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The History of Holy Cross School
The first Holy Cross School was opened in 1861 at Philip and Hamilton Streets
in the South End of Albany. It consisted mainly of German immigrant children.
In 1861, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet were the first teachers. Bishop
McCloskey requested and received two German Sisters who would instruct the
German speaking population. In addition to the German Sisters and the Sisters
of St. Joseph, a Mr. Singer was retained to instruct one hundred fifty boys.
The school continued to thrive and Father Ottenhues, the pastor of Holy Cross
Church, built an expanded school and convent facility. By 1877, the Sisters of
St. Joseph were ending their mission and new teachers had to be found. In
January 1880, four Sisters of Christian Charity arrived to begin their mission at
Holy Cross. In September of 1896, the Sisters began a Secondary school,
which lasted until June 1919. Due to decreases in enrollment and loss of
religious personnel in the influenza epidemic, the Sisters had to withdraw. In
1919, Bishop Gibbons applied for the School Sisters of Notre Dame to teach at
the school. By September 1919, a Sister and two candidates began their
mission at Holy Cross. In April 1919, twelve children received their First Holy
Communion and eighty-six received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and in June
1920, four boys and six girls graduated.
In 1954, there were fewer than one hundred twenty-nine students registered at
Holy Cross School making it one of the smallest in the Diocese. The school was
demolished in 1955 and a new school serving St. Anthony' s and Holy Cross
was to be built. In 1959, the church was also demolished. In April of 1959, the
diocese purchased land at Rosemont and Brevator Streets and announced that
a new Holy Cross parish would be built. Rev. Msgr. John F. Bourke, who was
Superintendent of the Diocesan schools, was named the first pastor of the
parish. In June 1960, Rev. James Kennedy was named the first assistant pastor
of Holy Cross Church.
In the fall of 1960, the new Holy Cross School was opened and there were 189
students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Sister Mary Veronica was the
first principal and she was aided by two other Sisters of Mercy and one lay
teacher. In 1961, Msgr. Bourke became ill and was replaced by Father Ryan,
who was assigned as parish administrator. Father Ryan had just retired as had
just retired as a chaplain in the U.S. Army, after nearly twenty-one years of
service. In 1963 became the second pastor.
Each year one grade was added so that in June 1965, Holy Cross had its first
graduating class. In September 1966, Sister Mary Brian (Sister Marian
Rafferty) was appointed the new principal and was assisted by 5 Sisters of
Mercy and three lay teachers. The total registration for the year 1966-1967
numbered 372 students. Three years later, 1969, Patricia Houlihan became
principal and remained at Holy Cross until 1988. In September 1988, the
present principal, Sister Mary Ellen Owens came to Holy Cross. Sister has
continued to instill principles of excellence to the students' spirituality,
academics, athletics and the arts. Holy Cross has received many national as well
as in Holy Cross academic scholarship awards each year. Holy Cross has
received many national as well as local awards in all subject areas and is the
recipient of many academic scholarship awards each year. The present
enrollment is 258 students, which includes a Three and Four Year old Nursery
School Program which was begun in 1989.
In September of 1974, Father Ryan retired and Father Richard Downs was
appointed the third pastor of Holy Cross parish. Father Downs had been
Director of Diocesan Catholic Charities prior to coming to Holy Cross. Father
was instrumental in many of the changes in the structure of the church and while
he was pastor, the much-needed Family Center was built. Father Downs retired
in 1995 and Father Daniel J. Maher became the fourth pastor of Holy Cross
Parish .Father was a native of Ireland and had been the pastor of Sacred Heart
of Mary Church in Watervliet for over 20 years. Father has been extremely
supportive of the school and the alumni association, which began in 1995. After
Father Maher came to Holy Cross the rectory was renovated and an office for
the parish was established on the lower level. During Father Maher's tenure, a
guitar Mass and girl altar servers have also been initiated.
The school has established many new innovative instructional methods and
programs. With the opening of the Family Center, the school was able to
convert the original hall to a music room- art room library and a new faculty
room. Spanish and computer classes have also been added to the curriculum
courses. Holy Cross was one of the first schools to use parishioners as teacher
aides to help with the reading program. The aides are still helping the teachers
and students, not only in reading, but also in other facets of education. It was the
first school to incorporate the Fair Ability to Pay tuition process and experiment
with its own TV news programs. Student councils, Thanksgiving dinners, one
act plays, choir, altar servers including both boys and girls, marathons,
mini-bazaars, political conventions, D.A.R.E. programs, the writing of a book
by kindergartners published by Scholastic Press, concerts, contests, science
fairs, volunteering at the Teresian House and scouting are just a few of the many
in-school and extra-curricular activities that Holy Cross students participate in.
