Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, established Montfort School, Roorkee in keeping with the sublime vision and mission of the Founder – Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. Its opening marked the addition of one more institution to the prestigious society of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel. By this time the Society of Brothers founded in 1707 by Saint Montfort had also crossed an important landmark of completing a centenary of its installation in India (11th September 1903) from the time of arrival of the three luminary Brothers in Puducherry (the erstwhile Pondicherry).
Montfort School, Roorkee was established on 25th July 1994 it is located 8 km away from Roorkee on the highway that connects the Roorkee town with the holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh, but there was no residence for the Brothers till the year 2004. The Principals and other Brothers working in Montfort school, Roorkee resided in the erstwhile St. Gabriel's Campus.
The early Principals of Montfort School, Roorkee Bro. Mani VJ, Bro. George Pottakkaran, Bro. Jose Thottiyil, Bro. Joseph VJ and Bro. Thampy Alex (early years) along with Bro. Albert Abraham and Bro. Joshi Jose stayed at the erstwhile St. Gabriel Community. The hard work and valuable contributions of all the Brothers made the school go from strength to strength over the years.
Initially, the Society of Montfort Brothers had acquired 49.5 Bighas of land of which 7.5 Bighas of land was registered in the name of Montfort School, Roorkee, and the remaining 42 Bighas of land was registered in the name of Society of Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, Province of Delhi.
Establishment of the Montfort Home, Roorkee
2005 to 2008
Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, Delhi province added another feather to their cap when they opened the Montfort Home Roorkee, on the campus of Montfort School, in the year 2005. A separate complex was built with a two-story building that included a Chapel, nine living rooms, a parlor, a dining area, and a sit-out. It was inaugurated by Rev. Bro. Joy Joseph, the then provincial superior, Province of Delhi, and was blessed by Late Rt. Rev. Patrick Nair, the then Bishop of Meerut Diocese, in July 2005. A number of Brothers, Priests, Religious and lay people joined the inauguration ceremony of the new community. Bro. Thampy Alex was the first local Superior of the Montfort Home Roorkee and continued to be the Principal of Montfort School. The other members of the first Montfort Home were, Bro. Albert Abraham, late Bro. Herbert and Bro. Mathias Minj, who was the Bursar of the school and community. Bro. Albert Abraham who had joined Montfort School in 2003 continued to be the administrator and teacher and in 2006 went on transfer to St. Gabriel’s School Ranjhi, Jabalpur. Bro. Antonysamy joined the community in 2007 and served as the Vice Principal of the School. Bro. Mathias Minj moved out on transfer the same year. A very important milestone was achieved during the tenure of Bro. Thampy Alex when the school was affiliated to CBSE for class X in 2001 and class XII in 2003 with science stream. Under the able guidance of Bro. Thampy Alex, a new senior wing was established and brought about the addition of a new office for the Principal, modern and well-equipped science labs, computer labs, a language lab, and an expanded library. A new block was erected adjoining the junior wing for the senior sections. During the tenure of Bro. Thampy Alex 2.5 bighas of additional land, adjoining the existing school campus was purchased and registered in the name of the Society of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, Province of Delhi. After nine successful years as Principal (1999-2008) and three years as Local Superior (2005-2008), Bro. Thampy Alex was transferred to Montfort School, Bhopal as Principal and superior of the community. It was indeed a very eventful year of rapid expansion, development, and stabilization of Montfort School and Montfort Home, Roorkee.
2008 to 2009
In 2008, the late Bro. Cyriac Francis took charge as the Superior and Principal of Montfort School. Bro. Antony Samy continued to serve as the Vice Principal and Bursar of the school and community and was transferred in 2009. Late Rev. Bro. Herbert continued to be a member of Montfort Home Roorkee. Bro. Barnabas Tete joined the community as a member in 2008. Despite his short tenure of one year, Bro. Cyriac Francis worked hard to further improve the school before he was transferred in 2009.
