About the St. Arnold's Alumni Association
Magna Carta Arnoldian Our Alumni Association Charter
With the assistance of the Almighty, guidance of the school authorities and the cooperation of our colleagues, we, the alumni of St. Arnold's Hr. Sec. School, Vijaynagar, Indore having solemnly resolved to constitute St. Arnold's Alumni Association. We resolve to uphold the Arnoldian values of:
Fellowship
To cultivate and maintain bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood amongst all alumni, supporting each other in times of need, celebrating each other's successes, and remaining united in our common identity as Arnoldians. The spirit of fellowship shall guide all our interactions, ensuring that no alumnus stands alone.
Honour
To conduct ourselves with honesty, integrity, and moral courage in all our dealings, both within the Association and in our personal and professional lives. We shall honour our commitments, respect our word, and maintain the dignity and reputation of our alma mater through our conduct. We shall never bring dishonour to the name of St. Arnold's through our actions.
Valour
To face challenges with courage, determination, and resilience, standing firm in our principles even in the face of adversity. We shall defend what is right and just, speak truth to power when necessary, and demonstrate the moral courage to act according to our convictions. We shall be brave in service to our communities and fearless in pursuit of the greater good.
Integrity
To take the actions and decisions of the Association with transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct as foundational principles. We shall maintain the highest standards of probity in all matters, financial and otherwise.
Inclusivity
To welcome all alumni, irrespective of background, gender, religion, caste, creed, or socioeconomic status, and treat them with equal dignity and respect. The Association shall be a space where diversity is celebrated and every voice is heard.
Excellence
To strive for the highest standards in all its endeavours, reflecting the academic and ethical excellence that St. Arnold's has always stood for. We shall pursue quality over quantity, substance over show, and lasting impact over temporary gains.
Stewardship
To act as responsible custodians of our school's resources, reputation, and legacy, ensuring that we leave the Association stronger than we found it for future generations of Arnoldians.
Service
To be committed to serving both its members and the broader community, recognising that true fulfilment comes from contributing to the welfare of others. Service shall be rendered without expectation of personal gain.
Continuity
To preserve the heritage, traditions, and values of St. Arnold's whilst adapting to contemporary needs and circumstances, ensuring that the flame lit by our founders continues to burn bright for generations to come.
On the Grand Alumni Meetup of 2025, on 24th January, we solemnly adopt, enact and give to ourselves the Magna Carta Arnoldian & the bylaws of St. Arnold's Alumni Association hereto appended, for the advancement of the School, the welfare of its students, the fellowship of its alumni, and the service of society at large.
The Arnoldian Pledge
With the assistance of the almighty, guidance of the school authorities and the cooperation of my colleagues, I hereby solemnly take the oath of the association as a member of the St. Arnold's Alumni Association. Realising that the responsibility calls for love and respect, I hereby resolve, always to uphold the values of love, service and sportsmanship in all my undertakings. I solemnly swear to:
- Cultivate and strengthen the sacred bond of fellowship amongst all alumni of the School, transcending barriers of time, geography, and circumstance
- Maintain and deepen the connection between alumni and their alma mater, ensuring that the spirit of St. Arnold's continues to guide and inspire us
- Support the School in its educational mission through mentorship, guidance, and resource mobilisation, thereby ensuring that future generations benefit as we have
- Facilitate networking and professional collaboration amongst alumni across various fields and geographies, creating opportunities for mutual advancement
- Contribute to the personal, professional, and social development of members through continuous learning, engagement, and the sharing of knowledge and experience
- Uphold and promote the values and traditions of St. Arnold's Hr. Sec. School, particularly the virtues of honour, valour, and fellowship
- Engage in philanthropic and welfare activities that reflect the School's commitment to social responsibility and service to humanity
- Uphold the honour and reputation of St. Arnold's Hr. Sec. School
- Support the School in its mission of educating and forming future generations
- Contribute to the Association according to their means and abilities
- Conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of the Arnoldian legacy
In case of negligence or failures, the authorities are fully empowered to dislodge the defaulters.
