Beneath the Hougang sky stands Montfort Secondary School. It is more than just a school. It is a legacy woven through over a century.
Montfort Secondary School started humbly. Father Laurent, a priest in Serangoon, laid the first stone in 1916. It was initially named Holy Innocents’ English School. The school stood beside the Nativity Church on Upper Serangoon Road. Father Laurent’s successor, Father H. Duvelle, started English and Chinese classes. Mr. Lee Ah Kow was the first teacher.
In 1920 Father E. Becheras restarted the school. He had about 30 pupils. Mr. Monterio assisted him. By 1922 Mr. P A D’Costa became principal. The school flourished under his guidance. A new block of five classrooms was built in 1927. More classrooms followed in 1929.
Mgr A Devals invited the Brothers of St Gabriel to manage the school in 1936. Brother Gerard Majella arrived from Bangkok. He became the first Brother Director of Montfort Secondary School. Brothers Adolphus and John de Breboeuf joined him later that year. That same year, the school produced its first School Certificate class.
World War II disrupted the school. Brother Louis Gonzaga returned after the war. He extended the school building. The Sultan of Johore opened the new extension. In 1949 Brother Louis Gonzaga started Holy Innocents’ Afternoon School. Brother Basil was in charge.
Confusion arose with other schools named Holy Innocents. Therefore, in 1959, Holy Innocents’ English School was renamed Montfort School. It honored St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort. He was the founder of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel.
By the 1960s Montfort School was known for its quality education. It was provided by the Brothers of St Gabriel. In 1974 the school divided. Montfort Junior School and Montfort Secondary School were created.
The Old Montfortian Association decided to relocate the schools in 1984. They wanted to match the newer government schools. The project cost $24 million. The government granted $18.5 million. The schools raised $5.5 million.
In 1992 Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary began at the Hougang location. Montfort Secondary School underwent renovations in 1997. Major rebuilding occurred in 2009 under PRIME. Montfort Secondary School reopened in Hougang in 2012.
Montfort celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2006. There was a 90 km run to the former location. Archbishop Nicholas Chia held a thanksgiving mass. He was a former pupil. The mass occurred at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Montfort Secondary School is affiliated with Catholic Junior College. Montfort’s motto is Age Quod Agis. It means “Do well in whatever you do”. The school’s vision is “A Man for Others”. This embodies being a Scholar, Sportsman, Gentleman, and Leader.
Today Montfort Secondary School stands as a beacon. Its history is rich with tradition and values. It prepares young men to make a difference in the world.