Fr. Gerald E. Leclaire, S.J.
(FORMER RECTOR)
July 21, 1928 – May 23, 2010
Fr. Gerald Leclaire died peacefully on May 23, 2010, at Rene Goupil House in Pickering, Ontario. He was in his 82nd year of life and 63rd year of Jesuit life.
Fr. Leclaire was born in Montreal, Quebec. After four years at D’Arcy McGee High School he entered the Society of Jesus at Guelph on September 7, 1947. After philosophy in Toronto, he. Studied history at the University of Toronto for three years. In 1957 he was missioned to Darjeeling, India. His ordination took place on March 22, 1961. Father’s priestly ministry began in Gayaganga as co-pastor. In 1965 he moved to St. Joseph’s College in Darjeeling to become Rector and Prefect of Studies. His teaching centred on history and theology.
In 1978 Fr. Leclaire accepted a posting to the Kingdom of Bhutan. He became principal of Sherubtse School in eastern Bhutan. For Eleven years Fr. Leclaire carried the burden of this school and then in 1989 returned to St. Joseph’s College as principal and lecturer. He was appointed Rector in 1997, a post he held for only two years before suffering a massive stroke while on a visit to Canada.
Fr. was never able to return to India.
Fr. Edgar Peter Burns S.J.
April 26,1925-May 17,2010
Fr. Burns was born in Montreal Canada, in 1925, but because Fr. Burns father worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway, Fr. Burns learnt early in life to adapt to new surroundings, a quality which has so helped him to adapt to India and to the Hills for the last fifty eight years, so much so that he considers Darjeeling his home.
Fr. Burns was educated in Jesuit schools in Canada, where he was an all-round student, till he entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1943. Even while he was in the Novitiate, his superiors recognized his ability to win friends and influence people, and his effectiveness as a popular preacher. In 1951 he came to India and Fr. Burns was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1958 in Kurseong.
After finishing theology, Fr. Burns joined St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling, where he taught English for twenty five full years, and was also involved in football and dramatics.
Begun in 1969, Hayden Hall was the concrete realization of Fr. Burns dreams to have a centre in town where students and alumni of St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling  , could have hands-on experience of working with  and for their poorer brothers and sisters, for their development and for the development of the Hills; and in providing an opportunity for educated local lay people to become agents of change and men and women for others, by allowing them to express their concern, through loving service and skill for those less fortunate than themselves. Since Fr. Burns believed that the poor should only get the best, in terms of education, medical care, skills training and income generating opportunities, a new Hayden Hall was built in 1972, where the old Albert Lodge used to be.
To conclude, Fr. Burns is a man of God, having a powerful witness of God’s love for man for the last sixty five years; a prayerful man, a faithful companion of Jesus, having tried to live Christ gospel values of love and compassion through all his works, especially Hayden Hall; a man for others, however poor or wretched the other might be; teacher and a pioneer, since a number of ex-students are now on the Staff, the Managing Committee and the Governing Board of Hayden Hall Institute.