St. Arnold's School, Vijaynagar, Indore (formerly known as St. John's School) was inaugurated on 29th June 1990. Bishop George Anathil SVD lit the lamp and invoked the blessings of the Almighty on everyone who would be benefiting from this institution. The presence of Fr. Ignatius Thottappilly SVD, Provincial Superior of INC, Fr. Thomas Thalachira SVD, the former Provincial, Sr. Florentia, Vice Provincial of Holy Cross Sisters, priests, brothers, nuns, and a sizeable number of well-wishers solemnised the occasion.
The school started functioning on 2nd July 1990, as per the contract with the Indore Development Authority, with 66 tiny tots in the LKG. Though the school was expected to have two media at first, only the English medium was started because there was no application for the Hindi medium. The Holy Cross Sisters of Hazaribagh were teaching in the school at that time & Fr. Cajetan D'Mello SVD was the first manager in charge.
With 5 acres of prime land for school and playgrounds on the Bombay-Agra Highway, near the industrial city of Dewas, the school was established with a view to achieving self-sufficiency and expanding the SVD presence in Indore city.
The seed of St. Arnold's School, Vijaynagar, was sown in the year 1990 by the Divine Word Missionaries, popularly known as the SVD Fathers and Brothers, who were approached by the Indore Development Authority for a good English medium school. While there were other Catholic schools in the city, the population in and around Vijay Nagar, on the northern outskirts of Indore city, off Bombay Agra Road, was increasing rapidly.
Hence, after having discussed with the local residents, both Catholics and of other religions, the Society of the Divine Word laid the foundation stone for a school building on 74/C, Vijay Nagar, and named it after the founder of the Society of the Divine Word [Societas Verbi Divini a.k.a S.V.D.], St. Arnold Janssen.
The school was affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Delhi, and accepted both female and male students. As the years went by, the initial number of 90 students increased rapidly, and the management added improved infrastructure in terms of buildings, playground, music room, audio-visual room, library, computer laboratory, and other facilities.
Our school is owned and governed by St. Arnold's School Society, a subsidiary of the Society of the Divine Word, Central Indian Province, India. The President of the Divine Word Society, Indore is the proprietor of the school and the ex-officio chairperson of the Governing body of the school. The school managing committee is formed according to the norms set by the CBSE, consisting of representatives from parents, teachers, board representatives and the governing body of St. Arnold's School Indore, registered under the M.P. Societies.
| Name of the Confreres | Post / Assignment | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Fr. Cajetan D'Mello | Assistant Manager | 1990-1993 |
| Fr. Lazarus Serrao | Manager | 1992-1993 |
| Fr. Cajetan D'Mello | Manager | 1993-1998 |
| Fr. Thomas Aquinas | Manager, Parish Priest | 1997-1999 |
| Fr. Cajetan D'Mello | Principal | 1998-1999 |
| Fr. Cajetan D'Mello | Manager | 1999-2001 |
| Fr. Jose Pulickal | Principal | 1999-2003 |
| Fr. Lazarus Serrao | Procurator | 1999-2004 |
| Fr. Ajit Toppo | Vice Principal | 2001-2006 |
| Bro. Jose Manthottam | Procurator | 2004-2009 |
| Fr. Rayappan Chinnappan | Principal | 2004-2005 |
| Fr. Cajetan D'Mello | Principal | 2005-… |
| Fr. Justin D'Souza | Manager | 2007-2010 |
| Fr. Jacob Vazhavelil | Vice Principal | 2007-2008 |
| Fr. David Raj | Procurator | 2009-2013 |
| Fr. Clement Khess | Manager | 2010-… |
| Fr. Thomas Aquinas | Counselor | 2012-… |
| Fr. A. Sahayaraj | Procurator | 2013-… |
| Fr. Mark Mathias | Guidance and Counsellor | 2009-2012 |
| Fr. Muthu Selvam | Vice Principal | |
| Fr. Cyriac Pious | Principal |
Saint Arnold Janssen (1837-1909) stands as an exemplar of educational vision and humanitarian service. Arnold Janssen was born on the 5th of November 1837 in Goch, a small city in the Lower Rhineland (Germany). The second of ten children, his parents instilled in him a dedication to work and a deep devotion to religion.
A man profoundly committed to prayer and the service of humanity, he was divinely inspired to establish three religious congregations dedicated to illuminating the furthest reaches of the earth through love, knowledge, and selfless ministry.
