Pakistan Committee Showcases Loretto Values at Loretto Academy, El Paso, and St. Albert School, Faisalabad

‘We give you glory, thanks and praise …’

The Pakistan Committee often has its yearly meeting in Denver, but this year the members of the committee agreed to meet in El Paso, Texas, for its annual weekend gathering Jan. 8-10. The purpose of this change was to facilitate a presentation about St. Albert School to third through 12th grade students of Loretto Academy. The objective was for the El Paso students to encounter Pakistan Loretto students and to receive thanks for the Loretto Academy students’ contributions to advance the evolution of Loretto’s Pakistan Mission.

Cathy Mueller, who has visited Pakistan, prepared a PowerPoint using personal photographs from her visits. Maria Daniel and Nasreen Daniel presented a video discussion about their time at St. Albert School. On the video, Samina Iqbal interviewed two St. Albert High School students concerning a typical day in and out of school. Each committee member participated in this comprehensive presentation about Loretto in Pakistan.

Virtual meet-ups are a part of the tech culture. The El Paso Loretto Academy students virtually “met” St. Albert students, discovered the recent history of the school and the routine of those their same ages in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Their attention was rapt and intense. The students’ participation was eager and enthusiastic. They located the distance on the globe between the two spots and marveled that both Loretto schools begin their days with “We give you glory, thanks and praise. O bless our works and guide our ways.” Noting that the two countries were almost directly across from each other on the globe caused great excitement. Although residing on opposite sides of the world, they discovered similarities. Both groups wore uniforms, yet each reflected the customs of their countries. The students saw that playground time was not very different, except the St. Albert students didn’t have equipment to support their recreation. The first language of many Loretto Academy students was Spanish, and they learned English in school. Pakistan children of this area learn Punjabi at home and Urdu and English in school. This common language struggle allowed them to understand their linguistic efforts were similar.

Loretto Academy students have raised money that assisted changes in St. Albert School during the past five years. In the video, the students expressed their gratitude for the improvements. The Academy students did notice how sparse the initial classrooms were with students doing schoolwork while sitting on the floor. The El Paso students were able to see for themselves how their contributions helped provide blackboards, chairs, tables and school supplies for the students.

Cathy showed the school building as they had found it in 2011. Then it was a single story with five classrooms and one class meeting under the stairs. She displayed the new addition with a second floor stating, “Now there are 14 classrooms.” Much to our surprise, we were told when our Loretto sisters first arrived, neither teachers nor students attended on any regular basis. Many of those same teachers have now received training by our sisters in educational principles and the English language. It is now the state mandate for every school in Pakistan to teach in English. Islam is required to be taught in Pakistan after fifth grade, so a Muslim instructor is provided. The school now proudly can proclaim that 100 percent of the students have passed the state exams. Recognizing the deep dedication and determination to achieve these advancements, we know it must be difficult for Nasreen, Maria and Samina to leave St. Albert School, but they bequeath to the diocese this strong legacy of success.

Samina interviewed two students about their daily schedule, and they both shared that they rise at 5:30 a.m. to say prayers. These two students watch an hour of TV in the evening after doing their homework.

Pilar Gonzalez, fifth grade teacher at Loretto Academy, shared that upon return to the classroom one student commented how interesting it would be to change places for one day: St. Albert students attend Loretto Academy and vice versa. Another student said he’d be much more careful with his pencils now, knowing that the St. Albert students didn’t always have pencils with which to write. After meeting the Pakistan students, Pilar’s class wanted to do more to improve circumstances for these fellow Loretto students. Initial discussions have begun at Loretto Academy to send a similar experience of their school days to St. Albert School.