Website
Website : https://www.loretoentally.org/

Address
Address : 1 Convent Lane, PO Tangra, Kolkata 700 015
Phone : 033-2329 4891

LORETO SYMBOL
Maria Regina Angelorum:
Mary Queen of the Angels.

Cruci dum spiro fido:
While I live I put my trust in the cross.

The Cross:
A symbol of suffering patiently borne.

The heart of Jesus:
A symbol of love surrounded by the thorns of difficulty.

The heart of Mary:
A mother's heart pierced by the sword of sorrow.

The anchor:
A symbol of hope: God's love for us is the anchor of our lives.

Pupils are prepared for The Indian Certificate of Secondary Examination (ICSE), New Delhi, at the 10 (Secondary) level. The curriculum includes Religious Instruction, Value Education, English, Bengali, Hindi, History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Home Science, Economics, Computers, Art and Craft, Physical Training and SUPW.

The Indian School Certificate (ISC) (11-12, Senior Secondary/Plus-2 course) started from the Academic Session 2009 -2010. The curriculum offers English, Second Language, Political Science, Sociology and History.

All students should be in school by 08:00am.
Attendance of students is compulsory on certain non-teaching days such as Republic Day, Teacher's Day, and Children's Day.

OUR MISSION
We at Loreto Convent Entally, the sisters, staff, parents and students, commit ourselves to the service of all, especially empowering the marginalized girl-child, ensuring she enjoys justice, peace, love and integrity of creation.

OUR VISION
We committed ourselves to Mary Ward, vision of Education of girls and the important role they play in Society. We committed ourselves to labour to extend God’s glory, to live in attitude of discernment seeking God’s will in all, to make our own the values of His Kingdom, love, freedom, sincerity justice which urges us to work for the coming of the Kingdom.

AIM AND GOAL
At Loreto Convent Entally, education is geared towards the wholeness and dignity of each child.

The dignity of each student comes from being a person:
Striving for excellence achieved at the level of her own potential
We value the student as a unique person who is already gifted; who has a Past, Present, and Future.
The school sees the values of Integrity, Justice, Freedom and Love as essential in the educational thrust. Therefore parents who intend to have their children educated here would need to be convinced of the importance of these values and be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to live by them.

The special aim of our school is to cherish the most deprived of God’s people to enable them to take their place with dignity among others.

OUR POLICY
Our policy follows naturally from our Vision. It provides the necessary guidance to enable us to make daily decisions designed to promote those values by which we live. It may have to be modified from time to time to meet changing situations.

Infrastructure facilities available
Concert hall / Science labs / Home science lab / / Library / School canteen
Nursery class / Toy room / Play area / Junior class rooms / Junior library

ADMISSION
For details please visit > https://www.loretoentally.org/Admission-Information.aspx

CLASS NURSERY: Application given: 1st week of September > CHILD'S AGE:  Must be 4+
Session begins: April
Application for admission to Nursery will normally be accepted in the month of September. In case there are changes, the School Office will notify in its website and school notice board.

HIGHER CLASSES KG to 7 (ICSE): Inquiry can be made from 3rd week of January
Session begins: April
Admission against vacancy into class KG to 8 will normally be accepted in the month of January.

PLUS TWO (ISC): Application given: February > Session begins: April
Application for Admission in ISC (ARTS and COMM.)
1) Notification regarding admission dates & other details will be given by school office in its website & school notice board.

CLUBS
JUNIOR SECTION CLUBS
Dramaction: All the world’s a stage and we are all players. Ready to take the entire stage by storm are our budding artists. – Lights... Camera... Action...
Young Orators: Lend me your ears.
Go Green: Your deepest roots are in nature. “No matter who you are where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with nature”- Charles Cooke.
Hoop the Loop: Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.
Quizzing Delight: To ask, to seek, to follow Knowledge like a sinking star is the aim of all our budding quizzers.
Eat Right Live Long: Good food makes us live longer and healthier lives.
Busy Hands: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

SENIOR SECTION CLUBS
Dramaction: All the world’s a stage and we are all players. Ready to take the entire stage by storm are our budding artists. – Lights.. Camera.. Action..
Antra: Music is a piece of art that goes in the ears straight to the heart. Nrityangan: a dance club where they learn two forms of Indian classical dances ‘Bharatnatyam’ and ‘Oddisi’.

Footsteps
Be Rational: Use soft words and Hard Arguments.
Green Pillar: Your deepest roots are in nature. “No matter who you are where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with nature”- Charles Cooke.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2021
On the occasion of World Environment Day which is celebrated on 5th June, the Nature Club aimed at making the students of classes KG-12 Environmental Warriors through a set of fun activities spanning over three days. The objectives of the activities were to develop consciousness among students and to raise awareness about the environmental issues. Prompting students to work towards a zero waste future was also one of the aims.

