SUCRE, Bolivia.
Victoria Diez School in Sucre celebrated its feast during several days. After almost 20 years since its inception, the school has 1,000 students and is located in a low socio-economic area of the city. It serves a population of Quechua immigrants. Alumni reviewing photographs, singing accompanied by the organ, toasts, sports tournaments, and retreats were some of the many activities. The involvement of families and teachers has been a feature of the celebrations.
In the afternoon of August 11, 2015 "Victoria Diez" School (in Sucre) organized an"Academic Event" to start the celebrations of its patroness. It took place in the Social Work Hall of the Archdiocese and it was attended by a hundred people, including teachers, parents, and members of the Teresian Association (TA), directors of private schools, alumni, and friends. The Archbishop, Monsignor Jesús Juarez, and the Director of CEIL organization for Catholic schools in Sucre presided over the event.
A talk on Victoria Diez
Amparo Arribas started the event speaking on "Victoria, a vocation of a teacher." She presented the situation of Spain in the first third of the 20th century and Poveda’sresponse: the Teresian Association and with it, the profound identity of Victoria, one of those teachers of the Association. She commented on her performance as an apostle and teacher, her last days, and her death for the cause of Christ. With the audience excited about the figure of Victoria, three teachers from the school sang Elia Fleta’s song, "Courage, comrades, that life is stronger" with organ accompaniment. Immediately teachers and students of this year’s graduating class joined in the singing.
A presentation entitled "Memories and progress" with photos of school activities during the past 19 years followed.
What the Church expects of you
In his words, the Archbishop praised and thanked the work of the Teresian Association in Sucre and, more specifically, in Lajastambo where the school is located. "Saint Pedro Poveda -he said - was ahead of his time when he founded the TA and you are ahead of Pope Francis when you left the central and great Santa Teresa School in Sucre and went to ‘the peripheries,’ the end of the city with Victoria Diez School." He encouraged the educators who were present and all the teachers to be like Victoria, Catholic and apostles. Children and young people who are educated in Catholic private schools must receive the bonus of Christian education that is what distinguishes them from public schools, what parents are looking for when they enroll their children, and what the Church expects of you. The event ended with refreshments prepared by a group of Alumni and teachers of the school and served by the graduating class.
In the next three days the celebration of Victoria Diez continued: Eucharistic celebration with all the students, presided by Mgr. Adolfo Vich, Auxiliary Bishop, a band parade through the neighborhood, potluck dinner with the families of the school, sports tournaments, and retreats for each class, some outside the school.
Large participation of families
Victoria Diez School in Sucre is almost 20 years old. It has 1,000 students from elementary to high school. It is located in an extremely low socio-economic area of the city with a population of Quechua immigrants from rural and mining areas, with more than 40% illiteracy among parents. The colorful dress of moms, "cholitas," wearing the Bolivian Aguayo clothing carrying little children on their back is eye-catching. In the school there are many opportunities for family involvement to improve the work and activities. Teachers also actively involved in planning and activities.
A gift: a gymnasium
Last week President Evo Morales came to the neighborhood to deliver the news of a gymnasium. Teachers and students participated by offering a dance native to the area, dressed in traditional costumes and with musical performance of the "band" of the school.
Amparo Arribas