Instituto Cultural Tampico
Encyclopedia
The Instituto Cultural Tampico (ICT) is a private college founded in 1962 by the Society of Jesus
in the city of Tampico
, Mexico
. Provides basic and middle education validated by the Secretaría de Educación Pública
, and higher education affiliated with the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM
) in accordance with the curriculum of Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades (CCH). It was famous in Mexico and the US because later guerrilla leader 'Subcomandante Marcos' (allegedly, Rafael Guillén Vicente) studied here.
education given to their children at other private colleges of that time. It was the Jesuits who acceded to this request, under the direction of the priest Federico Chavez Peón, S.J. ensuring that the then inspector of the Province of Mexico, Lawrence O'Neill, S.J. processed and obtained approval from Rome
.
The college is dedicated to the memory of San Luis Gonzaga, an Italian Jesuit beatified by Paul V on October 19, 1605 and canonized on December 13, 1726 by Benedict XIII
, who declared him patron of youth
.
The Instituto Cultural Tampico was first located in an old house in the Altavista district. It began operations in September 1962, with only a dozen male students to attend the first year. Gradually, more and more students joined every year, until all six high school grades were completed. Although, at the beginning the school accepted males only, years later females were accepted as well.
In the early 70's the ICT changed its facilities to a new campus at Avenida Universidad, where it is now.
Parents who acted as promoters of this project organized forming a board called "Impulsora Cultural A.C." who legally owns and operates the school. As most of the schools inspired on catholic education, the religious subjets taught at the ICT are not part of the official curriculum (SEP), instead they are handled as extracurricular. Its facilities house fifty classrooms, several auditoriums, a chapel
, a theater, computer classrooms, a cafeteria, four laboratories, sport courts, and parking lots including an underground lot.
, where Ignatius of Loyola
developed the Spiritual Exercises, the Villa Manresa was founded in 1982 by the sixth principal of the institute, Jose Quezada Guadeloupe S.J. in order to serve as a retreat house, where the community of the institute could conduct their activities in reflection, spiritual exercises, retreats and other general courses. It houses a chapel, auditorium, classrooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchen, basic services and gardens. In each grade, students go to encounter in different activities god in their lives.
According to the watchlists carried by ex-alumni, thousands of them are actively engaged in various tasks ranging from religious activism to social discussion forums that have nothing to do with religion
. Other ten thousands of graduates from all Jesuit colleges often create and maintain ties of brotherhood for life without carrying out any religious or social work.
Those who do remain within the Catholic movement, are often grouped into different organizations under the symbol ASIA (Antiqui Societatis Iesu Alumni) a Latin term which could be translated as "former student of the Society of Jesus
."
In either case, these organizations are independent of the Institute and of the Company, are not part of its structure or are funded by them in any way.
Society 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...
in the city of Tampico
Tampico
Tampico is a city and port in the state of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, directly north across the border from Veracruz. Tampico is the third largest city in Tamaulipas, and counts with a population of 309,003. The Metropolitan area of...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Provides basic and middle education validated by the Secretaría de Educación Pública
Secretaría de Educación Pública
The Secretaría de Educación Pública is a Mexican federal government authority with Cabinet representation and responsibility for overseeing the development and implementation of national educational policy and school standards in Mexico.Additionally, it has the following responsibilities:*Creation...
, and higher education affiliated with the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM
Unam
UNAM or UNaM may refer to:* National University of Misiones, a National University in Posadas, Argentina*National Autonomous University of Mexico , the large public autonomous university based in Mexico City...
) in accordance with the curriculum of Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades (CCH). It was famous in Mexico and the US because later guerrilla leader 'Subcomandante Marcos' (allegedly, Rafael Guillén Vicente) studied here.
Foundation
It was founded by a group of parents who attended several religious groups to create a college that would continue the catholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
education given to their children at other private colleges of that time. It was the Jesuits who acceded to this request, under the direction of the priest Federico Chavez Peón, S.J. ensuring that the then inspector of the Province of Mexico, Lawrence O'Neill, S.J. processed and obtained approval from Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
The college is dedicated to the memory of San Luis Gonzaga, an Italian Jesuit beatified by Paul V on October 19, 1605 and canonized on December 13, 1726 by Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
, who declared him patron of youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
.
The Instituto Cultural Tampico was first located in an old house in the Altavista district. It began operations in September 1962, with only a dozen male students to attend the first year. Gradually, more and more students joined every year, until all six high school grades were completed. Although, at the beginning the school accepted males only, years later females were accepted as well.
In the early 70's the ICT changed its facilities to a new campus at Avenida Universidad, where it is now.
Today
Today, the Instituto Cultural Tampico teaches Kindergarten, Elementary and Highschool, on both morning and afternoon shift. Males and females may join, and it accepts any non-catholic students, which provides a rich diversity among the students an teachers.Parents who acted as promoters of this project organized forming a board called "Impulsora Cultural A.C." who legally owns and operates the school. As most of the schools inspired on catholic education, the religious subjets taught at the ICT are not part of the official curriculum (SEP), instead they are handled as extracurricular. Its facilities house fifty classrooms, several auditoriums, a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, a theater, computer classrooms, a cafeteria, four laboratories, sport courts, and parking lots including an underground lot.
Praying House Villa Manresa
Named in memory of a town in Cataluña, SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
developed the Spiritual Exercises, the Villa Manresa was founded in 1982 by the sixth principal of the institute, Jose Quezada Guadeloupe S.J. in order to serve as a retreat house, where the community of the institute could conduct their activities in reflection, spiritual exercises, retreats and other general courses. It houses a chapel, auditorium, classrooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchen, basic services and gardens. In each grade, students go to encounter in different activities god in their lives.
Relevance
The importance of this Institution lies on the regional influence of their activities (social service, charity works, legal assistance to immigrants, retreats and conferences) and more over, in the important networks of ex-alumni formed from ICT or any other Jesuit College. In every thing we do we use the 5 institutional values:- Magis, that is giving the best from the best, also the most important. Also called FUA.
- Justice in Love
- Active Commiseration
- Creative Inspiration
- Liberty and equitity.
According to the watchlists carried by ex-alumni, thousands of them are actively engaged in various tasks ranging from religious activism to social discussion forums that have nothing to do with religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. Other ten thousands of graduates from all Jesuit colleges often create and maintain ties of brotherhood for life without carrying out any religious or social work.
Those who do remain within the Catholic movement, are often grouped into different organizations under the symbol ASIA (Antiqui Societatis Iesu Alumni) a Latin term which could be translated as "former student of the Society of Jesus
Society 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...
."
In either case, these organizations are independent of the Institute and of the Company, are not part of its structure or are funded by them in any way.