	100 Years Catholic Education & Formation: Our Lady of Guadalupe School Celebrates its Centennial En Español
By Goyo Lopez April 11, 2004 marked a milestone in Laredo’s history with the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe School. The centennial celebrates 100 years of academic excellence, 100 years of galvanizing the community and 100 years of providing Catholic education and formation to many of the economically disadvantaged youth of Laredo. Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as the oldest continuing Catholic school in the Diocese of Laredo. Unfortunately, the historic moment comes at a point in time when the economic outlook for the treasured institution is bleak and its future doubtful. Fifty two thousand dollars in debt, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is no longer financing the school and the Department of Catholic Schools under the Diocese of Laredo umbrella now carries the banner to save the school from closing. And to think the original school building cost $600. Ironically, the Sisters of the Holy Ghost founded the school during the term of Bishop Pedro Verdaguer to serve those from the lowest economic rungs of society. Now, in a cost-cutting measure, the school discontinued its fifth and sixth grade programs sending the students to St. Peter’s Memorial School to conclude the academic year. But it wasn’t always like this. The Sisters of the Holy Ghost laid the initial foundation over a period of nine years - encouraging the families in some of Laredo’s oldest neighborhoods to register their children at Guadalupe School. In 1913, Bishop Nussbaum requested that the Ursuline Sisters continue the task begun by the Sisters of the Holy Ghost. Eventually, and as a result of a collaborative effort between the religious sisters, the enrollment increased to an estimated 300 pupils twice as many as today.
Despite the immense poverty in and around the Guadalupe neighborhood during these formative years, the sisters were able to encourage families to seek a Catholic education.
Even if the poor families didn’t have enough money to pay tuition, recalls Sister Mary Helen Archibald, OSU, they possessed dignity and pride and often found a way to make a contribution. “There used to be an old book, but they say its no longer over there, just saying how the people paid for their tuition some people would give like two eggs because that’s all they had,” explains Sister Helen, who began teaching at Guadalupe during World War II. “They wanted to give what they had and we accepted it because we knew that this was a great sacrifice for these families.”
	The Laredoans would pay for school with livestock, eggs, fresh milk, fruits and vegetables borne of their backbreaking labor. In the early years, the religious did not receive salaries and the
bartering became essential for survival. “For years the sisters taught there without any compensation at all. That’s another reason that the sisters appreciated the gesture of sharing the little they had with us,” continues Sister Helen, who eventually became the school principal. And another fruit reaped from the generous parents was an acute appreciation for the Catholic education. “I think the children did so well because they saw the sacrifice their parents were making and then they saw that they were gaining something out of this,” says Sister Helen, who spent a combined 55 years as an educator at Ursuline and Guadalupe. “So I think that’s why they tried harder to do what they could do in school we didn’t have a lot of discipline problems.”
Belia Enriquez Juarez, a 1946 8th grade graduate of Guadalupe School, personified the sacrifices of her parents. “I attended school in the old building and it was very different from today’s school,” begins Mrs. Juarez. “I remember one of the
classrooms having bleacher style seating instead of individual desks.” Sister Helen, echoing Mrs. Juarez, recounts her first day of teaching at the old school. “I remember the first day I went out and it was a huge classroom and I looked at it and said ‘my goodness’ because that year I had a large class. I had about 70 something or 80 students in that old building and we didn’t have individual chairs like the children do now,” explains Sister Helen. “It was like bleachers you know and you had to get in I remember telling myself that I was going to need help. It was an experience. And I didn’t know any Spanish at all, but somehow God took care of it all. I had some great students.” Although the Sisters of the Holy Ghost, the Ursuline Sisters, and the Sisters of Mercy all played a significant role in the formation of students, there was an additional factor that was instrumental in the shaping of the individual as well as financial security.
	Initially, the Oblates made the modernization of the chapel and the school their goal. Nearly eight years later, in February 1929, a new Our Lady of Guadalupe Church was unveiled and established officially as a parish. Practically, 20 years later, Bishop Mariano S. Garriga blessed the new school structure that continues today. Over the years, the Oblates worked diligently with the sisters to ensure the school
received adequate financing to keep the doors open and to continue offering a solid education. Throughout its colorful history, Our Lady of Guadalupe has faced financial crises on different occasions and in different eras. The mere start of the school amidst the economic poverty was a big challenge. Subsequently, the Great Depression affected every aspect of society and dwindled the enrollment to an estimated 50 students. The mid-60’s witnessed the elimination of the 7th and 8th grades as a result of a reduction in student population. In 1970, the threat of closing the school arose again. Reverend Henry G. Van De Casteele, who was a new pastor at the time, galvanized the community and made certain that the school remained open. Somehow, Our Lady of Guadalupe has withstood every seemingly insurmountable challenge. Throughout its 100-year history, Guadalupe has been the cornerstone for the barrio of the same name. Our Lady of Guadalupe School embodies a color of cultures comprising Laredo. The school and its people have personified Her spirit. The growth, the changes, the traditions, the resiliency and the vigor of Our Lady of Guadalupe School have reflected Her people and Her spirit for over a century.