Shillong, May 2: An educational institution, which celebrates and respects diversity in all its hues, and endeavours to touch the pinnacles of excellence, will rejoice - in gold, maroon, and green, the colours of the school flag - its 100 years of service to mankind.

St Edmund's School, an institution of the Christian Brothers of Blessed Edmund Rice, was established at Laitumkhrah in 1916.

The yearlong centenary celebrations of the school will commence on Tuesday with a Thanksgiving Mass at the picturesque school chapel.

That the school celebrates diversity has been aptly reflected in the centenary theme - Unity in our Diversity.

Shillong Archbishop Dominic Jala will conduct the Mass, which will be followed by a cultural programme where one of the oldest serving members of the Christian Brothers, Brother Peter Gomes, will be the chief guest.

From October 14 to 17, a school concert will be organised while the alumni festival will be held from February 11 to 13 next year.

The closing ceremony will coincide with the school's annual sports meet on May 5, 2016.

In 1894, Monsignor Edmund Becker, the then Prefect Apostolic of Assam, conceived the idea of a boarding school for boys in Shillong. His enthusiasm was rekindled when noted educationist Sir Archdale Earle was appointed chief commissioner of Assam in 1912.

Earle strongly backed Becker's idea and the Christian Brothers took up the project.

In 1913, Brother Stanislaus O'Brien came to Shillong to oversee plans for the school. In 1914, Brother O'Brien stayed alone on the 24-acre property and saw the establishment of St Edmund's School, which was his home from 1914 until his death in 1940.

In February 1916, the admission of three boys saw St Edmund open its doors to students. The number soon rose to 31 boarders and 11 day scholars.

Earle officially opened St Edmund's School on October 6, 1916, and Brother Andrew Luke Aherne became the school's first principal. Thus began the saga of St Edmund's and the institution has since grown providing quality education.

While the school's roots have been firmly ingrained in the sprawling campus at Laitumkhrah, its branches - its alumni - are dotted across the globe.

In a conversation with The Telegraph here today, principal Brother Solomon Morris said one of the school's uniqueness has been its tradition to welcome children from all communities.

"We have been providing education for all with emphasis on all-round excellence. The poor are our priority as we follow the footsteps of our founder Blessed Edmund Rice. But we need to do more in this area," Brother Morris said.

Although the school has been one of the most sought-after institutions of the well-to-do class, he said the poor have never been neglected.

In the early 2000s, the school had witnessed a transition whereby the members of the Christian Brothers congregation handed over the principal's office to lay people.

"The idea was to empower the lay people so that members of the congregation could go and work in the rural areas. It was a significant change as we felt that since the school had reached a certain level of excellence, it was time for us to move into other areas so they too could achieve excellence," Brother Morris said.

The Christian Brothers manage several schools in the country, including St Columba's in New Delhi.

As Edmund's School prepares to celebrate its 100 years of service, it still feels like 100 years young and vibrant, with change being the only constant and ever ready to churn out "leaders in every field".