A WOMAN BEYOND COMPARE
Foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto)
and a pioneer in the field of education, Mary Ward foresaw the
need for a sound religious and moral education for young women
who would assume responsibility in society. The serenity and
confidence in God with which Mary Ward accepted opposition and
sufferings makes her a model of faith, trust and courage for
all. Her conviction was that “Women in time to come will do
much.” In 1985 we celebrated the 4th Centenary of the birth of
MARY WARD. In 2011, we celebrated the 4th Centenary of the
founding of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the
Congregation of Loreto). Although her aims and objectives of
education were formulated in the early 17th century, she was
so farseeing that the goals of our education today are, in
essence, the same as the goals of our Foundress. In modern
society, the most important issues to be raised are issues of
values and the translation of these values into action. Hence,
the goal of our education today continues to be the all-round
development of the child. This prepares every student to take
her place and make her contribution to society. Thus, Loreto
education today follows the goals set by Mary Ward – ‘that
incomparable woman”, who saw Integrity, Justice, Freedom and
Love as essential qualities for any person. Loreto Day School,
Bow Bazar, Kolkata
TERESA BALL
Francis Ball was born in Ireland in 1794, and educated at St.
Mary’s Convent, a boarding school conducted by the members of
the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in York, England.
She heard the unmistakable call of God “Seek first the Kingdom
of God and His Justice and all these things will be added unto
you”. At the age of twenty, Francis returned to New York to
enter the novitiate, preparing herself for the foundation of
the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ireland, and made
her profession as Mother Teresa. In 1821 Teresa Ball
established the first House of the Institute in Ireland and
called it “Loreto”, the name by which all the
subsequent foundations made from Ireland are still known.
DELPHINE HART
Loreto in India owes its origin to a visit by Dr Bakhaus to
Loreto Abbey, Ireland, in 1840 to request Mother Teresa Ball
to send Sisters to set up a School for Catholic children in
Calcutta. In 1841, Mother Teresa Ball sent seven Loreto
Sisters and five Postulants, all in their twenties, under the
Leadership of Delphine Hart to India, announcing that they
would probably never see their homeland again. They were
welcomed in Calcutta by Bishop Carew, and installed at Loreto
House, 7, Middleton Row. They were the first congregation of
Sisters to come to North India.
AGNES WALSH
Mother Agnes Walsh, born on 21st February, dedicated her
entire life for the cause of education. Mother Agnes was
appointed Provincial of India in 1962. Being a visionary, she
proposed the formation of LORETO DELHI at a meeting held in
Calcutta on 6th January 1964. She did not wait for the
building to be constructed, instead, she acquired a bungalow
in the Cantonment, which is now 28, The Mall and started
classes in tents. The school shifted to its present location
in July 1966.