One Association, Two Schools, Three Companions

One Association, Two Schools, Three Companions

Marist Brothers was founded by St. Marcellin Champagnat of Marian Church in France, 1817. Its purpose was to provide education to the youths by establishing schools around the world. In the 1950s, Marist Brothers migrated from mainland China to Hong Kong and founded St. Francis Xavier’s College (Tai Kok Chui, Kowloon) in 1955 and St. Francis Xavier’s School (Tsuen Wan) in 1963. The two schools’ core values are based on the five founding pillars of Marist Brothers: ‘Presence’, ‘Simplicity’, ‘Family Spirit’, ‘Love of Work’ and ‘In the Way of Mary’.

The two Marist Brothers schools have established the ‘St. Francis Xavier’s Alumni Association’, coordinating and managing alumni and developmental affairs from both schools. Both schools later established their own, separate associations, namely ‘Tsuen Wan St. Francis Xavier’s School Alumni Association’ and ‘St. Francis Xavier’s College Alumni Association’, attending to respective alumni affairs. The original ‘St. Francis Xavier’s Alumni Association’ was renamed ‘Marist Schools Alumni Association (Hong Kong)’ in 2007, its committee members jointly elected by alumni of both schools. The Association’s functions are as follows:

(a)    to maintain brotherliness and friendly relations between alumni of both Marist schools;
(b)    to connect alumni from both schools to Marist Brothers;
(c)    to build a community of Marist Brothers alumni who have immigrated overseas;
(d)    to welcome international Marist Brothers schools graduates in Hong Kong.

Marist Brothers’ emblem comprises of three violets signifying ‘Simplicity’, ‘Humility’ and ‘Modesty’, the code of ethics the Brothers follow in their daily life. Violets are known for growing in the inconspicuous bushes under trees, radiating a subtle fragrance. This symbolizes the Brothers’ selflessness and altruism in serving society. Therefore, ‘Marist Schools Alumni Association (Hong Kong)’ also adopts the sigil of three violets as its emblem, disseminating the good practice of serving the Lord and other people with a genuine heart, in the same way the Association serves its members.