Inheriting Heritage
In search of our roots, we will be more aware of our RICH HERITAGE. The Journey begins now…

Budding Photographers: Life is like photography. You need the negatives to develop.
Young Explorers: Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.
Kick: Sound body sound mind.
Basketball: Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do.
Quizarians: To ask, to seek, to follow Knowledge like a sinking star is the aim of all our budding quizzers.
Young Chef: Good food makes us live longer and healthier lives.
Bookaholics: Books are a gateway to the world of Knowledge.
Helping Hand: Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.
Maths Wizard: Learn some tricks and find out the Maths behind MAGIC.
BYG: It’s time to connect globally, effectively and technologically, taking a leap in time.
Yoga: Like a flower bud, human life has the potential to blossom fully. Blossoming of human potential to fullness is Yoga.
Asian Parliament Forum: Education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world-MUN can act as a forum for it.

SPONSORSHIPS

Loreto Convent Entally caters very specially to children from economically challenged background. In our admission process into the Boarding we give priority to orphans, semi-orphans, children who come from broken homes or have single parent and girls at risk. The expenses entailed in running the Boarding are met through the sponsorship of generous benefactors.

Countless children have received good all round education and have been able to step out into the world with poise and confidence. On completing their schooling, a good number go to college. Some go for vocational or professional training courses. We have many who are now fully qualified professors, nurses, teachers and secretaries and even entrepreneurs and all holding their own in society.

All donations from benefactors would be most gratefully accepted 
If anyone is interested in sponsoring a child’s education, kindly let us know. Any contribution from any quarter would go a long way in taking forward the vision of Mary Ward in empowering the girl child. Contact us by e-mail on sponsorentally@yahoo.co.in for any queries that you may have regarding sponsorship.

OUT REACH PROGRAMME
Naba Prayas – Special Programme The school organized a special programme for the children of Naba Prayas, Behala on 3.12.19. Children shared their tiffin, sang and danced. It was a day of fun, sharing and enjoyment. Activities were organised for these children.
A few projects of our ongoing OUT REACH PROGRAMME

LITERACY CLASS
Children living in the vicinity, coming from economically challenged backgrounds attend our Literacy Classes.

They are taught Bengali, fundamentals of Mathematics and primary level English regularly from 12 noon to 2 p.m. They are taught by our school students from class 6 upwards, supervised by our school teachers and social workers.

MID-DAY MEAL
Our own school students who cannot afford to bring tiffin are provided with a mid-day meal.

Vocation Training Institute (VTC)
The VTC is a haven for all the underprivileged women of the locality. Extensive training is given in Tailoring & Knitting as well as Bakery. Adult literacy is also an important agenda of VTC. The trainees are given a stipend. After completion of the training, many have been able to start their own cottage industries or have been employed in small scale industries.
This centre has definitely given women a status of their own which is in keeping with Mary Ward’s vision – “Women in time to come will do much.”

ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Educational Values
The primary aim of the school is to give its pupils an education in keeping with the culture and tradition of the country. They are trained to realise their responsibilities and to develop a strong civic sense or spirit that will prepare them for leadership in the society to which they belong.
The greatest emphasis is placed on the knowledge and love of God, the formation of a true moral conscience, appreciation of family life and the service of their country. Loreto Convent Entally has staff strength of 49 teachers, who constitute the backbone of the Institution. Their selfless service and commitment is unparalleled.

Co-curricular Activities
Are of paramount importance. Inter-personal relational skills, confidence, poise and reliability are some of the qualities developed through co-curricular activities. Hence, such activities are an essential part of the school programme. These activities include:
Debates, Elocution, Art and Craft, Quiz, Singing, Dancing, Physical Training and Needlework There are four Houses, which have their own colours and names. Each House is headed by an elected Captain and Vice-Captain.
The Head Girl, Vice Head Girl, Games Captain, Vice Games Captain, Prefect, and Vice Prefect are elected by the Principal and Staff.
There are optional classes for Basketball before school hours on specific days.

CO-CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES
In the creation of fully developed individuals, filled with respect for themselves and the world around them, interaction and doing is as important as academics. Besides sports such as basketball, students of Loreto Convent School, Entally, are encouraged to join our action groups, which do meaningful work, within the school - and the larger world beyond.
The ideal of Service is set before the pupils who are expected to give themselves unselfishly to their immediate duty, to have an awareness of the needs of those around them which will bring them, eventually, to a realization that the welfare of humankind requires that all contribute to society, that they help others and that they serve their fellow beings. It is hoped that the pupils of Loreto will leave the school with a strong conviction that, in the words of Gandhiji, “Happiness consists not in what you can get, but in what you can give.” All girls, therefore, from class 4 upwards are required to do some form of social work. Classes 8-10 are given opportunities for development of personality and leadership skills through movements like:

Young Christian Students (YCS) gives opportunities to become involved in Liturgy including choir both at school and parish level.

Leadership Training Service (LTS) helps the students to put God above self through prayer and social activities. LTS challenges the students to value themselves so that they become responsible citizens of the country and world.

Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) helps the students to reflect on situations of injustice, on their causes and possible remedies, and challenges them to think of others (children deprived of the advantages of education) and to work for them.

GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
For details please visit > https://www.loretoentally.org/General-rules-and-Discipline.aspx

RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARENTS
for details please visit > https://www.loretoentally.org/Recommendations-to-parents.aspx

We acknowledge that the parent is the first educator. The school welcomes communication, participation, collaboration with parents based on mutual trust and understanding.

FEES REGULATIONS
For details please visit > https://www.loretoentally.org/Fees-Regulations.aspx

School fees will be raised every year by 10% or as required.

BOARDING REGULATIONS
For details please visit > https://www.loretoentally.org/Boarding-Regulations.aspx

To bring about the atmosphere of growth, parents are requested to abide by the rules. If rules are not followed the child will be asked to leave the boarding.

SCHOOL HISTORY

Loreto Convent Entally was started in 1843, by the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary – founded by Mary Ward in the 17 th century. Born in difficult times, Mary Ward had the sagacity to foresee that “Women in time to come will do much” and pioneered the movement for the education of women so that they could take their rightful place in society and constructively contribute towards it. Such a profound mission would have been incomplete without her. Loreto Convent Entally perseveres in the path shown by this indomitable woman...

First founded for Catholic children, Loreto Entally now encompasses children from all communities, enshrining India’s Unity in Diversity. The vision of Mary Ward is carried forward by the Sisters who aim to provide spiritual education to the girls while promoting their all round development.

Growing concerned over the plight of Christian children in Calcutta in the 1830s, Dr. Bakhaus was commissioned to recruit Sisters. He went to Mother Teresa Ball who after much prayer agreed to send six of her best Sisters. On Dec 30 th , 1841, six brave nuns landed at Babu Ghat.

The journey that began then continues today. Loreto grew in and around Calcutta and continues to affect the lives of many girls, past and present. Loreto Entally was the first Loreto Boarding school in Calcutta for the orphans. While the school, in the true spirit of Mary Ward, has grown and expanded to include girls from various socio-economic and religious backgrounds, its thrust towards the poor continues to be its primary aim. The school aims to cater to the intellectual and social as well as spiritual needs of the children. While there is full scope to develop their knowledge and talents, there is alongside regular classes and programmes to ensure the moral development of children.

ORIGIN Loreto Convent Entally was founded in 1847 under the management of the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters) which was founded by Mary Ward in the 17 th Century. She recognized the significance of the education for women and the important role they play in society.

Although the primary purpose is the education of catholic girls, students of other religious denominations, irrespective of caste, creed or community, are also accepted. The aim of the school is to give its pupils a sound moral education while devoting special attention to their intellectual, social and physical development.

In our school, education is the wholeness and dignity of each child. The dignity of each child comes from being a person

Striving for excellence achieved at the level of her own potential.
We value the student as a unique person who is already gifted, who has a Past, Present and Future. Whom God has called by a name of her own.

This school sees the values of Integrity, Justice, Freedom and Love as essential in the educational thrust. Therefore, parents who intend to have their children educated here would need to be convinced of the importance of these values and be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices to live by them.

The special thrust of our school is to cherish the most deprived of God’s people and to enable them to take their place with dignity among others.

HISTORY OF LORETO IN INDIA > ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSTITUTE

Religious Sister, Foundress and Educator
The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto) was founded by MARY WARD (1585-1645), a dynamic English Catholic lady, in an age when Catholics were persecuted in England. Europe was torn by religious dissension and women’s rights were generally ignored.

At the age of 15 Mary felt called to the religious life. She entered a monastery of Poor Clares at Saint-Omer in Northern France, then in Spanish Flanders, as a lay sister in 1606 and the following year she founded a new monastery of the Order for English women at nearby Gravelines.

Establishment of the Institute
Heritage However, she did not find herself called to the contemplative life and instead decided to dedicate herself to an active ministry, whilst still being a religious. This was considered most unusual at the time. At the age of twenty-four she found herself surrounded by a band of devoted companions determined to work under her guidance. In 1609, she left her homeland and with a small group of companions, she opened a school at St. Omer, Flanders where girls were taught reading, writing and sewing, as well as the principles of Christian life. This work expanded over much of Europe while she travelled there and later in England.

Although the venture was a great success, it was still controversial at the time, and it called forth censure and opposition as well as praise. Her idea was to enable women to do for the Church in their proper field, what men had done for it in the Society of Jesus. The idea has been realized over and over again in modern times, but in the 17th century it met with little encouragement. As previous foundresses who attempted such a way of life (e.g., St. Angela Merici) had learned, uncloistered religious women were repugnant to long-standing principles and traditions then prevalent. At that time, the work of religious women was confined to prayer, and such work as could be carried on within the walls of a monastery.

