By Bro. Arnold de Groot, SDB
During this year the Aberdeen Technical School (ATS) in Hong Kong does celebrated the 80th anniversary. From 1935 there was a larger group of highly professional and dedicated Salesian Brothers. Thanks to them this technical and Salesian education model of ATS spread also to other EAO provinces, especially to the Philippines. Among those Brothers is also 88 years old Dutch Missionary Brother Arnold, who spent in ATS not less than 60 years of his life, educated and taught thousands of Bosconians and even now when is confined to live and move in the wheelchair, one of the ATS Past Pupils takes care about him. Follows a short interview:
Could you share your Salesian vocation story – as Salesian, Brother and Missionary ad gentes?
As a young boy in Netherlands my mother send me to the Holy Mass every day at 7.30 AM to attend the Children Mass. She knew one devote Catholic for which I bought her daily food. That woman took me to the Salesians to ask them to accept me as a Salesian Aspirant. The Salesians just had started in Holland that Aspirantate House one year before in 1937. The rector was a German, Fr. Kremer and he accepted me because as he told me it was the Feast day of St. Louis Gonzaga (June 21st)
So I had to study Latin and Greek which really I did not like and was not able to do. The rector did not send me away, but asked me if I liked to be with Don Bosco and proposed to me to become a Salesian Brother. From that day on I was happy to help in everything they ask me to do and so little by little I started to understand the Salesian life.
hen the Second World War started in 1940 and so my regular studies were impossible, then I started with corresponding courses in Electricity and later on in Electronics. Soon after the War, we could apply to go to the Missions. I have applied for China, in 1947 I arrived to Hong Kong, that time a British Colony.
After many fruitful years of what do you treasure from the Preventive System of Don Bosco?
Educative presence among the young people who like to learn and grow! Dear friends, I stayed and worked in Aberdeen Technical School from 1950, more than 60 years. I was teaching electricity and later on also electronics. Also for the Hong Kong Education Department I was Chief Examiner of Electronics for ten years, until I turned 80 years of age. I would have many things to tell you.
Any sharing for the younger generations of Salesians in our East Asia - Oceania Region?
What made me most happy in my live was music. I could take part in singing, school choir and school band and so was also with and for the boys. Now that I can do very little is my biggest problem. My meditation is: GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS GOD.
Although my heath is not that well as we should like to be, I can still pray for you and I am very grateful to all who care for me. Please continue to remember me in your prayers and I still will always remember you. With all my best wishes and prayers May God bless you and your work!
