Three Chinese priests founded St Jude Catholic School. It happened in 1963. Fr Peter Tsao SVD and Fr Peter Yang SVD started the school. Later Fr Charles Tchou joined them. The school stands proudly adjacent to Malacañan Palace in Manila’s San Miguel district.
St Jude Catholic School is more than just a school. It’s a testament to faith. It’s a bridge between Filipino and Chinese cultures. The school offers a unique trilingual education. English Mandarin Chinese and Filipino are all taught. This reflects the school’s rich heritage.
From its humble beginnings the school has grown. It now boasts a large student body. Approximately 3300 students attend St Jude. The faculty is equally impressive. 238 teachers and staff members work there. The school offers a comprehensive curriculum. It includes Nursery Preparatory Elementary Junior High and Senior High School programs. It even offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. This makes it a very competitive institution. The acceptance rate is only around 12%.
The school’s campus is impressive. It covers 2.5 hectares. There are four buildings. They include the Prep School Building the SJ Building the Fr Peter Yang Building and the Fu Shen Fu Building. There’s even a basketball stadium. It seats 1200 people. Other sports facilities include badminton and volleyball courts. A fully air-conditioned chapel is available for prayer and reflection. The Fu Shen Fu Building which opened in 2006 also houses computer labs and a dance practice facility.
St Jude Catholic School isn’t just about academics. It also emphasizes holistic development. The school values excellence discipline commitment service and Christ-centeredness. Its motto perfectly captures this. It is Witnessing to the Word in the World. The school encourages community service. Students participate in outreaches to help underprivileged communities. They participate in sports. Many Judenites achieve success in interscholastic competitions. The school’s legacy is one of academic excellence and community service. It remains a prominent institution in Manila. Its story is a tribute to the vision of its founders.