Education
We are constantly challenged by the charismatic commitment to “prevent sin” as “the great proof of our love” for God and for our sisters and brothers whose “behaviour in life usually depends on the education received.” (UR pp. 119-120) Sharing the mission with the lay people, we foster the holistic growth of children, adolescents and young people giving particular attention to the “formation of the heart” (Ep III/3, p. 1834)
With love and respect we accompany them in the discovery and fulfilment of God’s plan for their life, so that they may offer their contribution to society and to the church for the transformation of the world according to Gospel values. (UR p. 123) We also promote adults, giving special attention to women, so that, aware of their dignity, they may carry out responsibly their mission in the family, society and Church. (RL No. 50)
CANOSSA SCHOOL, CITY OF SANTA ROSA, LAGUNA
Canossa School in the City of Sta.Rosa is the first Canossian School and the first Canossian Sisters’ community in the Philippines. Responding to the invitation of Bishop Alejandro Olalia of the Diocese of Lipa, the Sisters of the Canossian Daughters of Charity from Hong Kong arrived in the unobtrusive town of Santa Rosa, Laguna on February 2, 1954.
The first community of sisters were M. Carolina Colombo as Superior together with M. Zita Beretta, M. Ana Bautista, M. Cecilia Pereira, M. Miriam Tavecchio and M. Teresina Cantu. Their witness of intense dedication to the apostolate attracted supportive lay partners and many vocations.
Together, they dedicated their lives to make Christ known and loved in the spirit of Charity and Humility, as exemplified by their two models in life, Jesus Christ Crucified and Mary, Mother of Charity at the Foot of the Cross. Through the years, it has witnessed the steady growth, in the quality of instruction, and in evangelization as Canossa School remains a Catholic institution at the service of God and his Church. It offers Pre-school to Senior High School curriculum.
Through the years, this educative community has seen the crystallization of the many prophetic gestures of St. Magdalene in Santa Rosa. Her mission has become the mission of the students and the alumni which they express in their outreach activities as professionals, ready and willing to serve the people, particularly as priests, religious, teachers, businessmen and women, catechists, farmers, social workers, doctors, nurses and other services in the helping professions.
CANOSSA COLLEGE, SAN PABLO CITY
Having founded Canossa School in Santa Rosa, Laguna, the late Msgr. Alejandro Olalia, then Bishop of Lipa, invited again the Canossian Sisters to administer a parochial school in San Pablo City. Mo. Luigia Vassena, Mo. Mirriam Tavecchio, M. Zeta Barreta and Mo. Florencia Nuevo arrived on May 25, 1955 to manage the school with 160 girls.Later in 1957, the school transferred to the present site and opened the Grade School in 1961. Our Lady of Fatima Academy (OLFA) became Our Lady of Fatima Canossian College (OLFCC) and under Mo. Louise Grametti, the school offered courses in BSEEd. Later, the school was named Canossa College. The late 70’s and 80’s saw the Grade School and High School Departments gearing up for Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) accreditation to continuously upgrade the educational quality of service. At the moment, the Grade School and High School Departments have reached the Level III. Presently, its college course offerings are: Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The Canossa College alumni have been serving the society in different professions – priests, religious, teachers, guidance counsellors, doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers, business men/women, and other professions. They actively support outreach programs of the school.
With the present pandemic situation, there is so much loss: the opportunity to meet the educative community and mission partners face to face; but the mission continues with what is left: the challenging use of technology, the enhanced partnership with the lay collaborators and the participation and cooperation of the parents and guardians of the students. Becoming channels of God’s graciousness has been more evident as the parents, students, the whole educative community, alumni and friends share their love and blessings to the most in need in varied ways.
CANOSSA ACADEMY, CALAMBA CITY
Canossa Academy in Calamba City, formerly known as Mater Dei was the first Catholic School in Calamba, Laguna, offering Pre-Elementary, Grade School and High School Education for boys and girls. Its foundation in 1964 was a response to the request of the late Most Rev. Alejandro Olalia, then Bishop of Lipa to open a school in Calamba. The pioneer Sisters in Calamba were M. Natalia Fioriolli (Superior), M. Miriam Tavecchio, M. Carolina Colombo and M. Maria Fracasso.
