Legacy of Mill Hill Priests in Miri

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Father Dekker (right), Bishop Galvin and another Mill Hill priest in Miri.

Father Dekker (right), Bishop Galvin and another Mill Hill priest in Miri.

WHILE Father Jansen was the Mill Hill Priest who founded St Joseph’s Primary School, Miri, in 1932, several of his counterparts came and continued his good work, developing the school and church during a time when schools throughout Sarawak were still in their infancy.

The Mill Hill Priests had begun their Society 150 years ago in the UK when a Catholic priest, Father H Vaughan, arrived at Mill Hill Railways Station in North London with another student priest.

Father Vaughan went on to set up a college for the training of missionary priests. Today these Mill Hill missionary priests are still found all over the world.

Leading these Sarawak Mill Hill Priests was none other than Father John J Dekker who spent more than 35 years in the state. He first arrived in Sibu in 1939 — the same year he was ordained, and, like many other foreign priests, was interned in Batu Lintang Camp (1942-1945) during the Japanese Occupation.

Instead of going on long leave to recuperate from his odious incineration as a POW, he immediately revived his beloved Sacred Heart School, Sibu, from 1945 to 1950. He spoke some Foochow which endeared him to many Foochows in Sibu and Miri.

In Miri, he was both Rector and teacher at the St Joseph’s primary school. He built up the school with his fellow Mill Hill Priests and some local teachers. Locally trained teachers were unheard of at that time.

A retired Mirian recalled she once picked up a stack of important-looking papers on the primary school ground and brought them to Father Dekker. The grateful priest rewarded her with a box of Cadbury chocolates. It was like winning the lottery.

She described Father Dekker as the “best English teacher ever”, saying he gave her class “very sound grammar lessons”. All his English lessons are still so vivid in her mind. As a teacher herself, she used many of Father Dekker’s methods to teach.

Father Dekker was personally interested in recruiting good teachers. He went to Batu Lintang in Kuching just to do that. One of the most remarkable teachers he discovered was Mrs Andrew Liew who taught at St Joseph’s (both primary and secondary) until she retired in 1992.

Former students Bibiana Pek and Davidine Sim visit with Father Keogan in Ireland.

Former students Bibiana Pek and Davidine Sim visit with Father Keogan in Ireland.

Fundraising methods

His fundraising methods were “incredibly remarkable” to many of the young boys and girls of the school. For example, one batch of students turned the staff room into a radio station. The 15-year-olds would sell books of 10 request coupons for $5 apiece (50 cents for each request). The buyers would then have songs played by the ‘radio station’ on request.

In those days, song requests were popular.

Father Dekker got mothers of the students to bake cakes and the students would go around, asking people to guess the weight of the cake for 50 cents (per guess) — first at the school, then the whole town … eventually. In fact, the late Datuk Chia Chin Shin, and the towkays of Ghee Ann, Lian Teck, Hup Hoe, to name a few, contributed handsomely. They not only paid 50 cents to guess the weight of the cake but also made big donations.

Children as young as nine years gained a lot of confidence with Father Dekker leading them in guessing the weight of the cake. They not only cultivated a positive mindset for charity work but also grew up, knowing things could be done if they put their hearts and minds to it.

Father Dekker in Miri

Father Dekker’s life in Miri was often said to be a very busy one. He swam in the GCM pool every evening at 5pm and drove a green Vauxhall Victor 101 when there were apparently only two private cars in Miri back then. It was quite easy for people to even know his daily schedule by the hour!

In school, students would catch a whiff of his presence even before hearing his footsteps because he smoked a pipe and his Erinmore tobacco would waft ahead of him.

Father Dekker’s initiative in developing the St Joseph’s Secondary School in Brighton was well recognised. The school’s fundraising and hard work and the generosity of Mirians resulted in the new concrete school on Brighton Road, declared open in 1962 — to the delight of the town.

He was principal of St Joseph’s Secondary School from 1962 to 1964 but remained Rector of the school’s parish from 1964 to 1978. Although planning to retire and spend his days in Miri, he was transferred to the mining town of Newman, near Perth, Western Australia, in 1979, where he stayed for nine years before finally going back Holland where he passed away in 1994.

Father Dekker in Sibu with Sacred Heart students.

Father Dekker in Sibu with Sacred Heart students.

Father Edmund Slowey (1966-1969)

Father Edmund Slowey was an English, Bible Knowledge, Chemistry and Catechism teacher at St Joseph’s before becoming Principal in September, 1966. He was a humble, dedicated Mill Hill Priest.

Besides, he would be remembered by his students as a “funny” priest who enjoyed organising concerts, even acting in one of the skits as a three-legged man (he wore a false leg).

He even sang a song, using the tune of ‘Old Black Joe’ and his own lyrics, “When I was born with three legs … my mother said ‘Send him to Borneo’. So I’m coming, I’m coming with three legs rolling on…”

Father Slowey who first arrived in Miri in 1957, guided many indigenous students to academic success, among whom Pahang Lah from the Baram. He also designed the Home Economics Block with the help of Mrs Andrew Liew.