2009 to 2010
In 2009, Bro. Sibi Kuriakose became the Superior of the Montfort Home and Principal of Montfort School. Late Bro. Herbert was transferred in 2010, and Bro. Barnabas Tete continued in the community as a member, Bro. Mathias Minj, who joined as Bursar of the school and community for the second time in 2009 went on transfer in 2010. Bro. Chacko Azhaketh joined the Montfort Home in 2010 as the Vice Principal of the School. Bro. Barnabas Tete was transferred in 2011. Bro. Mathew K.M. joined the Montfort Home as a Local Superior in October 2010. Late Bro. Benjamin, who had extensive administrative experience, joined the Montfort Home in 2010 as Manager and Bursar of the School and community. During the tenure of Bro. Sibi Kuriakose, the commerce stream was introduced at the senior secondary level in 2010, started the smart classes, and revamped and modernized the infrastructure of the school. Bro. Sibi Kuriakose was transferred after a short tenure in October 2010.
2010 to 2012
Brother Chacko Azhaketh, who was the Vice Principal, became the Principal of Montfort School in October 2010. Brother Mathew K.M. was the local Superior of the community and vice-principal of the school. Late Brother Benjamin continued to be the manager and bursar of both erstwhile St. Gabriel’s Academy and Montfort School, Roorkee. After a successful tenure as Vice-Principal and Principal, Brother Chacko Azhaketh was transferred in 2012 to Montfort School, Lucknow.
2012 to 2017
Bro. Jose Thottiyil, who had vast academic and administrative experience joined the Montfort Home and took over as the Principal of Montfort School, Roorkee, for the second time in 2012. Bro. Mathew K.M. remained the Local Superior and the Vice-Principal of the school until 2013 when he was transferred. Late Bro. Benjamin was also transferred in 2013 to Provincial House, Bhopal. Bro. Albert Abraham joined the Montfort Home in 2013 and was the Vice-Principal and Bursar of the School and Community. After one year, he was transferred to St. Francis School Bhopal as the superior and Vice-Principal in 2014. Bro. Francis Bhalla joined the Community in 2014 and was transferred in 2015. Bro. Jinu Abraham joined Montfort Home in 2014 as the Vice-Principal and Bursar of the School and Community. In 2016 after a tenure of two fruitful years Bro. Jinu Abraham was transferred to Montfort School in Delhi. Bro. Albert Abraham rejoined the Montfort Home for the second time as the Local Superior and Vice-Principal of the School in 2016.
The Golden Jubilee of Bro. Jose Thottiyil and Bro. Gabriel Lakra was celebrated with great fervour and grandeur on 29th October 2016 at Montfort School, Roorkee. Golden Jubilee year is a very remarkable milestone in the life of a religious person. Bro. Jose Thottiyil and Bro. Gabriel Lakra completed 50 glorious years as the members of the Montfort Society of St. Gabriel, being at the service of God and Mankind.
During the tenure of Bro. Jose Thottiyil, a 12-foot-tall sculpture of St. Montfort was placed on a 24-foot pedestal with a beautiful garden around it at the entrance of the school. In the year 2013, 17.12 bighas of farmlandwere purchased approximately 3.5 kilometers from Roorkee City, in Village- Sherpur, Roorkee which has been registered in the name of the Society of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, Province of Delhi. After five years of successful and effective service, Bro. Jose Thottiyil was transferred in 2017 to Montfort School, Delhi.
2017 onwards
In 2017, Bro. Albert Abraham became the Principal of Montfort School, Roorkee, and continued to be the Local Superior of the Montfort Home. The same year, Bro. Binu Cherian joined as Vice-Principal and Bursar. Bro. James K.C. also joined the community as a member in 2017. Bro. Albert Abraham had prior experience as he was on his third tenure at Montfort School, which gave him an advantage in familiarizing himself with the school system and staff, which allowed him to effectively run the school and maintain a harmonious and healthy community life along with Bro. Binu Cherion and Bro. James K.C.
The Silver Jubilee Year - 2019
Montfort School, Roorkee completed 25 glorious years of nurturing thousands of young minds making them worthwhile citizens of our country, great achievers in life, and above all good human beings.
Silver Jubilee year is a remarkable milestone for any great institution, and so is the story of Montfort School, Roorkee. The institution has a cutting-edge infrastructure with world-class facilities to flaunt, as the school is celebrating the Silver Jubilee. In all its years of existence, Montfort School continued to hold fast to the motto “Moulding the future with vision in the service of God and man” and is moving ahead with firm determination.
