Elena Arellano Chamorro (November 3, 1836;

Granada Granada (,, DIN 31635, DIN: ; grc, Ἐλιβύργη, Elibýrgē; la, Illiberis or . ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the fo ...

- October 11, 1911; Granada), or better known as "Mother Elena Arellano", was recognized for her selflessness and dedication to women's

education in Nicaragua Education in Nicaragua is free for all Nicaraguans. Elementary education is free and compulsory although this is not strictly enforced. Many children are not able to attend if their families need to have them work. Communities on the Atlantic Coast ...

Biography

Elena Arellano Chamorro was born in the city of Granada,

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...

on November 3, 1836. She was the daughter of

Narciso Arellano del Castillo Narciso may refer to: Given name * Narciso Clavería y de Palacios, Spanish architect * Narciso Clavería y Zaldúa, Governor General of the Philippines * Narciso dos Santos, Brazilian former footballer * Narciso Durán, Franciscan friar and missio ...

, who served as

Prime Minister of Nicaragua A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...

. In 1842, after the death of her father, she made vows of chastity and poverty. As a result of these vows, Arellano took in any impoverished people in need of help into her home. She was beautiful and had a charming personality. As part of her apostolate, she founded ''la Casa de Huerfanas de Artes y Oficios'' (The Orphanage of Arts and Crafts), this center served widows, female victims of stalking, and prostitutes. In 1872, Arellano boarded young women in her home where they received a basic, elementary level education. This was the first college open to women in

. In 1888, she traveled to

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where she met with Pope Leon XIII and attended the funeral of Don Bosco. She also met with Francisca Javier Cabrini on this trip. In 1892, the city of Granada was affected by Alfombria (black smallpox) and Mother Elena took on the task of treating the sick in the quarantine hospitals created in the city.

Foundations

In 1891, Mother Elena Arellano Chamorro founded ''el Colegio La Immaculada'' (The Immaculate School). In the same year, Francisco Javier Cabrini arrived in

with eight nuns dedicated to teaching women in Mother Elena's newly created school. On August 20, 1894, General Jose Santos Zelaya expelled the religious group ''Salesas Misioneras del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús'' from

and Mother Elena left the country with them. Upon her return to

in 1895, she founded ''el Colegio San Luis Gonzaga'' (The San Luis Gonzaga School). This school was specifically for the education of young men. In 1903, Mother Elena prepared for the arrival of ''las Oblatas Del Sagrado'' ''Corazón,'' these women were in charge of ''el Colegio Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe'' (French school). In March 1912, el Colegio San Juan Bosco began operations under the management of los Salesianos. These Salesianos in charge of this institution were Father José Misieri, Father José Dini, Jorge Müller (student) and Brother Esteban Tosini.

Death

Mother Elena Arellano died on October 11, 1911. Her remains were buried in the chapel of Maria Auxiliadora of the Salesiano School of Granada.

National Recognition

After protests by intellectuals in Granada, the city named a street after Elena Arellano.

References

"Josefa Toledo De Aguerri: Her Life And Her Legacy"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arellano Chamorro, Elena 1836 births 1911 deaths 19th-century Nicaraguan educators