Loreto in the North East – Shillong (1908 – 2012)

Shillong, originally the capital of Assam, and now the capital of Meghalaya, is the centre of Loreto missionary thrust in the North East. The Loreto Mission started in 1908. There were Primary schools existing even before this, till the great Assam earthquake struck in 1897. The Prefect Apostolic Monsignor C.E. Becker – invited Loreto to provide education through the medium of English for the children of the tea planters of Assam and those of the railway personnel. The Provincial sent Mother Borgia Irwin and Mother Annunziata Martz to assess the situation and report back. They fell in love with the place and the people and were impressed by the generosity of Msgr. C.E. Becker. Msgr. Becker donated six acres of land on St. Mary’s Hill together with Rs.20,000 for the foundation and on May 8th 1909, five Loreto Sisters under the leadership of Mother MechtildeCostelloe started classes with 23 day scholars and 3 boarders. The number of students increased rapidly and included students of European, Anglo-Indian and Khasi communities.

In a short time, the Government approved the tremendous progress made by Loreto School in Shillong and soon it became a Government-aided Secondary school sending up pupils for the Cambridge and Trinity College (music and speech) Examinations in 1913. Mother MechtildeCostelloe, the first Superior of Loreto Convent and School, was known as a very efficient and dedicated sister. In recognition of her achievements in teaching and education, Mother Mechtilde was awarded the Kaiser-I-Hind Gold Medal on New Year 1914. The girls of the Convent led the hymns in the Church on Sundays and Feast days and took part in other parish activities.

In 1936, a devastating fire broke out leaving the Salesian Fathers and their pupils homeless. Loreto Convent was miraculously spared. The nuns at once opened their doors to render aid and hospitality to the afflicted. In 1942, during the Second World War, Loreto School in Shillong was taken over by the government to serve as a hospital for the sick soldiers coming in from Burma. The Loreto Sisters took the students to Loreto Convent, Shimla in order to continue with their studies without missing their academic year.

In February 1943, a disastrous fire broke out and the Convent was burnt to the ground, leaving only the rink intact. However, on Christmas Day, 1972, the rink was completely destroyed by yet another fire. It was then replaced by a hall and gymnasium. In 1984, the boarding school was closed and the number of day pupils increased.