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Delphine
Hart
Foundress
of the Loreto [IBVM] in India
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Loreto
in India owes its origin to a visit by Dr
Bakhaus to Loreto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Ireland,
in 1840 to request Mother Teresa Ball to send
sisters to set up a school for Catholic children
in Calcutta. In response to this, in 1841 Mother
Teresa Ball sent 7 Loreto Sisters and 5
Postulants, all in their twenties, under the
leadership of Delphine Hart to India, announcing
that they would probably never see their
homeland again. They landed at Babughat after a
four month journey where they were welcomed
by the
Ladies of the Nun Committee, a large gathering
of the people of Calcutta and
Bishop Carew, and installed at the house
in Middleton Row . They were the first
congregation to come to North India. In
January 1842 the Sisters began the school
at Loreto House with 70 pupils as well as
classes in the orphanage at the Cathedral.
Old Loreto
House (Centre), showing St Thomas' Church and St
Thomas' House. At the right is the present Provincialate House
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