PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

I thank God for using me as an instrument to help in His mission work in Loreto Convent Darjeeling. I started my journey on 4th May 2022, and I remembered well the clear blue sky, the hooting of the steam engine and the serenity of the town that greeted me when I arrived. The school was already in a celebrity mode preparing for a finale of its Jubilee to commemorate 175 years of the arrival of the Loreto Sisters in the hills and their contribution to its education which entailed instilling of the Loreto Values among the people of the hills.

Looking back at its history, I would like to compare the character of the location chosen for the school to the pine trees that stand steadfast, strong and steady. These trees are aware of their mission and thankfully acknowledge the graces they have received from God as they grew from sapling into a tall, stately tree. They bear silent witness to the fact that outward appearances notwithstanding, plant health is dependent on the condition of the roots which lie underground. They know intuitively that is God's love and tender care that has nurtured them and enabled them to reach for the sky, withstanding inclement weather, snow and storm. In a similar manner our pioneering Loreto sister placed their faith and trust in the will of God and their work and teachings resonate in the simple dignity of the people living in Darjeeling and its neighbourhood.

In the words of Robert Frost-

"The woods I love you dark and deep,

But I have promised to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep."

Robert Frost's message is reflected in the life and work of the Loreto Sisters and staff, who work tirelessly to ensure standards of excellence in the students. Not only was I struck by their creativity and leadership qualities but also by the guidance provided to them by their teachers whose commitment, dedication and resilience were clearly evident during the dark days of the pandemic. Through their efforts they ensured that the online teaching- learning platform did not only help the children academically but also did not hamper their natural growth development.

I would like to conclude by quoting the maxims of Mary Ward that, " We are called to the vocation of love" and "God loves cheerful giver". We are indeed privileged to have been called by God for this noble task building global citizens who work towards making the world a better place for "you and for me".

Sr. A. Arockia Mary Dass
Principal

The message is, be sensitive to the Earth, which has been gifted to you with love at your birth.
Every day you can feel the cosiness of its hearth.
So see to it, you do nothing to spoil its mirth.

And this can be achieved only if we are able to instil tolerance in our everyday behaviour with one and all, have the spirit of integrity and honour and most importantly, nurture the nature.

God has hand-crafted human beings and gifted them the earth, equipping it with all that is beautiful, and all that is advantageous for our existence. The animals, the birds, the trees, the human begins are actually His manifestation. So we need to be tolerant towards all in our every day behaviour. Loreto instils in us this value and teaches us every day to love one and all. Even if things do not go our way, we know how to accept the situation without complain and go out of our way to set the matter right. “Each one teach one” is our mantra, thus we teach and we learn too. “To err is human and to forgive divine’ enables us to move ahead. We adapt ourselves to any situation. Slowly and gradually, we paint the darker shades with brilliant hues of life and create a newer world, a better world.

Loreto reminds us that we are all human beings with integrity of character. Temptations are plenty in this world and to go downhill is easy, but abiding by the teachings of Mary Ward, we walk the sea shore of values, picking up pearls of shining bright traits. We learn to honour others and ourselves and we feel happy and proud that we are women. Having the natural ability to be soft, tender, gentle and motherly, we treat one and all with respect and honour. We also understand and realise that earth is our mother who shelters us, protects us and nurtures us. It abounds in natural wealth which is there for our use. But we all must remember the saying,” Waste not, Want not”. We must treat nature with the same love and kindness that it showers on us. We enjoy the canvas of the earth painted with the blue sky, the green forests, the sparkling water bodies and the variety of flora and fauna. So, we as a united human race must come forward to protect this abundance and pledge to gift it to the generations to come. Let them also feel the bliss, see the beauty and the grandeur. Let us all promise to abide by the belief, ‘Live and Let Live’.

Sr. A. Anitha
Principal