Boys and girls also excel in athletics winning many Diocesan wide basketball
awards. Bowling, cross-country and track have been recently introduced into
the inclusive athletic program and have been very well received. In the 1960's
and 1970's boys from the school participated in a football program and on the
side lines, encouraging them as well as the basketball teams, were a very active
group of girl cheerleaders. The cheerleaders continued to support the athletic
teams throughout the 80's. A special lunch program was begun by the parents
and is welcomed by the students. In 1998, a successfully involved Home School
Association was initiated.
After the reunion in 1995, a small group of alumni decided that they would like
to publish a newsletter twice a year and also undertake many different
fund-raisers for the purpose of purchasing desks for the classrooms. In the
years to follow, the alumni group was been able to purchase 33 desks for each
of the classrooms. Many alumni, parishioners, and school parents supported
their efforts with great enthusiasm. The activities that produced this revenue
included Price Chopper Scrip - National Scrip - Bus Trips - Pancake
Breakfasts - House Tours at Christmas - 8th Grade Graduation Barbecues-
Alumni Basketball Games - River Rat Hockey Games and a Siena Basketball
Game - Book Sales - Sale of Entertainment Books and Simply Certificates
donations. Without the support of these activities and private donations, both
the newsletters and the desks would not have been possible. Their support is
greatly appreciated and the alumni hope that it will continue.
Since the turn of the century, Holy Cross School has added a brand new
Technology Lab, furnished with an entire network of new computers. This also
led to the creation of a brand new front school office and principal office, as
well as the expansion of the faculty room.
Holy Cross School has for nearly five decades been one of the best schools in
the Albany Diocese and it is due to its well-rounded curriculum, which includes
strong religious values, academic excellence, extracurricular activities and
athletic programs that have been offered to all students.
The first Holy Cross School was opened in 1861 at Philip and Hamilton Streets
in the South End of Albany. It consisted mainly of German immigrant children.
In 1861, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet were the first teachers. Bishop
McCloskey requested and received two German Sisters who would instruct the
German speaking population. In addition to the German Sisters and the Sisters
of St. Joseph, a Mr. Singer was retained to instruct one hundred fifty boys.
The school continued to thrive and Father Ottenhues, the pastor of Holy Cross
Church, built an expanded school and convent facility. By 1877, the Sisters of
St. Joseph were ending their mission and new teachers had to be found. In
January 1880, four Sisters of Christian Charity arrived to begin their mission at
Holy Cross. In September of 1896, the Sisters began a Secondary school,
which lasted until June 1919. Due to decreases in enrollment and loss of
religious personnel in the influenza epidemic, the Sisters had to withdraw. In
1919, Bishop Gibbons applied for the School Sisters of Notre Dame to teach at
the school. By September 1919, a Sister and two candidates began their
mission at Holy Cross. In April 1919, twelve children received their First Holy
Communion and eighty-six received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and in June
1920, four boys and six girls graduated.
In 1954, there were fewer than one hundred twenty-nine students registered at
Holy Cross School making it one of the smallest in the Diocese. The school was
demolished in 1955 and a new school serving St. Anthony' s and Holy Cross
was to be built. In 1959, the church was also demolished. In April of 1959, the
diocese purchased land at Rosemont and Brevator Streets and announced that
a new Holy Cross parish would be built. Rev. Msgr. John F. Bourke, who was
Superintendent of the Diocesan schools, was named the first pastor of the
parish. In June 1960, Rev. James Kennedy was named the first assistant pastor
of Holy Cross Church.
In the fall of 1960, the new Holy Cross School was opened and there were 189
students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Sister Mary Veronica was the
first principal and she was aided by two other Sisters of Mercy and one lay
teacher. In 1961, Msgr. Bourke became ill and was replaced by Father Ryan,
who was assigned as parish administrator. Father Ryan had just retired as had
just retired as a chaplain in the U.S. Army, after nearly twenty-one years of
service. In 1963 became the second pastor.