Both the Elementary and High School Departments are Level II PAASCU accredited in its effort to attain its vision and mission to form the heart of the young through quality education in the spirit of St. Magdalene of Canossa. In 2010, Canossa-Galvaville Housing Project was established in Sitio Ronggot, Brgy. Lecheria, Calamba for the victims of Ondoy typhoon which rendered its residents homeless due to massive flood. The Sisters through the Alay Pag-ibig Center minister to this community after the completion of the housing project for community building, scholarship program and income generating projects. The Senior High Department was opened in 2016 to complete the K-12 curriculum program. As Canossa Academy approaches in its 60th year, it offers Online Distant Learning to address the “new normal” situation brought about by the pandemic.
The Canossian Sisters together with the lay teachers and staff members continue to carry out the aims of St. Magdalene of Canossa, giving priority to educational efforts geared towards the formation of the heart of the young into Pusong Canossian and authentic Christian Persons Sharers of God’s love.
CANOSSA ACADEMY, LIPA CITY
Bishop Alejandro Olalia, then Bishop of Lipa, invited the Canossian Sisters in 1967 to continue the administration of the parochial school adjacent to San Sebastian Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Academy (OLRA), to be left by the Maryknoll Sisters. The pioneering community who came on June 18, 1967 was composed of Mo. Lily Ann Medina from Macau, Mo. Candida Elburgo from Hong Kong and Sr. Dalisay Lasaga from San Pablo, Laguna. The school was transferred in its present site, Brgy. San Carlos, in a land donated by Atty. Dionisio Lingao in 1969.
Soon, they got the support of the teachers and staff and the trust from the parents who continuously send their children and grandchildren to Canossa. Since 1998, both Grade School and High School departments underwent the PAASCU Accreditation. Presently, both have achieved up to Level III accreditation. In response to the K-12 curriculum of DepEd, it opened the Senior High School department in 2016. Many buildings were built and learning laboratories installed through the years to provide quality learning environment.
A more laudable development is in terms of aligning the school’s curriculum with the values of the school’s mission statement. A Canossian graduate is envisioned to possess these attributes: Sharer of God’s Love, Man and Woman of Faith, Academically Competent Learner, Responsible Agent of Social Transformation and True Brother and Sister to the Poor (SMART). To respond to the Canossian mission of sharing God’s love to the most in need, the St. Magdalene of Canossa Community Center provide outreach programs to students to bring about a strong social orientation among them and to be indeed SMART Canossian with the Heart. The alumni have been very supportive in the school’s projects for the poor and to the school through their own profession and vocation as priests, religious, educators, health practitioners, businessmen, engineers or those in other professions.
There have been many challenges especially during the ‘new normal’ situation due to the pandemic but in spite of them and perhaps because of them, Canossa Academy has experienced growth as a school community through the concerted efforts and dedication of its faculty, staff, maintenance, sisters, parents and other agencies. Guided by the spirit of St. Magdalene of Canossa, they continue to form the youth and offer them a wholistic education which prepares them for life that is truly Christian for the transformation of their own families and of the society where they live.
Canossa Kindergarten and Day Care Center, Cagayan de Oro City
The Canossa Kindergarten and Day Care Center in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO) is the only Canossian educational institution in Mindanao. It started in 1983 as a Day Care Center in Sto. Nino Parish in Cogon near the market area where the pioneer Sisters of Cagayan de Oro were invited by Bishop Patrick Cronin through Fr. Jose Ingaran. for Parish assistance in the formation of catechists and administration of the House of Friendship orphanage. After two months of their stay, they saw the need for a kinder school for the poor children. The first batch of pupils were 32 children in the morning session and 25 children in the afternoon session. In 1991, the Sisters needed to transfer to a new place in Lapasan, CDO and so with the school which was named Canossa Kindergarten and Day Care Center.
The parents have continued to entrust their children to the Sisters for early Canossian education where direct and personal contact with the pupils is given special emphasis so that the “Formation of the Heart”, the “formation of good, conscientious, and convinced Christians for whom holiness is a meaningful goal” so desired by St. Magdalene of Canossa, may indeed take place in their growth and development. The pre-school focuses on the development of the child’s total development, that is, physical, intellectual, social, moral and spiritual. It is hoped that the provision of a balanced program of Nursery and Kindergarten activities will help the children develop an understanding of the world around them and thus act accordingly. On May 7, 1995, the school was officially recognized by the Department of Education.
There have been many structures built to improve the facilities to better serve the needs of the children – more classrooms, multi purpose hall, Marian kiosk and spacious garden where the children can play and move around.