Montfort Matric Hr. Sec. School, Ariyalur
Ariyalur is one of the main towns of Perambalur district roughly 60 Km away from Trichy town. In one of his letters to the funding agencies the Bishop writes, “Ariyalur is a big mission station, economically backward, dry and arid with scanty rainfall that makes people go for daily wage works”. The diocese of Kumbakonam placed before the brothers 10 acres of land for the purpose of starting an English medium school. The contract between Bishop Peter Remigius and the Regional Superior Bro. Xavier Montfort was signed on 8th December 1993. Bro. Arockiasamy A was appointed as the Local Superior of the community with Bro. James Paulraj as the second member. These two pioneers lived in a rented house initially and then moved into a classroom in the school building.
The new foundation was blessed by Bishop Peter Remigius on 19th March 1994. The School began with classes LKG to I standard with 170 students in a rented building owned by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The construction of the school building was started simultaneously funded by the region in spite of the financial constraint. The brothers would gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Bishop in mobilizing fund from various foreign agencies. Bro. Joseph Y succeeded Bro. Arockiasamy in 1995. He was instrumental in the completion of the first and second floors of the main school building and in upgrading the classes up to VI standard. As the students’ strength was on the increase each year the brothers had to shift their residence from the school building. It was Bro. Arockiasamy, who once again took the reins in 1998 and completed the construction of the Brothers’ quarters with the financial aid from the Province and the Bishop as well.
Infrastructure and other facilities were added gradually for the benefit of students’ quality education. While the first two local superiors were concentrating on the provision of structural facilities the third principal Bro. Irudayam focused on the all round development of the students. He began his ministry from 2001. He introduced a number of club activities among the students to develop their hidden talents. The public was able to see the qualitative difference as the institution grew steadily. Consequently the number of students began to increase. Montfort Centenary Block was constructed to house the kindergarten sections and a mini hostel was started for those students who come from far. Language labs, computers and cable T.V in each of the KG classrooms make the schooling interesting and effective for the kids’ kingdom. The school became popular in studies, sports and co-curricular activities. It was adjudged as the number one school in Ariyalur. Due credit must be given to the pioneers who toiled day and night with clear vision and dedication. Their devotion and commitment to duty, sense of loyalty to the congregation was very visible in the manifold sacrifices they made and hardships endured which has placed the school in a prominent place and set the wheels of progress on the move.