Loreto Convent

Fatima Reyaz 22 months ago

I won't even call this place second home. It was like a first home to me back then. You feel like you've entered a different world, away from the city. Greeny and fresh air all over, kids playing, teachers imparting knowledge. ????

Dola Sundeep 34 months ago

Loreto Convent is an English-medium girls' high school located in Chauk Bazar, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. It is run by Loreto Education Society of Darjeeling.

The Loreto Sisters came to India in 1841 at the invitation of the then Archbishop of Calcutta, Dr. Carew. The school was established during the British Raj by a group of Sisters of Loreto at 1846 to begin their work of 'quality education'. with the assistance of some lay gentlemen the land arrangements were made. Two choir sisters and a lay Sister with their chaplain came to start on 2 October 1846, Loreto House Branch Boarding and Day School. The party consisted of Mother Teresa Mons, Superioress, Mother Mary de Chantel Kelly with two novices. They were accompanied by Fr. John Me Girr.

The Sisters began with two students, Miss Ryves and Miss Emma Moran. The sisters moved from their first residence "Snowy View" to the new Convent building on 1 May 1847 and the school building was added in 1853 which had particularly large playgrounds.

The sisters continued their work of education under Bishop Carew but in 1848 they were brought under the Vicariate of Patna and Bishop Hartman. The Capuchin Ecclesiastical Superior paid his visit to the convent in April 1848. This brought Loreto Convent to a new phase where it ceased to be connected with the parent house in Calcutta- this state of things lasted till 1881. The girls were getting quality education and were proficient in English, French and had a good taste for music and drawing. The numbers went up slowly, in 1852 there were 19 pupils and in 1855 there were 30 pupils. By 1875, there were 107 and by the Golden Jubilee year, there were 173 pupils.

The convent also had a small orphanage for mainly soldiers' children which existed till 1887 when the orphans were transferred to Calcutta, i.e., Entally. In 1903, a new concert hall was built. In the same year, a new Novitiate was canonically erected and the novices came from Asansol in 1904. Mother Antoinette played a major role in the lives of the soldiers' and nurses during the World War II as they were housed in the Novitiate building.

To keep in step with the educational developments, the Cambridge examinations were introduced in Darjeeling (1905) and the first three candidates presented were successful. From the turn of the century, the number of boarders grew and by 1917, there were 211 students out of which 117 were boarders.

By 1926, Mr. Arthur Forbes of Purnea had set up a line of fine buildings as the children began to grow in numbers. The dining room, dressing rooms, the skating rink and the Lytton hospital were completed. the school expanded and developed and provided holistic education. The hostel was the home of children for many South-Asian children and those from Calcutta, Purnea and other places.

In 1988, the school hostel had to close due to the threats of agitation. Loreto is presently a neighborhood school with 1600 pupils from every strata of society with the same benefits of 'all round education'.

Vivek 34 months ago

Loreto Convent is located in Lebong cart Road and is a walkable distance from the main town. Loreto Convent is an English Medium School Girls High School in Darjeeling and is a Catholic Institution under the management of the Darjeeling Loreto Education Society.

The school is affiliated to the ICSC  and ISC boards of New Delhi. The School's Motto is Maria Regina Angelorum Cruci Dum Spiro Fido
(Mary, Queen of the Angels which means As long as I live I put my faith in Christ who died for me.)

The School was established in the year 1846. The appropriate enrolment is around 1500 plus.

The Loreto Sisters operate some 150 Schools worldwide, educating over 70,000 students.

The Term Loreto is Italian for laurel-wood. A town in Italy named Loreto holds an important Christian shrine, which lead to the spread of the name to many other countries.

It was in the year 1996, Loreto celebrated its one hundred and fifty years of service. The school takes pride in the fact that Mother Teresa made her noviceship at the school from 1921-1931.

The Loreto school building stands out as an architectural marvel amidst verdant surroundings and is divided into junior and senior school with classes from kindergarden to class XII. The school campus hosts spacious and well ventilated classrooms, a well stocked library, well equipped laboratories, play area and playground.