He wrote, “The 12 years I spent at the School were very satisfying. We had an international staff and a multiracial student body. May St Joseph’s Secondary School continue to flourish, turning out valuable citizens whose happiness will be due, in no small part, to the education they received there.”

He left to become principal of St Michael’s in Seria in 1969.

The original St Joseph’s Mill Hill College in North London where all Mill Hill Priests are trained.

The original St Joseph’s Mill Hill College in North London where all Mill Hill Priests are trained.

Father T Keogan  (1970-1973)

Father T Keogan was the principal of St Joseph’s Secondary School for three years. He had already set foot on the shores of Sarawak in the early 60’s and seen a lot of good work of the Mill Hill Priests.

In 1962, he wrote, “That year, we saw the completion of our new secondary block — a credit to the hard work of its principal Father Dekker — a school to be proud of with a modern science block, fine hall, basketball court and large playing field. That year also saw the beginning of our first separate Form 4 Class.”

As principal, this Irish Mill Hill Priest tried to ensure 100 per cent passes in the Senior Cambridge, noting with happiness that many of St Joseph’s products were found in Australia, New Zealand, England, Malaya and Hong Kong.

He always insisted on his students keeping in touch with their alma mater. Education, according to him, is the development of the whole man and the work one does shows one’s development. And he used to say, “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight.”

Father Keogan was most happy to note that many Josephians had taken up teaching as a profession.

Two former students — Davidine Sim and Bibiana Pek — visited him in Ireland 2010, 29 years after they left St Joseph’s.

Sim wrote, “We couldn’t be mistaken as we could easily recognise his silhouette even before he came through the door. He’s a man who moulded our minds and took care of our souls during our school days. We were glad we made the trip to visit him in Ireland.”

Pek had fond memories of Father Keogan, saying he was integral in shaping leadership skills among the students, especially the prefects, adding that he insisted on the prefects conducting the school assembly every week with prayers being said, followed by the singing of the national anthem — then there would be announcements made in relation to activities of the school, be it academic, social or sports.

“As first timers on stage, we would, of course, make mistakes, especially in the prayers — missing a line or two — and leading the songs off-key. Standing in front of the audience, we would know if we had done much damage by just observing his (Father Keogan’s) facial expressions. A smile would mean we passed, a shake of the head would mean we needed to take note of our mistakes in our grammar and a continuous headshake and a reddish flash of his neck and face would mean we’re a complete failure as first timers,” she recalled.

However, that was not the end of it for in the following week, he would again call the same prefect to conduct the assembly.

“Father Keogan also insisted on the Disciplinary Board for Students being managed by prefects without teachers — with only Kho Bee Choon as advisor. Students during our time were very well-behaved and disciplined,” Pek added.

St Joseph’s Secondary School Hall is named Keogan Hall in his honour.

Father John J McGlorey(1974 -1976)

Father John McGlorey was the last Mill Hill Priest to serve as principal of St Joseph’s Secondary School.

During his tenure, he saw tremendous political and social changes in Miri. The 70’s were challenging times for foreign priests. His message in a school magazine reflected the changing times.

“In the past St Joseph’s Primary was our sole feeder school but now we have in our ranks pupils from Bakam and Luak Bay — the net will spread even further in the future. I would like to dispel any fears and would say the children are most welcome to our school because the policy of the management has always been to serve the youth of the country, irrespective of race, religion or status. Our school motto sums it all up, ‘To love and serve’.”

He was very positive about help from the government, especially in the supply of teachers and other aid. Both teaching and non-teaching staff loved him. He was dedicated in everything he had to work on.

When a Form 2 student, Rhina Juwing, passed away after a short illness, he offered a requiem mass at St Jospeph’s Cathedral and the burial service was conducted by Father M Carpenter.

Father McGlorey also arranged for the school choir to sing at the service. This really touched the hearts of the whole community.

Father McGlorey ensured that St Joseph’s Day was held with enthusiasm.

A retired teacher remembers they worked together for a grand concert in the evening to finish the day with a flourish. She and her students would always remember that special concert.

Moreover, in 1975, Father McGlorey and his students staged a mini concert to mark the anniversary of Bishop Galvin’s consecration as Bishop of Miri. The Bishop had written a play for the school to be presented at the Annual Schools Drama Festival of Sarawak, which, unfortunately, he did not live to see.

Three priests and St Joseph’s secondary School students – 1963.

Three priests and St Joseph’s secondary School students – 1963.

Reunion, anniversary in 2017

The Mill Hill Priests definitely left behind a great legacy in Miri. The St Joseph Society in the 1970’s decided to downplay their roles as both pastoral and teaching priests.

Today, the La Salle Brothers continue to teach in Catholic Schools all over the world. The Mill Hill Priests continue with their pastoral work in many parts of the world, including some of the most remote places such as the Pacific islands and the small villages in Africa.

An organising committee has been set up this year for the 85th anniversary of St Joseph’s Schools in Miri to commemorate its founding on October 28, 2017.

This grand anniversary will be a reunion night for old students, former and present teachers and all those who have directly or indirectly contributed to the schools. A Facebook page has also been initiated to help update past and present students from time to time.

For further information please contact organising chairperson Winni Saba (016-4120548) or secretary Regina Szetu (014-6897455).