Wow. Is that the whole class?
Today was graduation day for the Cathedral High School Class of 2015. And that class may well be the last from a school called “Cathedral.”
Ceremonies were held at St. Michael’s Cathedral for the 48(!) members of the class. They had spent their four years at Cathedral in temporary quarters at a former elementary school in Wilbraham, following the damage to the CHS structure on Surrey Road from the 2011 tornado.
The diocese of Springfield announced May 29 that the new name of the school resulting from the merger of Cathedral and Holyoke Catholic high schools would be Pope Francis High School. According to the report in the Springfield Republican, the two schools will operate under the new name beginning in the 2016-17 school year, but remain in their present distinct locations. Another article yesterday referred to Holyoke Catholic’s graduation this year as its last.
According to the news report, the name of the new school was recommended by a group of students from each school, “working with school officials,” and the recommendation was “accepted” by Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski. (If you don’t sense my skepticism about that process, I’ve been too subtle.)
There is still no announced decision on the location of the new school, nor regarding school colors or mascot.
It appears Purple Panther High will Iive on only so long as our memories live.
Wow! Thanks for the update, Bill. I suddenly feel like an orphan. Cathedral was such a huge part of our maturing and growing days! You are so right that Cathedral will always live on in our hearts and they can change the name and location but it is impossible to change the impact our experience at Cathedral made on our lives.
Thanks again, Elaine
The Springfield diocese succeeded in pulling off the “Immaculate Deception.”