El Paso Diocese Honors Loretto with Dei Gratia Award
Posted on November 1, 2018, by Loretto Community

Photo by Alejandra Saldaña

Photo by Alejandra Saldaña
The fourth annual Dei Gratia Award by the El Paso Diocese honored both the Daughters of Charity and the Sisters of Loretto. The award ceremony was at the El Paso Convention Center Sept. 20. Eileen Custy, who taught at Loretto Academy for many years, accepted the award on behalf of Loretto. Local Loretto members helped celebrate.
The establishing of Loretto Academy, originally St. Joseph Academy, opened first in San Elizario, N.M., in 1879 and in El Paso in 1892. Mother Praxades Carty was responsible for purchasing the land in El Paso. In planning and negotiations she traveled to Rome three times to meet with the Pope. Her plan for the school was to have the chapel between the convent and the school to symbolize the embrace of both El Paso and Juarez across the border in Mexico. So it stands today.
The major gifts officer for the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso, Sofia Larkin, wrote: “I thought it would be very fitting to honor the work of religious sisters at this year’s dinner. … Of course, the Sisters of Loretto were at the top of our list. The recognition is long overdue and pales in comparison to what the order and Community have generously given to us.”
Loretto celebrates with the El Paso Community for this award.