The glorious Silver Jubilee of Montfort School was celebrated in the year 2019. Rev. Bro. John Kallarackal, the Superior General of Brothers of St. Gabriel was the chief guest. Rev Bro. Pratap Reddy, the charge of Province of Delhi from General administration was also part of the Silver Jubilee celebration along with Rev. Bro. James Ekka, the Provincial Superior of the Province of Delhi. The year-long celebration came to an end with a grand cultural extravaganza put up by the students under the able guidance of Bro. Albert Abraham the Principal assisted by Bro. Binu Cherian, the Vice-Principal, Bro. James K.C., Sr. Santhana Mary the Headmistress, the Coordinators Mrs. Santina Fernandes, Mr. Deepu Thomas, Mrs. Lizy Philip, Sr. Priya, the talented teachers, and all the other staff.
In 2021, Bro. Binu Cherian was transferred after 4 years of successful service at Montfort School, Roorkee to Montfort School Bhopal as Vice-Principal and Bursar. The same year, Bro. Prasanta Kullu joined as the Vice-Principal and Bursar of the School and community. Bro. James K.C. was transferred to St. Charles Inter College, Sardana in 2022. Bro. Gabriel Lakra joined the Montfort Home as a member in 2022.
During the tenure of Bro. Albert Abraham, 10 bighas of farmland was purchased in Sherpur village and 24.5 bighas of land adjacent to the Montfort School campus which has been registered in the name of the Society of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, Province of Delhi. As of now, the total land in possession with the Society of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel is 76.5 bighas in the Montfort School campus and 27.12 bighas of farm land at Sherpur village, Roorkee.
Inauguration Of Silver Jubilee Block – 28th February, 2022
A silver jubilee block was constructed under the able guidance of Bro. Albert Abhraham the Principal for the middle-section classes of VI – VIII. Silver Jubilee Block is a three-storey building comprising 36 rooms including classrooms, activity rooms, labs, and offices along with all other modern amenities. The foundation stone of the Silver Jubilee block was laid by Bro. Albert Abraham on 11th June 2020. It was inaugurated by Rev. Bro James Ekka, the then Provincial Superior of Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, Province of Delhi, and was blessed by Rt. Rev. Francis Kalist, the Bishop of Meerut Diocese on 28th February 2022.
Construction of State of Art Amphitheatre-Cum-Indoor-Stadium
During his occupancy as Principal, Bro. Albert Abraham laid the foundation stone of yet another edifice - an amphitheatre-cum-indoor-stadium with a seating capacity of 2,500 – 3,000 which is nearing completion. It is a beautifully designed architectural marvel with an excellent indoor basketball court and badminton courts. In addition to this, another new outdoor basketball court has also been constructed in front of the auditorium.
Canonical visit of Rev. Bro. Thampy Alex the Provincial Superior
Rev. Bro. Thampy Alex, the provincial superior of the Province of Delhi paid canonical visit to Montfort Home and Montfort School, Roorkee on the 7th and 8th of September 2022. He was given a warm welcome by Bro. Albert Abraham the Superior and Principal, Bro. Prasanta Kullu the Bursar and Vice-Principal, Bro. Gabriel Lakra, the teachers, the staff, and the students. He had very fruitful interaction with all the members of Montfort Home as well as with the staff and students of Montfort School, during the Canonical visit.
Canonical visit of Superior General Rev. Bro. John Kallarackal
Rev. Bro. John Kallarackal, the Superior General of the Society of Montfort Brothers of Saint Gabriel paid a Canonical visit to Montfort Home on the 15th and 16th of November 2022. He was accorded a very warm and traditional welcome by the students, staff, and Management. He had a motivating and fruitful interaction with the Montfortians of Montfort School, Roorkee. His two-day Canonical visit to Montfort Home Roorkee was a very joyful and spiritual experience for the Brothers of Roorkee Community.
“Montfort Home is a happy place for the Brothers to live, to work hard, and fulfill the Vision and Mission of St. Montfort, the Founder”