Type Jesuit, Catholic Gender Coeducational Phone +55 31 2102-7000 Color Red, grey, and blue | Grades K through secondary Campus 5.2 acres Founded 1943 | |
Established 1943; 74 years ago (1943) Director Fr. Germano Cord Neto, SJ Similar Colégio Santo Agostinh, Colégio Santo Antônio, Colégio Santa Dorotéia, Colégio Marista Dom Silv, Colégio Arnaldo ‑ Unidade Profiles | ||
Loyola College, Belo Horizonte is a kindergarten through secondary school in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, opened by the Society of Jesus in 1943. It is maintained by the Nobrega Association for Education and Social Assistance.
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History
The city of Belo Horizonte seemed an unlikely place for a school that would focus on academic excellence and Christian values. The archbishop of the city, Antonio dos Santos Cabral, conceived of the project and urged the Society of Jesus to found a Catholic school in this state capital. At the beginning, there were only 33 students and Jesuit priest-teachers Caesar Dainese and Paul Nacca. The first girls were admitted 17 years later.
The first location
On 19 March 19 1943 Loyola College, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was officially opened. At the time, it was based at 1216 Rua Gonçalves Avenue, a house provided by Francisco de Freitas Lobato. The house was part of the cultural heritage of Belo Horizonte since the '20s, having housed artists and intellectuals of the modernist movement. On 25 March 1943 the inaugural Mass was held in honor of Our Lady of the Annunciation. This is now celebrated as the College's anniversary day. In 1949 Loyola College moved to 7919 Contorno Avenue in the Garden City neighborhood, its current address.
Comprehensive training
Since the '70s the student curriculum has become more integrated. Faith and science have come together with social projects which involve students and staff in practical service to their neighbor and in generating ideas that preserve the ecosystem.
Loyola College today
Loyola College today numbers 2,500 students from elementary through high school.
The College espouses Jesuit values and maintains several social projects such as handouts, volunteer work in day care facilities, feeding the homeless, assisting Mario Penna Cancer Institute, and entertaining patients at Baleia Hospital in the eastern part of Belo Horizonte.