Each year one grade was added so that in June 1965, Holy Cross had its first
graduating class. In September 1966, Sister Mary Brian (Sister Marian
Rafferty) was appointed the new principal and was assisted by 5 Sisters of
Mercy and three lay teachers. The total registration for the year 1966-1967
numbered 372 students. Three years later, 1969, Patricia Houlihan became
principal and remained at Holy Cross until 1988. In September 1988, the
present principal, Sister Mary Ellen Owens came to Holy Cross. Sister has
continued to instill principles of excellence to the students' spirituality,
academics, athletics and the arts. Holy Cross has received many national as well
as in Holy Cross academic scholarship awards each year. Holy Cross has
received many national as well as local awards in all subject areas and is the
recipient of many academic scholarship awards each year. The present
enrollment is 258 students, which includes a Three and Four Year old Nursery
School Program which was begun in 1989.
In September of 1974, Father Ryan retired and Father Richard Downs was
appointed the third pastor of Holy Cross parish. Father Downs had been
Director of Diocesan Catholic Charities prior to coming to Holy Cross. Father
was instrumental in many of the changes in the structure of the church and while
he was pastor, the much-needed Family Center was built. Father Downs retired
in 1995 and Father Daniel J. Maher became the fourth pastor of Holy Cross
Parish .Father was a native of Ireland and had been the pastor of Sacred Heart
of Mary Church in Watervliet for over 20 years. Father has been extremely
supportive of the school and the alumni association, which began in 1995. After
Father Maher came to Holy Cross the rectory was renovated and an office for
the parish was established on the lower level. During Father Maher's tenure, a
guitar Mass and girl altar servers have also been initiated.
The school has established many new innovative instructional methods and
programs. With the opening of the Family Center, the school was able to
convert the original hall to a music room- art room library and a new faculty
room. Spanish and computer classes have also been added to the curriculum
courses. Holy Cross was one of the first schools to use parishioners as teacher
aides to help with the reading program. The aides are still helping the teachers
and students, not only in reading, but also in other facets of education. It was the
first school to incorporate the Fair Ability to Pay tuition process and experiment
with its own TV news programs. Student councils, Thanksgiving dinners, one
act plays, choir, altar servers including both boys and girls, marathons,
mini-bazaars, political conventions, D.A.R.E. programs, the writing of a book
by kindergartners published by Scholastic Press, concerts, contests, science
fairs, volunteering at the Teresian House and scouting are just a few of the many
in-school and extra-curricular activities that Holy Cross students participate in.
Boys and girls also excel in athletics winning many Diocesan wide basketball
awards. Bowling, cross-country and track have been recently introduced into
the inclusive athletic program and have been very well received. In the 1960's
and 1970's boys from the school participated in a football program and on the
side lines, encouraging them as well as the basketball teams, were a very active
group of girl cheerleaders. The cheerleaders continued to support the athletic
teams throughout the 80's. A special lunch program was begun by the parents
and is welcomed by the students. In 1998, a successfully involved Home School
Association was initiated.
After the reunion in 1995, a small group of alumni decided that they would like
to publish a newsletter twice a year and also undertake many different
fund-raisers for the purpose of purchasing desks for the classrooms. In the
years to follow, the alumni group was been able to purchase 33 desks for each
of the classrooms. Many alumni, parishioners, and school parents supported
their efforts with great enthusiasm. The activities that produced this revenue
included Price Chopper Scrip - National Scrip - Bus Trips - Pancake
Breakfasts - House Tours at Christmas - 8th Grade Graduation Barbecues-
Alumni Basketball Games - River Rat Hockey Games and a Siena Basketball
Game - Book Sales - Sale of Entertainment Books and Simply Certificates
donations. Without the support of these activities and private donations, both
the newsletters and the desks would not have been possible. Their support is
greatly appreciated and the alumni hope that it will continue.
Since the turn of the century, Holy Cross School has added a brand new
Technology Lab, furnished with an entire network of new computers. This also
led to the creation of a brand new front school office and principal office, as
well as the expansion of the faculty room.
Holy Cross School has for nearly five decades been one of the best schools in
the Albany Diocese and it is due to its well-rounded curriculum, which includes
strong religious values, academic excellence, extracurricular activities and
athletic programs that have been offered to all students.