In 1949,when the Chinese government came to Taiwan, the Scheut Fathers
continued to serve Chinese people . They arrived in Taichung to preach
the gospel and provide good service for young people in 1959. Father
Jerome Heyndrickx,CICM visited all followers in Shuang Shih,Taichung
and organized Youth Party to cultivate a lot of leaders.
Father Heyndrickx thought deeply that he needed to build a church and
an elementary school while he was walking around Shuang Shih
Road,Taichung. The priest could carry forward the spirit of Jesus
Christ of universal love. The provincial superior Father Valere
Albers,CICM, nodded approval and then they started to collect donations
from a lot of groups or people in Europe.Meanwhile,they bought the
school yard from Feng Yuan Transportation. After Father Heyndrickx to
France for studying, Father Ignace Rybens, CICM, became the first
priest in Shuang ShinCatholic Church and he also helped to raise money
for buying the campus. Father Paul Braekmans, CICM, did the job about
register of the school. He didn't know Chinese laws well,so he
consulted Fang Father Mathias Wang Yung Ching, CSV,who was the
principal in Viator Catholic Jenior High School.
Father Wang graduated from research institute of Catholic University
Leuven Belgium, he has had great talent and excellent learning.
First,he helped to set up Kuang Jen CatholicElementary School and to be
a chairman of the board. Secondly, he did something in setting up Yu
Jen CatholicElementary School. In naming,Father Wang thought Humanity
is the basic spirit of Christian and useful education is good for
everyone. He named the school Yu Jen. Fortunately, the school started
to enrol new students by passing the register in July,1967.
Bishop William Kupfer M.M.was the first bisbop in Taichung Catholic
diocese and he really attached importance to the education of children.
He appointed Father Alexander Tsao Li Shan to be the chairman of the
board. He has been with the school for thirty years and has concerned
about everything. Father Thomas Sung Chih-Ching also gave the school a
lot of help and suggestion.
In building the campus. Father Ivo Stuyk,CICM, supervised the progress
of project. He went to Tien Chung to invite the Sisters of the Sacred
of Jesns to be in charge of school affairs. Sister M. Juventia Pakozdy
appointed Sister Dorores Chang Li Feng to be the first principal in
1967. Sister Chang got some help from the Sister Consolata Yang Shu
Nu,SSH. She arranged school affairs well with her concerntrated
attention. Then the principals,Srs.Gratia Shin,SSH and Hilda Cheng,SSH,
set up the life of special education and let them learn life of family.
At the same time,they also built the building to expand the space for
education of kindergarten.
Father Wim Bollew, CICM concerned about children who got some mental
problem and he created the classes in school for them in 1972. Sister
Helen Chen Yu Pin,SSH, tried to persuade their parents and let the kids
study in school.The kids who possessed the abilities to control
themselves. Three principals, all teachers and staff have devoted their
lives to work very hard. The directors of Catholic church and the
parents have concerned about Yu Jen Elementary School since 1967. The
kids have had good learning attitude in moral education, intellectual
development, physical culture, group relationship, art, holy education.
They did excellent works. They have won a lot of prizes in Chinese
literature, science, sports, paintings, computers and music. The
principal wanted the students to be modest. They could examine, realize
and constantly remind themselves. As well as teaching other courses,
they are ready to open English classes for International American Day.
The school hopes the students can speak English well and fluently to
communicate with foreigners.
When the alumni and the alumnae came back to school, they said 'It is
as clean as before '. They take care of each other when they work
together. According to tradition the school open winter camp for the
students who are in six grade each year. The purpose is that can help
the kids to be responsible, independent, strong-willed, and serving
people. These special characters will become part of personality.
As Yu-Jen enter 21st century, Sr. Gratia Shih,principal of Yu-Jen
primary school wants to combine the power from many parties in order to
build brand-new campus and have completely new Yu Jen Elementary
School. It will keep its special education of spirit to cultvivate the
talented people for Taiwan society.
© 育仁記事