St. Francis Xavier Crest
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Identity, Philosophy and Mission
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Since the new school was built a sizable wooden crest has
been displayed predominantly at the lobby. The purpose of
the crest is to affirm our identity, philosophy and mission
by using of different symbols.
First of all, both St. Francis Xavier Church and St. Francis
Xavier School make up one inseparable faith-community-the
Parish. The circle of Holy Eucharist signifies
the paramount thanksgiving worship of the Church. The open
book, however, refers to the fact that we all have
lots of things to learn. This is especially true with the
school where the students get the basic skill for their life
long learning process.
Secondly, science demands exact data and human relationship
requires language skill for communication. We need both the
numbers and the letters to improve the quality
of life. This is why the numbers as well as the letters are
put in the open book to indicate in what direction we all
have to advance. Among the numbers and letters one can find
Chinese, Arabic, Roman and Greek. This is only an attempt
to reflect the multicultural society we find ourselves here
in Canada.
On the right page of the open book there are the first and
last Greek letters, alpha and omega. Conventionally,
these two letters are put together to illustrate the idea
of completeness i.e. the beginning and the end. As a matter
of fact, the SFX faith community offers various services such
as daycare, kindergarten, elementary school, secondary school
sponsorship, youth ministry, parish life activity center,
senior citizen housing and … a piece of cemetery. In
other words, the parish provides care to cover a spectrum
from cradle to grave, from the beginning to the end of its
members.
The Church received the mandate from Christ to go out and
spread the Kingdom of God. Jesus told his disciples to bring
peace to each house they were to enter. The olive
branch in the crest reminds us of this peacemaking
mission wherever we go.
The piece of bamboo stem symbolizes our intellectual
and spiritual growth. Bamboo stems do not add a ring of growth
each year as tree trunks do. Instead, they extend upward node
by node until they reach… the stars.
The Latin quotation ‘Initium Sapientiae’
meaning ‘The Beginning of Wisdom’ comes
from the Book of Psalms (Ps 111:10). It is
one part of the psalm only; the complete sentence being: the
fear of the Lord (reverence for God) is the beginning of wisdom.
Keeping His Commandments is the best way to render reverence
for God. This is an assignment we have to do, not only
in school but also in our entire life.
In the attempt to categorize the Ten Commandments three different
kinds of numbers are used. There are the first three numbers
in Chinese. These refer to the first three Commandments covering
our obligation to God. The next following numbers in Arabic
represent the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Commandments that describe
the moral duty to our fellow human being. The remaining three
Roman numbers simply show the three Commandments that repeat,
complete and putting some emphasis to the others, namely the
8th to the 2nd; the 9th to the 6th; and the 10th to the 7th.
There must be a good reason for God to promulgate these divine
laws in such way. Wishing you wise enough to see the point?
God bless you.
Rev. Aloysius Lou
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