Founder's Day 2021

SMJK NOTRE DAME CONVENT

265, JALAN GAJAH BERANG,
75200 MELAKA.

FOUNDER’S DAY
CELEBRATION 2021

圣婴修女会创始祖纪念日

Blessed Nicolas Barré

22 OCTOBER 2021
( FRIDAY )

GOOGLE MEET

Our Founder:
Nicolas Barré,

21 October 1621 – 31 May 1686, was a French Minim friar and Catholic
priest, who founded the Sisters of the Infant Jesus. He has been beatified
by the Roman Catholic Church.

Early Life
Nicolas Barré was born in Amiens, France on 21 October 1621, the
first-born and only son to Louis and Antoinette Barré. He grew up in a wealthy merchant family and
was educated at a Jesuit college in his hometown. As a young child, he had a deep sense of God.
When one of his sisters fell ill, his strong faith in God and prayers led to her recovery.

Responding to God’s call
At the age of 19, he loved God so much that he joined the religious order of the Minims founded by
St Francis of Paola. In 1642, Nicolas was ordained a priest. In 1659, when he was in Rouen, France,
he saw how the poorer families lived. Many of the children, especially the girls, were illiterate and
had no knowledge of God. Seeing the disparity in opportunities for education between the rich and
the poor, he was inspired to establish little schools to educate girls of poor families.

Spread of Nicolas Barré’s work
In 1662, Father Nicolas Barré, with the help of some young women, set up a school for girls in the
village near Rouen. Over the next four years, several more schools were established in and around
Rouen. These ‘Little Charitable Schools’ proved very successful and popular.

In 1666, Father Nicolas Barré invited the women to form a community - the Charitable Mistresses of
the Schools of the Holy Infant Jesus, to continue this educative work. In those days, educating the
poor, especially girls, was frowned upon by society. The women, in a spirit of total trust in God’s
guidance, said a wholehearted ‘yes’ to this invitation. It is important to note that the IJ Sisters only
became a religious congregation in 1866, 200 years after they were founded.

Father Nicolas Barré continued similar work in Paris with great success. Believing that each child has
potential and is unique, the children were taught with care and respect by the teachers who became
well-known for their expertise and gentle approach. More CHIJ schools multiplied and spread across
the world including Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

Celebration of Nicolas Barré’s Life
Father Nicolas Barré suffered ill health in his later years and died at the age of 65 on 31 May 1686 in
France. On 7 March 1999, Father Nicolas Barré was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Blessed Nicolas
Barré’s heart for the education of the poor, especially girls, continue to be an inspiration to many
generations of CHIJ girls across cultures, background, race and religions. Through receiving an
education in CHIJ schools, all IJ girls are called to act justly with courage and compassion in their lives
with a priority to helping the disadvantaged in society.

In commemoration of this great man and what he has done, CHIJ Schools in Singapore celebrate
Founder’s Day on 31 May each year.

Founder’s Day Celebration Programme

7:40 am ARRIVAL OF GUESTS
7:50 am 来宾入席
8:50 am
THANKSGIVING MASS
9:00 am 弥撒

9:10 am WELCOMING SPEECH BY MR LEE SOON LUWI
9:40 am
9:50 am (PRINCIPAL OF SMJK NOTRE DAME CONVENT)

校长致欢迎词

SPEECH BY SR MARY THERESA CHUA

(PROVINCIAL SISTERS OF THE INFANT JESUS MALAYSIA)

马来西亚耶稣圣婴修女会省会长致词

PRESENTATION
节目表演

ONLINE FOUNDER’S DAY QUIZ AWARD CEREMONY
线上常识比赛颁奖礼

CLOSING REMARKS
散会

Hymn to Blessed
Nicolas Barré

O hear our prayer,
most holy Father Barré

We are your children,
watch over us we pray

Touch many hearts
to follow in your footsteps
To dedicate their lives to

youth and poor
Drawn by the Lord
to make Christ known and loved
Fill us with zeal, humility and faith
Pure love and strength
and courage without fear
To keep your spirit alive in our hearts (2x)

Founder’s Day Celebration Committee

Main Committee : Mr Lee Soon Luwi
Chairman (Principal of SMJK Notre Dame Convent)
Co Chairman
Vice Chairman I : Mdm Ng Ke Lang
Vice Chairman II (Headmistress of SJKC Notre Dame)
Vice Chairman III
Coordinator : Mdm How Lay Ha
Secretary (GPK Pentadbiran)

: Mdm Poh Hui Ing
(GPK Hem)

: Mdm Noraidah Binti Miskan
(GPK Kokurikulum)

: Mdm Chia Mui Hoon
(GKMP Kemanusiaan)

: Mdm Goh Bee Lam

Sub-Committee

Welcoming : G8

Invitation : Mdm Loh Chee Wei

Mass : Mdm Chia Mui Hoon
Miss Nielsa Anak Roland Ngabong (Student)

Power Point Presentation : Mdm Chia Mui Hoon
: Miss Eng Qi (Student)

Preparation Google Meet &

Recording /Publicity : Mdm Chia Pau Ling

Emcees : Mdm Rajeswari a/p Gunasekaran
Miss Ng Yu Hang (Student)
Miss Christine Chi (Student)

Program Booklet : Mdm Ho Huey Shin

Presentation : Mdm Ngiow Jen Ai
: Mdm Loh Hwee Chen

Photography : Mdm Chen Mok Yin

Quiz & Prizes : Mdm Thong Xue Ling
: Mdm Teh Seng Peng