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1782-1783 "The Mother School of Catholic Parochial Education"

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1782-1783 "The Mother School of Catholic Parochial Education"

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Philadelphia is home to the first Catholic School in America. St. Mary paved the way for families to receive a Catholic education in the United States. Catholic education invites young people to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Catholic priests and nuns were behind the origins of many Catholic schools across America. Their vision for Catholic education was prevalent in the schools they established and lead.

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1887 "Statement made by Archbishop Gibbon"

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1887 "Statement made by Archbishop Gibbon"

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Archbishop Gibbon made an impactful statement in 1887 by saying "That education must include religion in order to deal with the whole person." Faith is the missing component in the public schools when trying to educate the whole person.  Catholic Schools are able to incorporate faith, spirituality, and morality to students. Catholic school leaders are able to use this statement in promoting their Catholic schools all over the United States.

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1912 "Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, MN"

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1912 "Good Counsel Academy in Mankato, MN"

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Sister Marianne from Milwaukee visited Good Counsel Hill, now home to Loyola Catholic School and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and loved it. The same day, four Mankato businessmen assured her that the 50 acres of land on the hill would be available if she decided to build. Sister Isadore became the entire Building Committee. She had taught at Saints Peter and Pauls School in Mankato and some of "her boys," who were now men, helped build Isadore Hall which housed the girls school, chapel, and the sisters place to live. While this building is no longer used as a school, the sisters were instrumental in establishing schools connected with the four area parishes in Mankato. The vision of these sisters has impacted the Catholic education in Mankato for over 100 years.

Loyola continues a rich tradition in collaborating with the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) who share the beautiful Good Counsel Hill. The SSND and local parish priests have served in leadership roles at Loyola throughout the decades and have helped encourage and support families as they discern the educational path for their children. The School Sisters of Notre Dame have been instrumental in helping with Loyola's Mission and Catholic Identity.

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1997 “Statement from The American Bishops” 

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1997 “Statement from The American Bishops” 

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The American bishops issued a statement committing themselves to new goals for the 21st century as a sign of affirmation of the principles laid down in To Teach as Jesus Did. As the Archdiocese of Santa Fe notes in its Mission Statement:

"The Catholic school is an integral part of the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel, build faith communities, celebrate through worship, and serve others. The commitment to academic excellence, which fosters the intellectual development of faculty and students, is an integral part of the mission of the Catholic school. The Catholic school is an evangelizing, educational community. The spiritual formation of the entire school community is an essential dimension of the Catholic school's mission. The Catholic school is a unique, faith-centered community which integrates thinking and believing in ways that encourage intellectual growth, nurture faith, and inspire action. The Catholic school is an experience of the Church's belief, tradition, and sacramental life. The Catholic school creates a supportive and challenging climate which affirms the dignity of all persons within the school community."
("Catholic Education in the 21st Century" Patricia Boland, Seton Hall University)

This statement affirms what many Catholic Schools leaders around the United States strive for and what many parents desire in a Catholic education for their children. The focus on building faith communities along with academic excellence. The continued support from Catholic leaders, like the Bishops, is crucial to the alignment among the Catholic schools in the United States.

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Prior to 2006, the Mankato Area Catholic Schools consisted of schools connected to the parishes of Saints Peter and Paul, Holy Rosary, St. Joseph the Worker, and St. John the Baptist along with Fitzgerald Middle School, and Loyola High School. In 2006 the Mankato Area Catholic Schools (MACS) was renamed Loyola Catholic School. The area parish schools consolidated under one name. Leadership roles were adjusted accordingly and the Mission statement updated. The goal was to unify and create a strong Catholic presence in the Mankato community.

At this time the logo was designed with a strong meaning to connect the community. The blue circle with the cross is taken from the School Sisters of Notre Dame logo. The circle represents the community of learners, preparing to lead, serve and make a difference in our church and world. The white in the middle indicates that God is the center of all we do. The four squares represent the four area parishes schools united by this consolidation. The four squares also represent the four pillars stated in Loyola's Mission Statement: Faith, Academic Excellence, Leadership, and Service. The yellow represents the Gospel values that shine through our school family

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2022 Pope Francis: "Christian teachers are on the front lines in education"

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2022 Pope Francis: "Christian teachers are on the front lines in education"

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Pope Francis said that Christian teachers are “on the front line” in “educating so as to move from a closed world to an open world; from a throwaway culture to a culture of care; from a culture of rejection to a culture of integration; from the pursuit of vested interests to the pursuit of the common good.”

This statement reaffirms the work that Catholic educators all over the world are doing, in trying to bring people to see Jesus in others. In our ever changing world, Catholic schools continue to teach the value of caring for others and the world we live in.