He was ordained a priest on the 15th August 1861 for the diocese of Muenster and was assigned to a secondary school in Bocholt, where he worked as a strict but just teacher. Due to his profound devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he was named Diocesan Director for the Apostleship of Prayer. This work encouraged Arnold to open himself to people of other religions.
He also became more aware of the spiritual needs of people beyond the limits of his own home, developing a deep concern for the mission of the Church. He decided to dedicate his life to awakening in the German Church its missionary responsibility.
With this in mind, in 1873 he resigned from his teaching post and soon after founded "The Sacred Heart Messenger." This popular monthly magazine presented news of missionary activities and it encouraged German-speaking Catholics to do more to help the missions.
In the year 1875, he founded the "Society of the Divine Word", popularly known as the Divine Word Missionaries or SVD, with the intention of reaching the Love of God to all people of the world irrespective of religion, culture or race. Today more than 6000 Divine Word Missionaries serve in over 65 countries in various fields of human development including education.
Father Arnold died on the 15th of January 1909 and was declared a Saint by the Catholic Church on 5th October 2003.
Saint Arnold Janssen possessed a singular aptitude for mathematics, distinguished by his receipt of a gold medal for a mathematical treatise on the geometry of curves: an achievement born of rigorous scholarship and devout prayer. As an educator, he earned the profound admiration of his students through his capacity to render complex subjects accessible and engaging.
He understood that the true purpose of pedagogy lies not merely in the transmission of information, but in leading forth young minds into knowledge and young souls into truth. His exemplary conduct and pedagogical excellence earned him the universal esteem of students, colleagues, and the wider community.
We reverently place our institution under his patronage and guidance, honouring his memory with special observance on the 15th of January each year. The spiritual descendants of Saint Arnold Janssen continue his noble legacy, promoting peace, truth, and justice through educational, medical, pastoral, and developmental services, as well as through modern communication media.
School Motto
Life-Giving Word
The Word occupies a position of supreme significance in every religious tradition and in the life of every individual. Our ancient sages of India attained union with the Divine through the utterance of Om, the eternal, primordial sound.
In the Hebrew-Christian Scriptures, the Word of God represents the ultimate reality: the creative force from which all existence emanates and through which life itself flows forth. This same Word of God became incarnate in Jesus Christ, who proclaimed: "I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance."
When we speak words imbued with love to our companions, we enhance and enrich their existence; they begin to experience life in its fullness. Every Arnoldian is called to cultivate friendships characterised by life-giving relationships, firmly rooted in the Word.
In sharing Love through the Word, we share the very essence of life.
Alumni Motto
Let Your Light Shine
The motto "Let Your Light Shine" embodies the essence of the Arnoldian spirit and serves as both an aspiration and a sacred obligation for every member of our alumni community.
Light has served as humanity's most enduring metaphor for knowledge, wisdom, truth, and goodness across all civilisations and faith traditions. In the Upanishads, the ancient prayer "Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya" beseeches the Divine to lead us from darkness into light. Christ charged his followers to let their light shine before others through their deeds. The Buddha brought illumination to a world shrouded in ignorance.
As alumni of St. Arnold's, we have been privileged to receive the light of education, moral formation, and the values of fellowship, honour, and valour. Yet this light was never intended to be concealed; it was given to be shared, multiplied, and passed forward through mentorship, professional excellence, service, and integrity.
We do not claim to be the source of light itself; rather, we are vessels through which the light we received may illuminate others.
Saint Arnold…our great patron!
We glory in your name…
So fill our school with glory
Courage, strength and fame.
Courage, strength and fame.
Your motto: "let your light shine"
"let your light shine"
"let your light shine"
Your virtues we uphold
We pledge that we'll be loyal,
We love your heart of gold!
So fill our hearts with kindness
And always be our guide
We promise to be faithful
And serve you to the end.
Serve you to the end…..
Your motto: "let your light shine"
"let your light shine"
"let your light shine"
Your virtues we uphold
We pledge that we'll be loyal,
We love your heart of gold!
Schools Under Same Management
St. Arnold's Education Society, which owns and administers St. Arnold's School, Vijaynagar, also administers:
Institutional Memberships
Over the past two decades, the school has fostered strong linkages with local schools and institutions, including NGOs that share the school's Vision and Mission: