Loretto helps celebrate in Douglas, Ariz.

By Kathleen Corbett

Because El Paso, Texas, seemed to be closest for travel to Douglas, Ariz., when Father Jojo Tabo, pastor of St. Luke’s parish there, looked for Loretto representation for a centenary celebration, Barbara Nicholas invited Loretto members in El Paso to make the trip.

One hundred years ago, according to material from the archives provided by Reba Weatherford, director of the Loretto Heritage Center, Sisters of Loretto began a school on land donated by an apparently prominent Brophy family.

On Sept. 21, 2024, Irma Avila, Jane German and I set out from El Paso through the beautiful Southwest desert, arriving in time to drive around the town of about 17,000 before checking into the historic Gadsden Hotel and then making our way to the church where we were warmly welcomed by Father Jojo. Mary Bundy, Mary Jean Friel and Paulette Peterson, in the area for a U.S.-Mexico border event, joined us for Mass, celebrated by the Bishop of Tucson, Most Rev. Edward Weisenburger, with several priests, students as lectors and mariachis who led the music.

The current faculty of the school were recognized, as well as those in attendance representing the four religious communities who had served during the school’s 100 years: six Carmelites who had taught most recently at the school, Sister Charlotte OP, an Adrian Dominican, the six of us representing the original Sisters of Loretto and the Company of Mary that followed the Sisters of Loretto (no one from that group attended).

During the delicious meal that followed, we had the opportunity for conversation with a Brophy descendant and the mayor of Douglas, Donald Huish. After that we were given a guided tour of the K-8 school by a 7th grader. To this day it is known as Loretto Catholic School! It is a touching example of our ongoing legacy in the Southwest!

Sunday morning we visited nearby Bisbee, Ariz., with its abandoned copper mines, a now vacant school once staffed by Loretto Sisters, colorful houses and quaint charm, before heading home with the dreadful border wall in the distance. It was such an interesting journey of Loretto memories, current realities and promise for the future.