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Founder’s Day at St. George’s College
Canon Constant van Crombrugghe (1789-1865) was born in Grammont in present day Belgium. The Josephites and its sister congregation, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, were founded in 1817 by Constant van Crombrugghe who hoped to "re-christianise" a "de-christianised" society through their work in education. Apart from his involvement with the Josephites and the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, Constant van Crombrugghe was a very successful Headmaster at the ‘Collège d'Alost’ and later played a pivotal role at the 1830 National Constitutional Congress to ensure the freedom of education and religion in the newly established Belgium. Constant van Crombrugghe died on 1st December 1865 and as the founder of the Josephites this day is known as Founder’s day in Josephite schools.Both the College and the Junior School commemorate Founder’s Day by celebrating Mass in their chapels. This year’s Mass at the College involved Third Years using their drama skills to challenge everyone to appreciate more fully the significance of the Gospel story about the ‘Finding of Jesus in the Temple’ (Lk 2:41-52). In his homily Fr Adrian, the acting Superior of the Josephite Community at St George’s, also spoke to the College students and staff about the lifework of Constant van Crombrugghe and the importance and relevance which his vision for education still has today. It is this vision that underpins the Josephite Educational Ethos at the College and the Junior School. Fr Adrian concluded his homily by reminding everyone about the importance of our Christian witness to the poor, a commitment shared by Constant van Crombrugghe, though our on-going support of our Josephite sister schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.
On the nearest Friday to Founder’s Day, Josephite Community based at St George’s, always invite everyone who works at the College and Junior School for drinks and an informal supper. This very enjoyable evening is regarded by all as one of the highlights of the academic year and is much looked forward to by all.
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