whole lives. You are the spark, the inspiration, the guide the candles to our lives. You have sacrificed your good selves like “burning candles” and you have enabled us to travel through our life pathways. You have acted as the “sign posts” and showed us the exact directions for our lives. You have cut and polished the rough diamonds and made us shine like sparkling diamonds. You have been “ladders” and professionally helped the Josephians to reach to the pinnacle of success in their chosen pathways. You have been acted as well equipped “ships” and thereby taken us to ashore. But you never continue with us thereafter in search of prosperity, rather you would get back and continue to develop and send across thousands of students ashore.
You have been a ‘light house’ and helped us in our journey of life. You have been shining like ‘lamps’ and expelled darkness (ignorance) from us and provided Knowledge, Skills, Attitude and inculcated those attitudes as habits. You have been “bridges” and helped us to cross over to the greener pastures of life. You have been ‘great sculptors’ who have crafted the Josephians as unique sculptures. We admire your dedication, discipline and determination given to your work and instilling the same values in us.
Your work with painstaking precision has produced a galaxy of multi-talented Josephians who are great assets to this world. You have made the students reach new heights for educational, sports and spiritual glory. You have made us efficient and effective thereby producing productive citizens to the nation. You have made your students become dynamic, exemplary and visionary leaders. You have taught us to have vision, mission, goals, objectives and values for our lives. You were instrumental in having passion and purpose in our life. You are our treasure troves.
Your knowledge, competency, mastery and wisdom are astonishing and we were blessed to acquire those to benefit us and our society and our Motherland by large. You are our pillar of success. You were able to create history and brought glory to the Noblest Profession and our hallowed Educational Institution. You are the ‘renowned educators’ who have ‘transformed our lives’. You are our ‘Great Heroes’ and we salute for your untiring and relentless endeavours which resulted in developing us as the ‘Ideal Josephians’.
What we have learnt from your good selves have given us guidance and strength so long and will guide us throughout our lives. Words are insufficient to show our appreciation for your kindness, patience, commitment and devotion to teachings. The yeomen services that you have rendered will be remembered by us forever. It’s divine grace that we were blessed to have teachers in your calibre at our Alma Mater. We are deeply thankful to your good selves. Our gratitude will be lifelong.
We, your students at our hall of fame, sacred and the citadel of Educational Institute are humbled, honoured and privileged to have your good selves as our treasured teachers. We wish your good selves success, joy, serenity, tranquility peace and good health now and throughout your lives.
‘May Almighty God Bless your good selves, families and Noblest work forever’.
(The writer was the former Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the Blue & White Newsletter Committee, a former member of the Association of “Josephian Blues”, the Founder President of Josephian Group of ‘88, An Editorial Board Member of the Blue & White Centenary and Millennium Magazine Committee of the Old Boys’ Union, St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 ).
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