She established a religious order for women with very unusual features. Women religious were usually cloistered, under the jurisdiction of the local bishop. Mary Ward envisioned a very active order, working in the society at large for the education and upliftment of both rich and poor women. She asked for self-government under direct Papal jurisdiction. Mary Ward faced condemnation within the Catholic Church and suppression of her order, as her plans were far ahead of her times. However, she remained convinced that "women in time to come will do much".

Heritage
There were other new startling differences between the new Institute and existing congregations of women; freedom from: enclosure, the obligation of choir, wearing a religious habit, and from the jurisdiction of the local bishop. Moreover her scheme was proposed at a time when there was division amongst English Catholics, and the fact that it borrowed so much from the Society of Jesus (itself an object of suspicion and hostility in many quarters) increased the mistrust. Measures recognized as acceptable in modern times were still novelties in hers, and her opponents called for a statement to be made by Church authorities. As early as 1615, the Jesuit theologians, Francisco Suarez and Leonardus Lessius who had been asked for their opinion on the new institute; both praised its way of life. Lessius held that local episcopal authorization sufficed to render it a religious body whereas Suárez maintained that its aim, organization, and methods being without precedent in the case of women, required the sanction of the Holy See.

Pope St. Pius (pope from 1566–1572) had declared solemn vows and strict papal enclosure to be essential to all communities of religious women. To this law the difficulties of Mary Ward were mainly due, when on the propagation of her institute in Flanders, Bavaria, Austria and Italy, she applied to the Holy See for formal approbation. The Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia, the Elector Maximilian I, and the Emperor Ferdinand II had welcomed the congregation to their dominions and together with such men as Cardinal Federigo Borromeo, Fra Domenico de Gesù, and Father Mutio Vitya, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, held the foundress in great esteem. Paul V, Gregory XV, and Urban VIII had shown her great kindness and spoken in praise of her work, and in 1629 she was allowed to plead her cause in person before the congregation of cardinals appointed by Urban to examine the situation.

The "Jesuitesses", as her congregation was designated by her opponents, were suppressed in 1630. Her work however was not destroyed. The Empress Catherine the Great of Russia welcomed her educational innovations to her realm, and there Mary Ward went, with the majority of her community. It revived gradually and developed, following the general lines of the first scheme.

At the express desire of Pope Urban, Mary went to Rome. It was there that she gathered around her the younger members of her religious family, under the supervision and protection of the Holy See. In 1639, with letters of introduction from Pope Urban to Queen Henrietta Maria, Mary returned to England and established herself in London. In 1642 she journeyed northward with her household and established a convent at Heworth, near York. She died in 1645 in St. Mary’s school, Heworth.

After her death there, her companions thought it best not to bury her body near the city center where she died because of the dangers of desecration. Instead they sought somewhere less conspicuous and found a happy solution by arranging for her to be buried in the Osbaldwick Churchyard, about a mile away. There, as the record says, "the vicar was honest enough to be bribed"! Her burial on 1 February 1645 was also attended by Anglicans. Despite the persecution of Roman Catholics at the time, Mary Ward was much admired and revered by many local people.

Plans drawn up by Mary Ward in the 17th century became the model for most modern women’s congregations. Meanwhile, Mary Ward’s own legacy had spread throughout Europe, where they were known as ‘the English Ladies’.

Pope Urban VIII said of her in 1637 ‘A woman of great prudence and of extraordinary courage and powers of mind, but what is much more…A holy and great servant of God.’

After her death Mary Ward’s plans were to be justified and official papal approbation of the Rules was granted by Pope Clement XI in 1703. Thus the ‘Institute of Mary’ was approved when he declared "Let women be governed by women".

This approbation rendered possible all the modern religious congregations of women engaged in active work for souls. The Institute again established in various parts of Europe especially in Bavaria, and its development continued throughout the eighteenth century.
In 1745 Pope Benedict XIV approved the Constitutions of the Institute.
In 1877 the original Institute founded in the seventeenth century was confirmed by Pope Pius IX. It was in 1909 that Mary Ward was publicly acknowledged as the Foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Pius X.
In 1921, the Archbishop of Westminster said, “It is a duty of gratitude to recall continually to the Catholics as well as the teaching orders of religious women throughout the world, that the existence of modern educational and charitable congregations such as we know them, was made possible by the supernatural foresight, the heroic perseverance and the terrible disappointments and sufferings of Mary Ward.”
Pope Pius XII called Mary Ward in 1951 ‘…That incomparable woman, which England, in her darkest and bloodiest time, gave to the Church.’ Pope John Paul II, in 1982, named her with the great saints of Northern Britain as ‘that extraordinary woman from Yorkshire.’
Today the Church looks on Mary Ward with respect, as a great woman of the Church. The present Pope, Benedict XVI, as Cardinal Ratzinger, wrote of this in a letter in 1984: “With courage and decisiveness she opened the way in her own time for women to work in a new way in the Church....her freedom of spirit and her obedience together compose a message which will be significant in the Church today. It may be said, perhaps, that precisely now Mary Ward’s hour has come afresh.”
On 19th December 2009 Pope Benedict XVI declared Mary Ward as Venerable, and recognition was given to her as being a woman of heroic virtue.
Mary Ward was a leader of originality, faith and daring courage, whose inspiration continues to inspire young women worldwide, to serve the poor even today.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta, one of Mary Ward’s spiritual daughter’s wrote of her as “Mary is God’s gift to the church and to the world."

