Loyola College, Belo Horizonte
| Loyola College, Belo Horizonte | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
|
7919 Contorno Ave., Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais, Brazil | |
| Information | |
| Type | Jesuit, Catholic |
| Established | 1943 |
| Director | Fr. Germano Cord Neto, SJ |
| Grades | K through secondary |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Campus | 5.2 acres |
| Color(s) | Red, grey, and blue |
| Website | ColLoy |
Loyola College, Belo Horizonte is a kindergarten through secondary school in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, opened by the Society of Jesus in 1943. It is maintained by the Nobrega Association for Education and Social Assistance.
History
The city of Belo Horizonte seemed an unlikely place for a school that would focus on academic excellence and Christian values. The archbishop of the city, Antonio dos Santos Cabral, conceived of the project and urged the Society of Jesus to found a Catholic school in this state capital. At the beginning, there were only 33 students and Jesuit priest-teachers Caesar Dainese and Paul Nacca. The first girls were admitted 17 years later.
The first location
On 19 March 19 1943 Loyola College, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was officially opened. At the time, it was based at 1216 Rua Gonçalves Avenue, a house provided by Francisco de Freitas Lobato. The house was part of the cultural heritage of Belo Horizonte since the '20s, having housed artists and intellectuals of the modernist movement. On 25 March 1943 the inaugural Mass was held in honor of Our Lady of the Annunciation. This is now celebrated as the College's anniversary day. In 1949 Loyola College moved to 7919 Contorno Avenue in the Garden City neighborhood, its current address.
Comprehensive training
Since the '70s the student curriculum has become more integrated. Educational changes are constantly being adopted with investments in technology and infrastructure, but mainly toward human and academic excellence.[1] Faith and science have come together with social projects which involve students and staff in practical service to their neighbor and in generating ideas that preserve the ecosystem.[2][3]
Loyola College today
Loyola College today numbers 2,500 students from elementary through high school. Addressing the educational challenges of the new millennium, the school sees as its mission academic excellence to bring alive human and Christian values, from literacy to preparation for the demands of professional life.[4]
The College espouses Jesuit values and maintains several social projects such as handouts, volunteer work in day care facilities, feeding the homeless,[5] assisting Mario Penna Cancer Institute,[6] and entertaining patients at Baleia Hospital in the eastern part of Belo Horizonte.
References
Coordinates: 19°56′7.5″S 43°57′1″W / 19.935417°S 43.95028°W