Loreto Convent - School at Shillong...Loreto Convent - School at Shillong...
Last Updated (Friday, 31 October 2008 15:13)
At the beginning of the last century, there was a felt need for a high school for girls, especially for the children of Europeans and Anglo-Indians. The Perfect Apostolic of Assam, Msgr. Becker, requested the Loreto Sisters, who already had a network of well-managed high schools for girls all over India, to start such a school in Shillong. The Provincial sent Mother Borgia Irwin and Mother Annunziata Martx to assess the situation and report back. They fell in love with the place and the people, and were impressed by the generosity of the Perfect Apostolic who "offered to the Loreto Sisters six acres of land at the end of the mission property, a sum of Rs. 20,000 for the building and a scholarship for a number of children whose parents were not able to pay all the expenses. He further undertook the responsibility of constructing the school building and a convent for the Sisters as soon as possible". The work proceeded fast and the blessing of the house took place on 1st May 1909.
Five Loreto Sisters started classes with 23 day-scholars and 3 boarders on 8th May 1909. The number of students increased steadily. The people of Shillong and the Government officials welcomed and appreciated this institution. The Education Departmentof Assam recognized it as an English Higher Secondary School and came forward with grants. The University of Cambridge in England selected Loreto School as the centre of its examinations in Assam in 1913. The Loreto School was also affiliated to the Trinity College and Associated Board of Music, london. Mother Mechtilde Costello, the first Superior of Loreto Convent and School, was known as a very efficient and dedicated sister. The girls of the Convent, on their part, led the hymns in the Church on Sundays and Feast days and took part in other parish activities.
In 1942, during the Second World War, when the Japanese were fast approaching Assam, the school was evacuated and the boarders and Community went to the Loreto Convent in Shimla. The school in Shillong was taken over by the Government to serve as a hospital for the sick soldiers coming in from Burma. In February 1943, a disastrous fire broke out in the hospital. The whole of Shillong turned out to help. Fortunately no lives were lost, but within two hours the Convent was burnt to the ground. Only the rink was saved.
When the war was over, the new school was laid on the foundations of the old. By 1950 it was completed. On Christmas Day, 1972, the rink was completely destroyed by yet another fire. It was replaced by a hall and gymnasium. In 1984, the boarding school was closed and the number of day-pupils increased.
Today, the Sisters, with the co-operation of a dedicated and capable lay Staff continue to serve the people of Meghalaya and the North East. This service was extended with the opening of a Hostel for a small number of college students who come from remote and economically disadvantaged homes. They study in local colleges within easy reach of Loreto.
One Sister lives in Umphyrnai and sees to the development of all the villages round about. There is also a pre-school at Umphyrnai, evening coaching classes for students, and a sewing class for young women. Loreto Sisters also conduct evening study classes at Laitkor and Lumher and see to the development of other villages, such as Chinta, Weiloi, Maser, etc.
Besides this rural apostolates, one Sister conducts In-Service Teacher Training Programmes in the schools of Meghalaya and the North East. The Loreto Sisters have succeeded in attracting local vocations who are at various stages of formation. With the approach of the Third Millennium Loreto Sisters are searching for meaningful ways of serving the people, especially in empowering the poor to take their place in Church and society.