IBVM IN IRELAND
Mary Ward’s vision and way of life was carried to Ireland in the 19th century by Frances Teresa Ball who began the Irish branch of the IBVM.
With the support of the Archbishop of Dublin, who hoped that she would set up an IBVM community in Dublin, Frances returned to York to enter The Bar Convent, where she took the religious name of Teresa. Mother Teresa Ball returned to Dublin in 1823 to start her work of setting up an Irish branch of the Institute.

Dr. Murray bought Rathfarnham House with forty acres of land. The house had been built in 1725 and had been owned by the Palliser and Grierson families. Before the house could be used by the IBVM sisters, a number of structural repairs had to be carried out. Mother Teresa and two companions eventually moved to Rathfarnham House on November 4, 1822. Because there were three of them in Rathfarnham House that first evening, Mother Teresa decided to call the house ’Loreto’ after the village in Italy to which the Nazareth house of the Holy Family was said to have been miraculously transported.

The nuns of the Irish Foundation came to be known as the "Loreto nuns".

HER FOUNDATIONS

India      1841

Mauritius    1844

Canada      1847

England      1851

Spain       1851

In all 37 foundations

THE CALL TO INDIA

Loreto in India owes its origin to a visit by Dr Bakhaus to Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Ireland, in 1840 to request Mother Teresa Ball to send sisters to set up a school for Catholic children in Calcutta. In response to this, Mother Teresa Ball sent 7 Loreto Sisters and 5 Postulants, all in their twenties, under the leadership of Delphine Hart to India, announcing that they would probably never see their homeland again. These pioneers were Mother Delphine Hart, Mother Teresa Mons, Mother Martina McCann, Sisters Alexia Egan, Benigna Egan, Veronica Fox, Gabriel Doyle, Miss Isabella Hart (M.Delphine’s sister), a Miss McDonough who received the habit as Sister Xaveria on her deathbed at the end of this first year and two other postulants, Miss Shanley and Miss Fitzpatrick. They sailed on a ship named The Scotia. This intrepid band left Dublin on September 1, 1841 from Ireland and landed at Babughat, Kolkata on December 29, 1841. They were the first congregation to come to North India.

There was a formal welcome and religious ceremony at the Cathedral on Portuguese Church Street. A great civic reception was held the next day, where they were welcomed by the Ladies of the Nun Committee, a large gathering of the people of Calcutta and Bishop Carew, and they were installed at the house in Middleton Row.

Earlier occupants of the building included Henry Vansittart, Governor of Bengal (1760-64) Sir Elijah Impey, First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774-82) and from 1824, the Second Anglican Bishop of Calcutta, Bishop Heber. On January 10, 1842, Loreto House School was opened in this building. Meanwhile, the construction of St. Thomas’ Church, on the same premises had begun from November 11, 1841. The Catholic Archbishop of Calcutta, Mgr. Carew, also constructed a residence for himself next to the church and at the doorstep of Loreto House. This building was then known as St. Thomas’ House. The only original buildings on the premises now are St. Thomas’ Church and a part of the building where the college was first established. The Provincial of the Loreto institute in India now resides within the walls that first housed Loreto College. On 10th January 1842 the Sisters began the school at Loreto House with 60 pupils as well as taking classes in the orphanage at the Murgihatta Cathedral in keeping with Mary Ward’s dictum to "love the Poor".

In 1843 Loreto Day School Bowbazar, was founded.

An orphanage was opened in Serampore and another boarding school was founded in Chandannagar.

In 1847, orphans and boarders from Murgihatta, Serampore and Chandannagar were shifted to the beautiful grounds of Loreto Convent, Entally.

In 1857, Loreto Day School, Sealdah was formally inaugurated.

In 1879, Loreto Day School Dharamtalla, founded earlier by laymen, was handed over to the Loreto Sisters.

In the early years, Loreto nuns travelled to Dacca, Chittagong, Vellore, Ootacamund, Saugor, Hazaribagh and Purnea, establishing institutions, many of which were left for others to nurture.

Elsewhere, Loreto developed strong and lasting foundations: Loreto Convent, Darjeeling [1847], Loreto Convent, Lucknow [1872], Loreto Convent, Asansol [1877], Tara Hall, Simla [1899], St Agnes’ Loreto Day School, Lucknow, [1904] and Loreto Convent, Shillong [1909].

In the early years of the twentieth century, Loreto ventured into higher education for women. In 1912, Loreto College, Calcutta was founded.

