Many Christian Institutions have St. Paul as their Patron and our school is one of them. Here is a summary of the life of this very remarkable person.
He was born to an orthodox Jewish parents. He was named SAUL, after the first King of lsrael. Saul was in his early 'teens' when Jesus died. As a young boy, he was deeply religious and practiced the Jewish faith strictly almost to the letter of the law. He gave himself up to the study of the Jewish religious books and was training to become a "Rabbi" a Religious Teacher. Saul was very zealous for his faith and this is what made him intolerant to other beliefs. He was particularly against the Christians and even used force to destroy them.
One day, Saul and his companions were on their way to Damascus, with the intention of taking the Christian prisoners and marching them off to Jerusalem. As they were nearing the gates of Damascus, suddenly a dazzling light appeared from above and Saul and his companions were thrown off their horses. Saul heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me"? Saul replied, "Who are you Lord"? The reply came, "I am Jesus and you are persecuting me".
This was the turning point in Saul's Life. Saul, the persecutor of the Christians, now became their best known Preacher. There was no turning back for Saul. HE GAVE UP HIS JEWISH NAME SAUL AND HENCEFORTH WAS KNOWN BY HIS ROMAN NAME PAULUS (In English) PAUL. He went from place to place in Asia Minor preaching fearlessly that Jesus was the Son of God. He had to suffer much from the Jews because of his preaching about Jesus but that did not deter him. Paul and Jesus were now inseparable. Paul said, "For me to live is Jesus".
Paul was brought up at Tarsus, an important commercial city. He was granted Roman Citizenship. He was well-versed in the Greek and Roman Culture. He studied also the Hebrew Scriptures at the feet of Gamaliel a famous Rabbi and Doctor of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Paul's learning can well be gauged from the many letters he wrote to different Christian Communities. It has been said that Jesus gave the world THE GOOD NEWS but it was Paul who gave the world the systematic study of the Good News and derived from it the foundations of Religious Beliefs and the principles of true discipleship. Paul is chosen as the Patron of many Educational Institutions not only because of his personal erudition, but more because of his undivided attention to SEEK THE TRUTH. Having discovered the Truth, there was no turning back. In short, Paul spent his life in the PROPAGATION OF THE TRUTH HE EXPERIENCED on the road to Damascus.
All education is about the discovery and pursuit of that Truth which defines our relationship with God and our fellowmen. On this one knowledge depends our success as human beings and our life's mission here on earth.
Paul's life is an example of that Single Minded Devotion to the Truth. Here are his words "But I do not count my life of any value to myself if only, I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the Good News of God's Grace".
His life was a testimony of self-service to the humanity. May St. Paul inspire us to be "Pleasing to God and Men".