100 years of making Jesus known and loved
The centenary history of “San José” School began when, in 1924, a group of Marist Brothers from the Spanish province of León founded a Primary School in the city.
The first school was established at 526 Dorrego Street and taught only boys from 1st to 4th grade. Its first director was Br. Protasio, one of the co-founders.
In 1928, it was moved to 11 de septiembre 580, a building that had an exit on Gral. Paz Street and that received new annexes of adjoining land. That year the school already had a Commercial Secondary School which, in 1935, under the direction of Br. Veremundo, was transformed into a High School.
In 1930, the Association of Marist Alumni was founded , made up of young people who wished to imbue their professional and professional positions with the principles and values acquired during their Marist and Christian formation.
Until 1945, the College continued to grow. But the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War impacted on the continuity of its mission for reasons beyond the control of the Brothers and the educational community. San José was closed. Its last director at the time was Br. Jesús Plácido, who had the ungrateful task of informing the city.
On 2 February 1946, with deep emotion and sadness, the farewell ceremony for the Brothers took place .
It would be 20 years before the Marist presence returned to the classrooms of Pergamino. It was at that same ceremony that the purpose of working for the return of the brothers to Pergamino was born, a purpose that had not been abandoned for almost 20 years.
As time went by, in 1963 the Association of Former Students of Colegio San José re-emerged with greater strength and set about working for the reinstatement of the school in the city. The following year, after many negotiations, the alumni succeeded in getting the brothers to decide to re-establish the school after almost two decades of absence.
And finally, on 27 February 1965, the first brothers arrived and set to work as bricklayers, painters and electricians transforming the old house into a school building.
In 1981, the parents acquired a 7-hectare plot of land adjoining the school for the construction of a sports field.
In November 1982, the new building was officially inaugurated with many ceremonies and ceremonies.
Five years later, in 1986, work began to provide the Kindergarten with a new building on the Champagnat Avenue site next to the building occupied by the Primary and Secondary School. The growth of the work made it possible, since 1981, to open new and spacious facilities in what was once the sports field, offering our pupils a beautiful and healthy natural environment for their schooling.
Today the educational community, taking on the historical legacy received and moved by the same passion that animated the founding brothers, continues to dedicate itself to the integral formation of the pupils, with special attention to the most vulnerable.
As part of these aims, in 2000 the Marist Missionary Centre “Our Good Mother” was created, which for 23 years has been opening its doors to the families of the neighbouring districts of the school.
May the Lord bless the Marist Family of Pergamino, may Mary, Our Good Mother, protect us and may Saint Marcellin continue to enlighten our journey.
Discover the ceremony they held on the occasion of the centenary.
Communication Team – Province Marist Cruz del Sur