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St. Patrick's Parochial School Denison, Texas On
January 24, 1876, four Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, Belgium and the
United States founded an academy and named it in honor of St. Francis
Xavier. On February 16, 1876, the Legislature of the State of Texas
chartered the school under the title: Academy of St Francis Xavier and
Parochial School. The academy functioned primarily to the
education of girls and young ladies. The Sisters of St. Mary pioneered the teaching of young boys in Denison. The Convent Diary records that the "Senate House" was bought for the boys' school and desks moved there for resumption of classes on April 10, 1882. The school was located on the St. Xavier campus on the Morton Street side. The St. Patrick's parochial grammar school for boys was established at 314 North Rusk Avenue which is the present-day site of St. Patrick's Church. A negotiation between Mother Anastasia and Sister Mary Bernard and Father T. K. Crowley in 1897, resulted in the school building being removed to the Sisters' property on the corner of Sears and Burnett. The St. Patric's parochial school was used by the Sisters until 1924. At this time, St. Patrick's school was consolidated with St. Xavier's so that a Catholic high school would be available for male students. In the beginning, St. Patrick's school used men lay teachers as instructors. Professor Slattery was sent by the bishop from Galveston on September 15, 1884 to teach the boys. However th Sisters continued to teach boys in the first reader in the new schoolhouse on their campus. In 1885, there was an enrollment at St. Patrick's school of forty-four. Professor Rauh was in charge of the school at this time. The formal blessing of the school was solemnized on February 8, 1885 with Father Bufford presiding. In 1888, the boys were sent to Professor Nelson's school. In 1890, the Sisters took back these students as Father Crowley brought over eighteen children from Professor Nelson's school. After consolidation of the parochial school with St. Xavier's in 1924, a co-educational system was established at the academy. The St. Patrick's school was eventually razed and the space added to the St. Xavier campus and athletic field. source: Diamond Jubilee History of St. Xavier's Academy Schools Susan Hawkins © 2024 |