Colegio Cristo Rey
Encyclopedia
The Colegio Cristo Rey is a Jesuit school located in the city of Asunción
, Paraguay
.
were allowed to reenter Paraguay after 158 years in exile. The Jesuit order had been expelled from the Spanish colonies, including modern-day Paraguay
, in the late 1760s. A luxurious estate home was donated to the Order, but because its opulence conflicted with the Jesuits' vows of poverty, Father Felipe Lérida, then the Superior of the Jesuit Mission in Paraguay, decided to look for a more appropriate locale.
Construction of the home of the Cristo Rey community at its current location on Avenida Colón began soon thereafter; the cornerstone of the Chapel was laid in January 1928. This chapel was the first to be completed, and it was opened officially in October 1928, the eve of the feast of Cristo Rey, or Christ the King. By 1936, construction of the original buildings was completed, and the school was officially founded in 1938.
In the following 30 years, the school expanded from 35 students and three classes in 1938 to over 2,200 students distributed among an elementary school, a secondary school, a technical school, a parish school, and a college of philosophy. These would form part of the newly-founded Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
, today the country's largest private university, which was also a Jesuit institution and operated on school grounds during its early years. During this period of growth, the school building also underwent expansion through the construction of new buildings and wings.
Until 1972, the school had been an all-male institution. That year, the school opened its doors to its first female students.
In January 1976, with Paraguay
fully in the grip of right-wing dictator Alfredo Stroessner
, the government ordered the intervention of the school because of its efforts in teaching students the importance of critical thinking and civic participation. The expulsion of its Director, Father Bartolomé Vanrell, and several teachers soon followed. Military personnel took control of the school after the government accused its directors, several of its teachers and many student leaders of conspiring against the regime and aligning with a liberal or socialist agenda. Jesuit priests, teachers and students aliked were persecuted, arrested, tortured and, as in the case of teacher Mario Schaerer Prono, murdered. The intervention lasted one year and ended in January 1977.
In 1983, the school's first co-ed class graduated.
In 1988, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary, and did so by founding the Cristo Rey Educational Community, an umbrella organization composed of the school itself, the APAC (the Parents' Association), the ASOP (the Teachers' Association), the ASEA (the Administrative Staff Association), the Student Council and the Alumni Association. The year was marked also by celebrations and the visits of the Archbishop of Asunción, Mons. Ismael Rolón, and of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Peter Hans Kolvenbach, who celebrated Mass in the school courtyard before a huge crowd. He unveiled a monument in the school gardens honoring Saint Roque González de Santa Cruz
, a Jesuit who is known as Paraguay's first Saint, Saint Juan del Castillo and Saint Alonso Rodríguez.
Three years later, in 1991, the school hailed the opening of the Centro de Niños Especiales Cristo Rey, an specialized educational institution tailored to the need of children and young adults with Down Syndrome
. The center was, and continues to be, one of the only specialized institutions of its kind in the country.
is required. Boys are required to wear a white shirt
with the school's crest embroidered onto the front pocket, navy blue tie
, and gray trousers
. Girls must wear a white shirt with the school's crest embroidered onto the front pocket, navy blue tie, gray skirt
, and white knee-high socks
. For official events both, girls and boys, must wear a navy blue lazer].
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
History
The school's history dates back to January 4, 1927, the day the Jesuits priests of the Society of JesusSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
were allowed to reenter Paraguay after 158 years in exile. The Jesuit order had been expelled from the Spanish colonies, including modern-day Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, in the late 1760s. A luxurious estate home was donated to the Order, but because its opulence conflicted with the Jesuits' vows of poverty, Father Felipe Lérida, then the Superior of the Jesuit Mission in Paraguay, decided to look for a more appropriate locale.
Construction of the home of the Cristo Rey community at its current location on Avenida Colón began soon thereafter; the cornerstone of the Chapel was laid in January 1928. This chapel was the first to be completed, and it was opened officially in October 1928, the eve of the feast of Cristo Rey, or Christ the King. By 1936, construction of the original buildings was completed, and the school was officially founded in 1938.
In the following 30 years, the school expanded from 35 students and three classes in 1938 to over 2,200 students distributed among an elementary school, a secondary school, a technical school, a parish school, and a college of philosophy. These would form part of the newly-founded Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
The Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is a private university of Catholic obedience in Paraguay. It has 8 teaching facility centers.-External links:*...
, today the country's largest private university, which was also a Jesuit institution and operated on school grounds during its early years. During this period of growth, the school building also underwent expansion through the construction of new buildings and wings.
Until 1972, the school had been an all-male institution. That year, the school opened its doors to its first female students.
In January 1976, with Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
fully in the grip of right-wing dictator Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...
, the government ordered the intervention of the school because of its efforts in teaching students the importance of critical thinking and civic participation. The expulsion of its Director, Father Bartolomé Vanrell, and several teachers soon followed. Military personnel took control of the school after the government accused its directors, several of its teachers and many student leaders of conspiring against the regime and aligning with a liberal or socialist agenda. Jesuit priests, teachers and students aliked were persecuted, arrested, tortured and, as in the case of teacher Mario Schaerer Prono, murdered. The intervention lasted one year and ended in January 1977.
In 1983, the school's first co-ed class graduated.
In 1988, the school celebrated its 50th anniversary, and did so by founding the Cristo Rey Educational Community, an umbrella organization composed of the school itself, the APAC (the Parents' Association), the ASOP (the Teachers' Association), the ASEA (the Administrative Staff Association), the Student Council and the Alumni Association. The year was marked also by celebrations and the visits of the Archbishop of Asunción, Mons. Ismael Rolón, and of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Peter Hans Kolvenbach, who celebrated Mass in the school courtyard before a huge crowd. He unveiled a monument in the school gardens honoring Saint Roque González de Santa Cruz
Roque González de Santa Cruz
Father Roque González de Santa Cruz S.J. was born in Asunción, Paraguay on 17 November 1576. He was the son of Don Bartolomé González de Villaverde and Doña María de Santa Cruz who were Spanish nobles. Roque González spoke Guaraní fluently from an early age....
, a Jesuit who is known as Paraguay's first Saint, Saint Juan del Castillo and Saint Alonso Rodríguez.
Three years later, in 1991, the school hailed the opening of the Centro de Niños Especiales Cristo Rey, an specialized educational institution tailored to the need of children and young adults with Down Syndrome
Down syndrome
Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...
. The center was, and continues to be, one of the only specialized institutions of its kind in the country.
Uniform
The school uniformSchool uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
is required. Boys are required to wear a white shirt
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
with the school's crest embroidered onto the front pocket, navy blue tie
Necktie
A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck...
, and gray trousers
Trousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
. Girls must wear a white shirt with the school's crest embroidered onto the front pocket, navy blue tie, gray skirt
Skirt
A skirt is a tube- or cone-shaped garment that hangs from the waist and covers all or part of the legs.In the western world, skirts are usually considered women's clothing. However, there are exceptions...
, and white knee-high socks
SOCKS
SOCKS is an Internet protocol that routes network packets between a client and server through a proxy server. SOCKS5 additionally provides authentication so only authorized users may access a server...
. For official events both, girls and boys, must wear a navy blue lazer].
Alumni
- Juan Carlos Maneglia, producer.
- Pedro Fadul, politician.
- Carlos Martini, journalist.
- Hugo Ferreira, musician.
- Mario Ferreiro, journalist.