The Nuestra Señora de la Consolación school, in Cali - Colombia, of the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries, celebrates its 70th anniversary today, October 5. The representative of the superior general for Colombia of the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries, Sister. Myrian Neira, and the rector of the institution, Claudia Patricia Ortiz, share with us part of the history and expectations on this path of love and science.
Beginnings of the school
In 1954 the Tertiary Augustinian Recollect Religious Community, the first female religious congregation founded in Cali, under the order of the superior general at that time, Sister. Lucía Padilla, delegates to two sisters, Sister. Bernarda de la Flagellación (María Judith Londoño Castillo) and Sister. Martha Rondón, so they can found a school. They define that it would be in the city of Cali, where they would initially rent a small house.
At that time, the Tertiary Augustinian Recollect Religious Community had the objective of annexing an arriving Spanish community, the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries of Mary, and at the same time vacating the space occupied there by a school, which was later moved to Loma de la Cross. That is where the school begins to operate on October 5.
Skills for life
The school has had an educational project centered on the person for seventy years, and of course, illuminated by the Gospel. Young people graduate with skills and abilities for the workplace, an educational plus possible thanks to the pedagogical model and the curricular organization of the institution. Likewise, students receive an academic baccalaureate along with their technical training.
"Currently, international models once again think that these last three years of school should include pedagogical models that consider technical skills. We would hope that all our students continue with their higher education, but the factors are many so that young people cannot access quickly and "They would come out with some skills for the labor field." comments Claudia Patricia Ortiz.
Nuestra Señora de la Consolación, has teaching areas such as: labor law, financial mathematics and entrepreneurship; The latter is even taught from kindergarten, considering that it is an area of great demand today.
Anniversary celebrations
The activities scheduled for its anniversary include the Eucharist of gratitude, the traditional missionary bazaar, family gatherings and collecting donations for missionary projects. On the other hand, the last week of October, the school will hold two special days: the first with an academic training purpose, where experts will talk about the framework of the challenges and trends in education; and a day of celebration with all its students, recognizing the benefits of the school in its yesterday and today.