ˇ§YOU RAISE ME UP

------------------------------------------------

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up...

To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up...

To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up...

To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up...

To more than I can be.

You raise me up...

To more than I can be.

*Composer : Graham/Lovland

In Memory of Rev. Fr. Alexander John Smith S. D. B.

(1915ˇV 2008)

It is with the deepest sorrow and grief to announce that Rev. Fr. Alexander John Smith S.D.B. passed away on the 8th day of December in the year of our Lord 2008 marking the successful conclusion of his 93 years of pilgrimage on earth and his humble and loyal service to the Good Lord .

To offer our thanks to the Good Lord for the blessings to our Alma Mater in the form of the late Rev. Fr. A.J. Smith and to celebrate the life of a dedicated and distinguished doyen in education and a keen footballer who, as Rector cum Principal of our Alma Mater from 1970 through 1976, led our Alma Mater to scale new heights in her academic and extra-curricular endeavours, affirming and continuing her fine tradition of espousing and putting into practice the teachings of St. John Bosco and the philosophy of an all- rounded education and thereby benefiting many a generation of Aloysians, a Wake shall be held at St Anthony’s Church, at 69A Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong at 7:30 p.m. on Friday 12th December 2008 and, a Funeral Mass shall be held at St Anthony’s Church, at 69A Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday 13 th December 2008 followed by internment in St Michael’s Cemetery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.

Rev Fr A.J. Smith was indeed a legend in his days, with courage characteristic of a Scottish Highlander, born and raised in the inhospitable climate amidst the treacherous but otherwise magnificent landscape Scotland is famous or infamous for, depending on the beholder’s view.

For the majority of Aloysians who faithfully and dutifully gathered in the football pitch day in and day out, Monday through Sunday, Rev Fr Smith would be fondly remembered as a keen footballer and a gentleman; epitomizing the virtue of sportsmanship. His skills prompted the rumour that he used to play for the Scottish National Football Team in his youth which rumour he neither confirmed nor denied but took in good humour. The fact is, with his encouragement and support, the A-Grade Football Team, which, as an underdog, managed to upset the formidable semi-professional contender, and brought home the 1971-72 Colony-wide Inter-Schools Knock-out Championship. Henceforth, the torch of such a fine tradition has since been carried on from generations to generations; the zeal and love of the sport continues to thrive unabated.

For the scouts of the 16th Hong Kong Group, the successes enjoyed by the scouts could also be attributed to the encouragement and staunch support shown by Rev Fr Smith. Rev Fr Smith’ s presence at many of the competitions, functions, campfires, campouts served, in a large measure, to boost the morale of the troopers. The memory of Rev Fr Smith's solo vocal performance of his masterpiece of the Irish folksong “Danny Boy” in one Annual Campfire of the 16th Hong Kong Group at New Year’s Eve in the 1970's, so touching that the audience was mesmerized and almost moved to their tears, will always be cherished with affection by the many veteran scouts and guests blessed with the good fortune of being in the right place, at the right time but who are also saddened with the realization that an encore performance has now become but a pipedream. Hats off and three cheers for the Good Lord and for Rev Fr Smith in the old-fashioned way : Hip Hip Hooray ! Hip Hip Hooray !! Hip Hip Hooray !!!

With Rev Fr Smith at the helm side by side with the late Rev Fr Patrick Deane, our Alma Mater continued to excel in her academic pursuit with distinction to which the many public examinations readily bore witnesses.

Old boys are urged to attend the wake and the mass to bid farewell to Rev. Fr. Alexander John Smith S.D.B. and, albeit with reluctance and grief, to part company with Rev Fr Alexander John Smith, physically but not spiritually, with the knowledge that he will , thenceforth, be in the good hands of the angels and be generously rewarded by the Good Lord.