Starburst-Icon

History

Two hundred years and counting! Loretto has responded to the call of God to serve God’s people. From children to adults, from elementary to graduate-level education, from eldercare to advocacy for the homelessness and underserved, Loretto has left its mark on the world as it seeks to “work for justice and act for peace.” Learn more about the history of Loretto.

Home » History » Page 2

Lucia Perea: Spotlight on a New Mexican Sister

By Amanda Beard / October 3, 2023 /
Archival formal photo of a young Sister Lucia Perea in habit holding her bible and posing.

Did you know that September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage month? This annual celebration began in 1968 as “Hispanic Heritage Week” and was later extended to a month…

Read More

Trivia Loretto style!

By Loretto Community / October 2, 2023 /
Historical photo of an older teacher, sitting in a chair, working with a young boy to solve the math math problem written on the blackboard behind them.

Do you remember that American TV quiz show, “I’ve Got A Secret?” If you are older than 40, you probably do. Celebrity panelists tried to guess contestants’ secrets, usually something…

Read More

Loretto education since 1812: A tradition of excellence

By Loretto Community / September 22, 2023 /
An old sepia toned photo of students studying in a library in front tall bookshelves.

By Carolyn Dunbar, Loretto Magazine editor, 2008-2018, originally published in summer 2010 History relates that at Hardin’s Creek in Kentucky in early 1812, 30-year-old Mary Rhodes began teaching her brother’s…

Read More

Loretto classes through the years and education outside of the U.S.

By Loretto Community / September 22, 2023 /
A group of young students in a classroom holding stamps at their desks.

Loretto classes through the years Loretto education outside of the U.S. To read all the articles in the Fall 2023 issue of Loretto Magazine, click here.

Read More

100 years ago…

By Christina Manweller / September 22, 2023 /
Sepia toned photo of a large crowd in front of the Loretto Academy school building in El Paso during its opening in 1923.

Loretto Academy in El Paso opened its doors On the occasion of this important milestone, Mary E. “Buffy” Boesen SL writes: It’s hard to believe that 100 years have gone…

Read More

Mary Luke Tobin SL

By Loretto Community / September 22, 2023 /
An older woman with glasses and white hair photographed smiling wearing a pink blazer. She is standing in front of lush pine tree branches.

A woman of wisdom and insight led by the Gospel, her Community and her conscience to work for justice and act for peace. Every type of discrimination, whether social or…

Read More

Exploring the School Photograph Collection, State-by-State

By Reba Weatherford / September 12, 2023 /

After more than a year of work, the digitizing of the school photographs from Loretto schools in the United States is finally complete! Soon I will begin work on the…

Read More

5×5 Sister-Sisters

By Susanna Pyatt / August 28, 2023 /
Archived newspaper clipping showing a family posing for a photo around the piano. There are five women in one style of habit, one wearing a different type of habit, two men standing to the left of the photo and one older man sitting on the piano bench.

Browsing through Loretto’s database of Sisters and Co-members, it is fascinating to see how many members had blood relatives who also joined the community. Five family groupings in particular stand…

Read More

The Loretto: the transformed beauty of the historic Loretto Academy of 1903 on West 39th Street

By Loretto Community / August 3, 2023 /

Published by NewsBreak on August 2, 2023 “The historic Loretto Academy building is located at 1111 W. 39th Street in the Westport District neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri (Jackson County).…

Read More

Representations of the Loretto Staircase Mystery

By Reba Weatherford / July 19, 2023 /
1960 comic book cover showing a circular staircase in a church with several people standing around and looking at it. Title reads "Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact" Subtitle "The Wonderful Staircase of Santa Fe"

Archives are full of primary sources that answer historical questions, and the archives at the Loretto Heritage Center are no exception. The archives hold annals, correspondence, annual reports, photographs, journals,…

Read More

Glimpses of Loretto’s Agricultural Past

By Susanna Pyatt / May 31, 2023 /
Black and white archival photo of two men standing by a large garden.

While the Loretto Heritage Center contains a lot of archival papers that document Loretto’s past, one aspect that is difficult to see in the archives is the history of agriculture…

Read More

A peek behind the scenes at the Loretto Heritage Center

By Loretto Community / May 22, 2023 /
Black and white photo of a nun in habit looking down at a young girl. They stand next to a spinning wheel in a room surrounded by Christian art and artifacts.

What is it like to work at a museum and archive? This week, the Loretto Heritage Center is giving a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes by highlighting…

Read More
Cupola Cross 2-Icon

Loretto welcomes you

Learn more or plan a visit to the Motherhouse!