Affiliation to the university was granted, first in 1912-1913, for Intermediate Arts and later for BA (Bachelor of Arts), ISC (Intermediate Science) and BT (Teacher Training).

The Secondary School Teachers’ Training College was opened in February 1913. The courses first offered were for the Licentiate of Teaching and Bachelor of Teaching. Today it offers a one year post graduate B. Ed. (Bachelor of Education) degree. It is affiliated to Calcutta University and in 1998 it was recognized by the National Council for Teacher Education, a body set up under the NCTE Act 1993.

In 1926 St. Teresa’s Girls’ Higher Secondary School was opened for Nepali girls.

In 1942: Pushpa Vidyalaya, the first Loreto Hindi medium school, was started for poor children in the compound of St Agnes’ Loreto Day School, Lucknow.

1943: Loreto Convent, Doranda, Ranchi was established. In 1965, Loreto found a home in Delhi cantonment.

1950s: Vocational Training center, Loreto House was started.

The Commercial College was first begun in Loreto Dharamtala and shifted to Loreto House in the 1950s.

1954: Loreto Day School, Elliot Road, Calcutta.

1955: The TTC (Trained Teachers’ Certificate), the Primary School Teachers’ Training Department of Loreto House was started to provide a course which is certified by the West Bengal School Education Department. It’s also recognized by the National Council for Teachers’ Education (NCTE).

1961: The Government offered the Loreto Sisters a large house, Southfield, on the slopes of Observatory Hill to begin a women’s college as there was no college for women in the whole Darjeeling District at that time.

By the 1970s, new directions were evident in Loreto Education. In 1971, Loreto St Vincent’s school was founded in Thakurpukur as a Bengali medium primary school for the poor children of the area. In 1979, Jeevan Rekha, Loreto Delhi, established a coaching programme for village children.

In 1985, the Rainbow school was established in Loreto Sealdah. Other innovative projects devised at Loreto Sealdah include a village programme wherein every week some children visit and teach in village schools, the Shikhalaya project initiated with government assistance to get every child in Kolkata into school, and the "barefoot Teacher Training" to impart basic training to teachers of village schools.

Several literacy programmes were started, including Ankur Vidyalaya - Literacy Programme, Loreto Asansol (1991), Jagriti Literacy and Tailoring center - Lucknow (1994) and Asha Kiran, Ranchi- a literacy and tailoring project, while vocational courses were offered at Akansha Dam, Loreto Day School, Dharamtala and the Vocational training center, Entally.

Outreach programmes include Lolay Primary School (1991), Archana School and Outreach programme of Loreto House school, Kolkata (1992), Sunshine School, Entally - a pre-school foundation class (1992), Loreto Sanjeevan Shiksha Sadan, Panighatta taken over from the Jesuits (1995), Roshni School, the outreach programme of Loreto Elliot Road (1996), while Asha Deep is the non-formal outreach programme of Loreto Bowbazar (1996). In 1997, Sadam was opened, fulfilling a long time wish of the Late Bishop Benjamin for the Loreto Education Development Center. Dharan has engaged three teachers to take coaching classes for students from Government schools and also runs a hostel (1996). At Loreto Outreach Center, Laitkor, classes are conducted daily in rented rooms in two villages for children attending local schools.

Sr. Euphemia started pastoral work in Umphyrnai in 1994 and School and Tribal Health Care Dispensary was also set up later..

To answer the call of Courage to Move, three of our sisters from Kolkata were missioned to Padrishibpur in Bangladesh in 2005. They took over the running of St. Alfred’s School, which up to then was managed by lay people after the Holy Spirit Fathers left.

In 2007 the Darjeeling Region was begun with Darjeeling, Lolay, Sadam, Dharan and Panighatta coming under its umbrella. The Regional House in Champasari and the Mary Ward Development Centre were established in Siliguri.

A house for students was opened in Tiruchirapalli in 2006.

The new Novitiate house was constructed in 2007 in Thakurpukur – Abhilasha.

In 2007 social and pastoral work was begun in Satarda by Sr. Euphemia.

OUR FOUNDRESS

Mary Ward (23 January 1585 – 30 January 1645) was an English Catholic nun who founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was declared "Venerable" by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 December 1959; this is the first of three steps on the path to being declared a saint.

Mary's first word was Jesus which was the sign of things to come. Mary was born at a time of great conflict for Catholics in England. She was born in Mulwith, North Yorkshire and in 1595 her family home was burned down. As the home was burning, Mary and her sisters knelt down and asked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the children were saved by their father. In 1599 she moved to the house of Sir Ralph Babthorpe at Osgodby, Selby. It was there at the age of 15 that Mary felt called to the religious life. She entered a convent of Poor Clares at Saint-Omer in France as a lay sister in 1606 and the following year she founded the Convent of Poor Clares at Gravelines a house for English women at nearby Gravelines.

