Dreaming of shaping young minds? That’s precisely what the Colegio Santa María has been doing since 1934. This Catholic school stands proudly on Avenida 8 de Octubre in the La Blanqueada neighborhood of Montevideo. It is more than just bricks and mortar. It is the first Marist school in Uruguay.
In the 1930s, disciples of Marcelino Champagnat arrived here. They envisioned an educational institution rooted in religious values. The Familia Marista’s principles were to be its guide. Colegio Santa María opened near the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Tierra Santa. This marked the beginning of its journey.
However, the Colegio Santa María wasn’t always at this location. In 1939, it moved to a new home on Avenida 8 de Octubre. This building once served as the residence of President Juan Campisteguy. Imagine the history within these walls. New classrooms rose as the school expanded. Patios, a chapel and a library were added. A retreat outside Montevideo on Ruta 8 provided space for recreation.
Initially, Colegio Santa María educated only boys. But the winds of change blew in the 1960s. It embraced co-education and welcomed female students. The Marist brothers then extended their educational reach. They established Colegio Zorrilla and Colegio San Luis in other cities.
Fast forward to October 3, 2015. The Colegio Santa María hosted the Congreso Nacional de Ministros Laicales. Today, it is part of the Marist Province Cruz del Sur. This includes institutions in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Blue and white are its colors. Colegio Santa María provides education at the initial, primary and secondary levels.
Many prominent figures walked these halls. Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro and Miguel Ángel Campodónico are among its alumni. Sebastián Bednarik and Jaime Rafael Fuentes also attended. The list goes on with names like Rodolfo Wirz and Gerardo Caetano. José Pedro Rilla, Gustavo Nocetti and Diego Fischer are included. Adolfo Barán, Hebert Revetria, Sergio Abreu and Gustavo Poyet are notable alumni as well. Martín Vázquez, Magela Ferrero, Óscar Ferro and Florencia Flanagan are also alumni.
Colegio Santa María isn’t just an educational institution. It’s a place where values are instilled. It is a place where futures are shaped. The school’s mission is the Christian formation. It gives identity to the school’s educational approach. This option is based on Jesus. He is the way to fulfillment as a person. The education occurs in relation to oneself, others, the world and God. That’s the Colegio Santa María story.