St Francis Xavier School in Thailand is run by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres Congregation (SPC). The SPC Congregation was founded over 300 years ago in a small community in Levesville la Chenard, France. In that small community that the SPC nuns first defined their mission, recognizing the importance of providing proper education and training to the youth, and ensuring the continued development of society and the growth of the country. Its members have dedicated their lives to educating the youth and caring for the sick and orphans.
The SPC Congregation came to Thailand in 1905. The first schools they built were Assumption Convent (Bangkok), St. Joseph’s Convent (Silom Road, Bangkok), and St. Francis Xavier Convent (in Samsen). Today there are 19 schools all over Thailand associated with the St. Paul de Chartres Congregation.
St. Francis Xavier School (Muangthong Thani) was established through the cooperation between Bangkok Airport Industry Ltd. and St. Paul de Chartres Educational Foundation. Back on December 13, 1994, 10 acres of land were donated to St. Paul de Chartres Educational Foundation, and Mother Myriam Kitcharoen, then Provincial Superior of St. Paul de Chartres Congregation accepted the donation. In January 1995, the school construction began. Two years later in May 1997, the school’s doors were officially opened to students. The first principal was Sr. Regina Champaisal, SPC.
At present, the school principal is Sr. Dominic Kitcharoen, SPC. The school has approximately 3,000 students, with 144 Thai teachers and 60 foreign staff.
The school’s Philosophy is centered around education as a means to equip learners to understand and attain the ultimate truth about human beings, and that is, to be disciplined, simple, polite, and merciful; to have a steadfast desire to study different areas of Art and Science, to work with full responsibility and know how to keep themselves physically healthy in order to have a well-balanced spirit. These will help them accomplish their tasks effectively.
The school’s vision to help students develop within a lifelong love of learning, to have noble hearts, to be full of charity, and to live happily in society. Its mission is to provide quality programs and realize the potential of each student in a loving and peaceful environment so as to contribute to a peaceful society. As its goal, it strives to maintain a high international standard of quality education. The school motto is to form students who are well-educated, disciplined, kind-hearted, righteous and efficient.
Living Christology
Acil shares how he balances teaching Christianity with respect for Thai culture and Buddhism. “I respect my students’ feelings, their rights and treat them according to social rules and standards, that they will uphold their nation, religion and freedom. Since the school offers Christology as a subject combined with Thai Culture, I simply present the Christology subject like all the other required subjects the students have to take. I am telling the students that learning Christology as a subject can enrich their knowledge especially by getting to know Christ’s exemplary life spent for others.”
A Focolarino who lives the charism of unity, he does not see this in conflict with SPC’s mission and vision. He narrates, “Since I was transferred to Thailand for my new assignment, I started teaching out of necessity for work, and for my visa to stay legally in the Kingdom.
After my first three months, I discovered that I am suffering and having hard time teaching because of the new environment and new culture I had to deal with. But in trying to be a good teacher inside the classroom, and also a good brother and friend outside my class, I see all my students as another Christ to be loved. I remember being so upset during the first day of classes with a grade 12 student because she was so rude, trying to test my patience and really disturbing her classmates by calling on her mobile phone and talking in a very loud voice in front of me, and also giving the whole class a hard time in class discussions. I advised her twice to stop talking on her phone, but still she continued and apparently ignored my presence. I asked God for the strength to handle the situation with love.
At the end of the class, I was able to talk to her aside. I asked her why and what was her reason for disrespecting me in front of her classmates. She began to cry and apologize, promising me that she would not do it again. I was happy that I was able to talk it over with her, with patience and love.”
Motivated by the school’s mission and vision, he sees that he is sync with the inculturation and evangelization that Vatican II encourages us to engaged with, as he affirms, “Being in a foreign land with different language, culture and religion, it was not easy to live and understand them right away. I need to “cut” with my own culture to appreciate and understand Thai culture. Once a catholic student was reprimanded by a teacher in front of other students, and after that moment he stopped attending catechism class. After talking to him about it, I learned how in their culture it’s not a good practice to scold students in front of others. They feel bad about it and keep it inside them and so the hatred is buried deep within. Consequently, I invited him to join our catechism class with the intention of welcoming him back, and he returned to his class.
Another grade 11 Catholic student entered the classroom crying and upset during our catechism class. Seeing Jesus in her, I continued to teach catechism and silently prayed for her at that moment. She continued crying, and one of her friends told me not to ask her any questions about what was happening to her at the moment. I continued with my lesson and presented a game. To my surprise, she started to participate in the game, and she stopped crying. After the class I approached her and asked what happened. She admitted that she encountered a lot of problems at home and in school. I advised her to entrust them all to God who is love, and to continue to love. The next day she came to me and exclaimed happily, “Thank you teacher, for bringing Jesus closer to us!”
Presenting Christ to his Buddhist friends and students, is a challenge but what Acil does is to present the historical Jesus who lived his life well and who gave his life for the salvation and redemption of mankind. He recounts, “In every classroom we have the crucifix hanging on the wall, so for the purpose of discussion I often explain to my students who the crucified man was, and why he had died on the cross. Through this they learn about the face of the human Christ, “son-of-man” who is also the “Son-of-God”, both human and divine. Moreover, I try to see Jesus in them, and to live by being another Christ for them.”
Jose Aranas
Acilino Tolorio, a Filipino Focolarino, lives in the Focolare Center of Bangkok, Thailand. He has a Master of Arts in Theology, Major in Religious Education from the Holy Cross of Davao College Inc. He is currently teaching at the St. Francis Xavier School run by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartes in Thailand.
