Egbert Xavier Kelly
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1937–1945 |
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| Born: | March 4, 1894 County Wicklow, Ireland |
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| Died: | February 12, 1945 Manila, Philippines |
Brother Egbert Xavier Kelly FSC, born William Kelly, (March 4, 1894 - February 12, 1945 was an Irish De La Salle Brother who was last assigned to the De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines and was murdered by the retreating Japanese Imperial Forces at the De La Salle College, of which he was President, during the Allied Liberation of Manila during World War II.
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[edit] Early life
Br. Xavier was born on March 4, 1894 at County Wicklow in Ireland. During his youth decided to become a De La Salle Brother and went to the Christian Brothers Retreat in Castletown to test his vocation. He was then admitted to the Novitiate and became a full-fledged Brother.
[edit] Assignment to the Philippines
In 1911, he was assigned to the Christian Brothers District of Penang. During his trip, he went for a brief stay in Colombo, Ceylon after which he proceeded to De La Salle College in Manila. He began teaching in the grade school department until he was tasked to teach in the high school department.
[edit] Assignment to Belgium
Br. Xavier was selected by the Christian Brothers Superiors to help in the establishment of a Second Novitiate of the Mother House in Lebecq-les-Hal in Belgium. This assignment was completed in 1930.
[edit] Return to the Philippines
Upon the completion of his assignment to the Mother House, Br. Xavier returned to Asia to teach for three years in Rangoon, Burma and another three years in Hong Kong. In 1935, he was reassigned to Manila and was appointed President of De La Salle College in 1937.
His first six years as President was spent in expanding the facilities of the College. A large classroom wing was constructed at the north end of St. La Salle Hall and a new chapel was constructed at its south end. This chapel was considered the most beautiful in the Philippines and had few rivals in the District, although the Brothers would regret about the chapel's limited size. The chapel was dedicated in 1940 and was large enough to accommodate the school's entire student body, which was then 1,200.[1]
[edit] World War II
In January 1942, Japanese troops forcibly entered De La Salle College and began to occupy all but a small portion of the building. The Brothers were left to the chapel and a few small rooms while the American Brothers were interned first in a Retreat House of the Society of Jesus at Santa Ana and later to a Spanish hospital in San Pedro, Makati. They were later put in a concentration camp.
On February 12, 1945, a Japanese detail took Br. Xavier, separated him from the others in the building and later murdered him.
[edit] Reference
| Preceded by Br. Flannan Paul FSC |
President of De La Salle College 1937-1945 |
Succeeded by Br. Lucian Athanasius FSC |
