Santa Maria Catholic School now bears Ateneo de Iloilo as principal name of the educational institution founded by the early Jesuit companions in the Society of Jesus- Francis Xavier, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and Blessed Peter Faber, whose Jubilee Year was celebrated last July 31, 2006 at the school’s auditorium and activity area. The event, as part of the commemoration of the 450th and 500th anniversary of the founding Fathers, was attended by Atenean alumni, donors and benefactors of the school, prominent guests and local political figures. A mass was held first followed by a dinner which was opened with a fervent prayer from Fr. Edwin U. Castillo, S.J.
One of the highlights of the event is the Ateneo de Iloilo Project Update, a fund raising mission to expand the school in a seven hectare site located in San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. An establishment which was approved by Rome-based Jesuit Fr. General Peter Hans Kolvenbach and made possible by the Kauturan Pison Development Foundation.
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