However, she did not find herself called to the contemplative life and instead decided to dedicate herself to active ministry, whilst still being a religious; this was considered most unusual at the time. At the age of twenty-four she found herself surrounded by a band of devoted companions determined to work under her guidance. In 1609 they established themselves as a religious community at Saint-Omer, and opened schools for girls.

Although the venture was a great success, it was a novelty at the time, and it called forth censure and opposition as well as praise. Her idea was to enable women to do for the Church in their proper field, what men had done for it in the Society of Jesus. The idea has been realized over and over again in modern times, but in the 17th century it met with little encouragement. Uncloistered nuns were an innovation repugnant to long-standing principles and traditions then prevalent. At that time, the work of religious women was confined to prayer, and such work as could be carried on within the walls of a convent.

There were other new startling differences between the new institute and existing congregations of women; freedom from: enclosure, the obligation of choir, wearing a religious habit, and from the jurisdiction of the local bishop. Moreover her scheme was proposed at a time when there was division amongst English Catholics, and the fact that it borrowed so much from the Society of Jesus (itself an object of suspicion and hostility in many quarters) increased the mistrust. Measures recognized as acceptable in modern times were untried in hers, and her opponents called for a statement to be made by Church authorities. As early as 1615, the Jesuit theologians Francisco Suárez and Leonardus Lessius had been asked for their opinion on the new institute; both praised its way of life. Lessius held that local episcopal authorisation sufficed to render it a religious body whereas Suárez maintained that its aim, organization, and methods being without precedent in the case of women, required the sanction of the Holy See.

Pope St. Pius V (pope from 1566–1572) had declared solemn vows and strict papal enclosure to be essential to all communities of religious women. To this law the difficulties of Mary Ward were mainly due, when on the propagation of her institute in Flanders, Bavaria, Austria, and Italy, she applied to the Holy See for formal approbation. The Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia, the Elector Maximilian I, and the Emperor Ferdinand II had welcomed the congregation to their dominions and together with such men as Cardinal Federigo Borromeo, Fra Domenico de Gesù, and Father Mutio Vitya, General of the Society of Jesus, held the foundress in great esteem. Paul V, Gregory XV, and Urban VIII had shown her great kindness and spoken in praise of her work, and in 1629 she was allowed to plead her cause in person before the congregation of cardinals appointed by Urban to examine the situation.

The "Jesuitesses", as her congregation was designated by her opponents, were suppressed in 1630. Her work however was not destroyed. It revived gradually and developed, following the general lines of the first scheme. The second institute was at length approved as to its rule by Pope Clement XI in 1703, and as an institute by Pope Pius IX in 1877.

At the express desire of Pope Urban, Mary went to Rome. It was there that she gathered around her the younger members of her religious family, under the supervision and protection of the Holy See. In 1639, with letters of introduction from Pope Urban to Queen Henrietta Maria, Mary returned to England and established herself in London. In 1642 she journeyed northward with her household and established a convent at Heworth, near York. She died in St. Mary's School.

After her death in Heworth, near York, her companions thought it best not to bury her body near the city centre where she died because of the dangers of desecration. Instead they sought somewhere less conspicuous and found a happy solution by arranging for her to be buried in Osbaldwick Churchyard, about a mile away. There, as the record says, 'the vicar was honest enough to be bribed'! Her burial on 1 February 1645 was also attended by Anglicans. Despite the persecution of Roman Catholics at the time, Mary Ward was much admired and revered by many local people.

She was mentioned by Pope Benedict XVI during his UK visit.

Venerable Mary Ward
Mary ward was born on 23rd January 1585 in Yorkshire, England. Her parents were Ursula Wright and Marmaduke Ward. She grew up at a time when English Catholics suffered persecution, loss of property, honour and even life for the sake of their faith.

At the age of fifteen Mary first began to feel that she wanted to become a religious. One day, as she sat sowing with Margaret Garett, a most trusted servant of the household who told her stories about religious life Mary received light from God on the excellence of the religious life and decided to embrace this state of perfection.

Soon she began to practice forms of asceticism, read spiritual books and above all, prayed a great deal, fasted and undertook stricter forms of penance by interior and exterior mortification.

Slowly Mary’s conviction strengthened that she must enter religious life on the continent in the strictest monastery. Her confessor, family, relatives and friends came to know of the direction Mary was taking.

In 1606 Mary being 21 then, left home with her confessor’s approval and parents’ consent, accompanied by Mrs. Bentley, the great grand-daughter of St. Thomas Moore to whose care she had been entrusted. She took the ship to St. Omer, sailed from Dover to Calias and then covered the remaining 40 km to St. Omer on horseback.

The Glory Vision – 1609 The Glory Vision marks the beginning of Mary’s mission to found the Institute. She now knew that the one aim of her life was the praise and glory of God in everything.

Coming together of the First Companions during her stay in England, Mary came to know several likeminded young women from noble families, who wanted to live a spiritual life with her in an apostolic community.

They began their work with the pastoral care of adults among the English emigrants and taught the daughters of the English emigrants’ lessons in faith formation. Educating the women was the main task of the newly- founded Institute.

