Loreto Convent Lucknow
Encyclopedia
Loreto Convent, Lucknow is an educational institution for girls founded in 1872 and located in Lucknow
, the capital of the India
n State of Uttar Pradesh
. Loreto Convent is under the management of the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
, usually known as the Loreto Nuns. Boys were admitted up to the 1960s. The institution maintains a deep concern for the unprivileged.
(1585–1645). It pioneered a new type of religious life, which undertook the education of girls as its main work. The 18th century saw the spread in development of the Institute on England and Europe. It was introduced into Ireland
by Frances Teresa Ball, who in 1821 established the first House of the Irish branch there. She called it Loreto, the name by which all subsequent foundations spread all over the world are still known.
The Loreto Sisters came to India in 1841 and established schools in many parts of Northern India. Although its prime purpose is the education of the Catholic
girls, students of other denominations 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 1872, a group of seven Sisters led by Mother Joseph Hogan, arrived in Lucknow. They came from Darjeeling at the invitation of Rev. Paul Tosy, the Catholic Bishop of Lucknow. They were given a welcome by the Parish Priest, Father Lewis, who conducted them to the house he had secured for them adjoining to the Church, in what is know Shahnajaf Road. It was in this House that the first Loreto School started in Lucknow on the 4th November 1872.
The earlier days in Lucknow were of great inconvenience and privation as they had few possessions and the heat was tiring for the Sisters, dressed as they were in heavy black habits. In 1873 the first Boarder arrived, Amy Glynn, and when others joined, Mother Joseph knew that the little Convent was far too small. In April of the same year, she secured a large house which was later to become the Royal Hotel, but which was to be Loreto Convent for eight years.
For the transport of the children Mother Joseph designed, and had built, an 'omnibus
', the first to be seen in Lucknow. In 1880, the present Convent, then known as the Cantonment Hotel, was purchased. The grounds once formed part of the Nawab
of Oudh's hunting grounds. Later new wings were added to accommodate classrooms and dormitories, but in 1915 the northern part of the building suffered very seriously during the floods of that year, and the Nuns were compelled to spend entire nights under umbrellas. Arches gave way and the roof of the Chapel collapsed crushing every priedieu and chair under its weight but the Sisters escaped death. After this the northern part of the building had to be pulled down and the present handsome edifice was built.
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, the capital of the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n State of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. Loreto Convent is under the management of the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sisters of Loreto
The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, more commonly known as the Loreto Sisters , is a women's Catholic religious order founded by an Englishwoman, Mary Ward, in 1609 at Saint-Omer in northern France...
, usually known as the Loreto Nuns. Boys were admitted up to the 1960s. The institution maintains a deep concern for the unprivileged.
History
Loreto was founded in 1616 by an English woman, Mary WardMary Ward
Mary Ward may refer to:* Mary Ward , 1585 - 1645, foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an order of Roman Catholic nuns...
(1585–1645). It pioneered a new type of religious life, which undertook the education of girls as its main work. The 18th century saw the spread in development of the Institute on England and Europe. It was introduced into Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
by Frances Teresa Ball, who in 1821 established the first House of the Irish branch there. She called it Loreto, the name by which all subsequent foundations spread all over the world are still known.
The Loreto Sisters came to India in 1841 and established schools in many parts of Northern India. Although its prime purpose is the education of the Catholic
Catholic
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"...
girls, students of other denominations 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 1872, a group of seven Sisters led by Mother Joseph Hogan, arrived in Lucknow. They came from Darjeeling at the invitation of Rev. Paul Tosy, the Catholic Bishop of Lucknow. They were given a welcome by the Parish Priest, Father Lewis, who conducted them to the house he had secured for them adjoining to the Church, in what is know Shahnajaf Road. It was in this House that the first Loreto School started in Lucknow on the 4th November 1872.
The earlier days in Lucknow were of great inconvenience and privation as they had few possessions and the heat was tiring for the Sisters, dressed as they were in heavy black habits. In 1873 the first Boarder arrived, Amy Glynn, and when others joined, Mother Joseph knew that the little Convent was far too small. In April of the same year, she secured a large house which was later to become the Royal Hotel, but which was to be Loreto Convent for eight years.
For the transport of the children Mother Joseph designed, and had built, an 'omnibus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
', the first to be seen in Lucknow. In 1880, the present Convent, then known as the Cantonment Hotel, was purchased. The grounds once formed part of the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
of Oudh's hunting grounds. Later new wings were added to accommodate classrooms and dormitories, but in 1915 the northern part of the building suffered very seriously during the floods of that year, and the Nuns were compelled to spend entire nights under umbrellas. Arches gave way and the roof of the Chapel collapsed crushing every priedieu and chair under its weight but the Sisters escaped death. After this the northern part of the building had to be pulled down and the present handsome edifice was built.