St. Anthony High School, Lahore Explained

St. Anthony's High School
Former Name:St. Anthony's Catholic Day School
Motto:Latin: Scientia Cum Virtute
Motto Translation:Knowledge with Virtue
Type:semi government school, primary, high school and college
Gender:Main Branch: Boys
Other branches: co-education
Religion:Catholicism
Patron:St. Anthony of Padua
Grades:K-12
Principal:Maxwell Shanti
Colours:Sky blue, grey and navy
Alumni:Anthonians
Location:Lahore, Punjab
Country:Pakistan
Website:

St. Anthony's High School is a Catholic school system for boys & girls located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. In spite of its name as a high school, the school delivers a pre-school, primary, high school and college education across three campuses in Lahore. Established in 1892 by the Capuchin Friars from Belgium, the school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lahore. The school's main campus is situated at Lahore's historical road, The Mall, adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

When Lt. Col (ret) L. C. Rath was the principal in 1992, nearly 2,000 pupils were enrolled at the school with a staff of 100.[1] As of now, the school had more than 100 qualified teachers.

The school's motto is Scientia cum Virtute translated from Latinas "Knowledge with Virtue".

History

St. Anthony's was founded on 1 March 1892 in Peeli Kothi, Empress Road, Lahore by the Capuchin Friars from Belgium.[2] They named it St. Anthony's Catholic Day School. Rt. Reverend Doctor Van Don Bouch performed its opening ceremony with three students at Empress Road Lahore where St. Anthony's Church and Don Bosco School stand today.

As it progressed, its site was shifted to 3-Lawrence Road, where it was renamed St. Anthony's High School in 1900 which was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua who sympathised with the miserable and gave hope to the despaired people. The Bishop of Lahore Rt. Reverend Van Don Bouch performed the dedication ceremony. Capuchin Father Leo De Brabandere Petrus (1900 - 1902)[3] took over as the first principal of the school and started 'O' Level classes.

In 1911 the last Capuchin Friar principal of St Anthony's, Fr Leopoldus De Ceuster Josephus (1909 - 1911),[4] handed the school over to the Irish Brothers of St Patrick (Patrician Brothers). From 1911 to 1978 sixty Patricians ministered at the school during the 1919 Riots, World War II, and the 1947 Partitioning. During this time the school maintained its high academic reputation in Lahore and Pakistan. At the end of 1978 the Patricians handed the school over to the Irish Marist Fathers, the new principal Fr M. Donnelly (1979 - 1983).[5] The first lay principal was Lieutenant Colonel L.C. Rath (1984 - 1993).[6]

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw was the chairman of the board of governors, H.D.Maxwell Shanthi the executive secretary, and Shahid Ambrose Moghul the principal. There are about 1600 students and about 100 teaching staff at present. The school is upgraded to a college with the approval Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw in August 2013. The college was inaugurated by Cardinal Fernando Filoni in the presence of the Apostolic Nancio Edgar Pene Para and Sebastian Francis Shaw, the Archbishop of Lahore.

To honour the legendary war veteran of the Pakistan Air Force, Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry (Late), the Government of Pakistan has renamed a part of Lawrence Road (the road in front of St. Anthony School) as Cecil Chaudhry Road. The renaming ceremony was held at St Anthony's High School on 30 November 2014. The ceremony was attended by friends and family members of the war hero, important personalities of the Christian community and significant civil and military dignitaries.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Central Air Command Commanding Air Officer Air Vice Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan was the chief guest on the occasion.

Campuses

Lawrence Road

This is the biggest campus of St. Anthony's High School in Lahore and serves as the main campus. The campus has seven buildings as following:

It boasts a large library, containing more than 1480 books on various subjects. The school also has a large hall, used for school and inter-school events. There is a basketball court and two large playgrounds. A large canteen is provided for the students and staff in the main ground.

Other campuses

Apart from the main campus, St. Anthony's High School also has two other campuses in Lahore. They are

Curriculum

It offers courses leading to the Cambridge O/A levels and Matriculation. During the academic year, the school has four sets of assessments and two long examinations (Mid-years and Finals).[9]

During Lt. Col. L.C. Rath's principalship, the school won the Educational Trophy from the Board of Secondary Education, Lahore for excellent Matriculation result.

Extra-curricular activities

Co-curricular and extracurricular activities include debates, excursions, funday, bonfires, picnics, funfair, science model fair and annual sports. In 2006 a cricket under-13 team and an under-16 team formed part of a 47-member delegation including teachers from St Anthony's, travelled to Chandigar, India to play matches with the St John's Cricket Academy team. Cecil Chaudhry was Principal of St Anthony's High School at the time.[10] Students took part in debates and quiz programmes in countries, and in cities of Pakistan.

In 2014, the school restarted publishing The Anthonian annual magazine. The last magazine was had been last published in the year 1992. The tradition was followed on; as on 4 February 2015, the inauguration for The Anthonian was held in the school hall.

Notable alumni

Politicians

Armed forces

Nuclear scientists

Education

Sportsmen

Judiciary

Media

Religious leaders

Civil service

Journalism

Other professions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UCANews.com March 19, 1992.
  2. "For His Sake - A History of the Patrician Brothers in India", 2008, page 66f
  3. https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/research_units/ru_church/ru_church_capuchins/contributions/capuchin-missionnaries-in-the-punjab.pdf
  4. https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/research_units/ru_church/ru_church_capuchins/contributions/capuchin-missionnaries-in-the-punjab.pdf
  5. "For His Sake - A History of the Patrician Brothers in India", 2008, page 66f; "By the Narrow Gate - An International History of the Patrician Brothers", 2008.
  6. 1 September 2020 . History of St. Anthony's High School & College Lahore A school That Produces Great Leaders of Pak . Shahzad ki BETHAK . . 17 April 2022 . 3:45.
  7. Web site: Saint Anthonys High School Faisal Town Saint Anthonys High School Faisal Town. stanthonysft.edu.pk. en-US. 2018-04-22.
  8. Web site: Saint Anthonys High School Lahore Cantt Saint Anthonys High School Lahore Cantt My WordPress Blog. stanthonyscantt.edu.pk. en-US. 2018-04-22.
  9. Web site: St. Anthony's High School. Michael. Adeel. stanthonys.edu.pk. en. 2018-04-22.
  10. Web site: Children from St Anthony's High School, Lahore, in city August 1, 2006 .
  11. Web site: D. A. La Fontaine . Bharat-rakshak.com .
  12. Web site: The Best Search Links on the Net . lhcbar.org . 18 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091124130405/http://lhcbar.org/President200809.asp . 24 November 2009 . dead .
  13. Web site: High Court of Sindh website . Sindhhighcourt.gov.pk . 13 October 1950 . 18 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100926043535/http://sindhhighcourt.gov.pk/bio_sjalalusmani.shtml . 26 September 2010 . dead .
  14. http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/former_bio/tps_chawla.htm
  15. http://www.india-seminar.com/2006/567/567_ishtiaq_ahmed htm