Take the same of the Society - Saint Omer-1611

So far Mary Ward and her companions had no clear picture in mind of what might develop out of this apostolic beginning. But after this time of practical experiment, God showed them the next step, and gave them more clarity in 1611.

Initiating a New Way of Life
Mary Ward was initiating something new in the church. In spite of the clouds gathering in the horizon, of being misunderstood by the Jesuits as well as the secular clergy, Mary was convinced that she had understood God’s will, and kept the courage even though in great isolation.

Vision of the Just Soul “On the feast of All Saints in 1615, at Saint Omer, God showed Mary a Just Soul in inexpressible beauty”. This illumination is called ‘The Vision of the Just Soul.’ Mary defined it in terms of three kinds of freedom; freedom from attachment to worldly values, freedom for all works of Justice; freedom to refer all to God.

“Half women are not for our times”

Mary made great demands both on herself and on her companions. In a letter written in 1635, she said, “Half women are not for such times.”

Mary’s health failed rapidly from 15th January. On 25th January, raising herself cheerfully she spoke to them comforting words. The day before she died, seeing their grief Mary said to her companions “Oh fie, fie, what, look sad! Come let us rather sing and praise God joyfully for all his infinite loving kindness.” Then she started off a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. They all joined, trying to hold back their tears.

“Then she gently kissed the crucifix in her hand saying softly, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” and bowed her head without a sound and passed from this world to the infinite peace of God. On 30th January 1645, at 11 o’clock or thereabout our dearest Mother departed this toilsome life at the age of 60 years and 8 days”.

Mary Ward’s life’s purpose and goal, summed up on her grave stone, points to the fire that burned within her for God’s service. “To love the poor, persevere in the same, live, die, and rise with them was all the aim of Mary Ward who having lived 60 years and 8 days died on 30th of January l645. She was buried in the small cemetery of the Anglican Church of Osbaldwick near Heworth.

Mary Ward’s Foundation lives on today.

Mary Ward died surrounded by a small band of faithful companions who shared her vision and with houses only in Rome, Munich and London. She bequeathed her dream to these gallant women because of whom the Institute survived and no doubt it was God’s work too. Today her foundation lives on world-wide in forty four countries, across five continents, under the names Congregation of Jesus and Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Lorettos) with about 3000 members.

Empowered to do great things
Her spirit is alive not only in the members of the Institute but also in centers of education, healing ministry, social involvement and hundreds of other good works, as well as in myriads of women who are empowered to do great things.

Venerable Mary Ward
On 19th December 1959, His Holiness Benedict XVI formally promulgated the Decree recognizing the heroic Virtues demonstrated by Mary Ward and thereby conferring on her the title ‘Venerable’.

MARY WARD’S COMPANIONS

TERESA BALL
The Irish Branch of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded in 1821 by Mother Teresa Ball, in Dublin, on completion of her religious training at the Bar Convent, Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, York, England. To the first Convent of this new Branch, at Rathfarnham, Dublin, Mother Teresa Ball gave the name 'Loreto' for it was her wish and prayer that the life of the Holy Family might always be an inspiration and an example to the members of the institute.

DELPHINE HART
The first call for the education of girls came from India. Twelve sisters were sent and Mother Delphine Hart, who was only 23, was named Superior of the new community. In 1841, the sisters boarded the ship 'Scotia' and set out for India. Finally, on December 30, 1841, they reached Calcutta and took up residence in Loreto House. A few days later they opened the first Loreto School in India.

LORETO AROUND THE WORLD
IBVM Sisters ministering on 5 continents in 24 countries. This wide network of IBVM/Loreto Sisters is organized into 10 provinces and one region. Our administrative center is at Casa Loreto in Rome, Italy.

Europe:
Albania / Gibralter / Italy / Ireland / Spain / United Kingdom

Australia:
Australia

Africa & Islands:
Ghana / Kenya / Morocco / South Africa / Sudan / Tanzania / Zambia / Mauritius / Seychelles

North America:
Canada / United States

Asia: Bangladesh / Timor Lest / India / Nepal

South America: Ecuador / Peru

LORETO CHORUS
To East and West of that fair isle
Where the first Loreto stands
Loreto’s banner now doth fly in many distant lands.
In sunny Spain, on Affric’s strand
And under the Southern Cross
And westward ho, where rainbow-hued
Niagara’s waters toss.
Chorus
Loreto’s banner gaily floats in lands both East and West
Loreto’s name each girl reveres
And holds it ever blest
But first Loreto found a home beneath our Indian skies
Where now o’er plain and mountain peak
The well loved banner flies.
Loreto’s standard bearers we in girlhood’s springtime gay
O may we e’er be loyal and true
To the school friends of today.
And when our school days ended are
And our varied paths divide
O may the ideals of our youth
Still ever be our guide
High ideals of purity, of duty and of truth
Learnt while we bore Loreto’s flag In the sunny days of youth.