HONG KONG (SE): De La Salle Brother Lawrence Blake, one of the longest-serving De La Salle Brothers in Hong Kong, passed away on November 5 at St. Teresa’s Hospital, Kowloon. He was 91-years-old and had been a religious for 75 years.
He was born into a family of 12 in Clonaslee, Co Laois, Ireland, on 1 December 1929, and was one of the family’s five children who joined the religious life; he and his brother, Mark, joined the De La Salle Brothers.
Brother Blake joined the juniorate in Casletown, Ireland, in 1943, and made his first vows there in 1947. He made his final vows in Penang, Malaysia in 1954. He arrived in Hong Kong in 1958 and, apart from one interlude in Sabah, spent the rest of his life and mission here.
He had various assignments, including at La Salle College, St. Joseph’s College, Chong Gene Hang College and Chan Sui Ki [La Salle] College as teacher, principal and supervisor.
The school and the classroom were the focus of his life and mission, and he maintained that the work of the Lord was truly accomplished there. The school and the classroom were holy ground. His former pupils can testify to how he prepared his lessons thoroughly. He could also remember many of his past pupils, down to names, year groups and even professions.
A funeral Mass was celebrated for Brother Blake at St. Teresa’s Church on Friday, November 12 following which his body was buried at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Happy Valley.
The De La Salle Brothers send his family their sincere condolences.
May he rest in peace.
