St. Patrick's High School was a high school in

Monrovia, Liberia Monrovia () is the administrative capital and largest city of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2022 census had 1,761,032 residents, home to 33.5% of Liberia’s total population. It ...

, from 1936 to 1996. It was one of the top secondary schools in the country.

History

In 1934, after being appointed

Vicar Apostolic A vicar (; Latin: ''vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English pre ...

of Liberia, Father John Collins founded the St. Patrick School in Monrovia for the benefit of local children under the auspices of the

Society of African Missions The Society of African Missions (; ), also known as the SMA Fathers, is a Catholic religious society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men founded by Melchior de Marion Brésillac in 1856. They serve the people of Africa and those of ...

. He was rejoined by Father Francis Carroll in 1936, and under their direction, the school extended to the secondary level in 1939. In 1943, the school's first five graduates finished their scholarship, a first for a Catholic school in Liberia. After Father John Collins died in 1961, Father Francis Carroll was consecrated Bishop of Monrovia, and one year later made the arrangements for the

Brothers of Holy Cross The Congregation of Holy Cross (), abbreviated CSC, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation A religious congregation is a type of Religious institute (Catholic), religious institute in the Catholic Church. They are legally distinguished f ...

to take over the management of St. Patrick's High School. Maintaining a high profile for its excellent education, the school was closed for a time during the 1989 civil war. Two nuns, Sister Agnes and Sister Shirley, reopened the school. Both were killed in 1992 by

National Patriotic Front of Liberia The National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) was a Liberian rebel group that initiated and participated in the First Liberian Civil War from 24 December 1989 – 2 August 1997. The NPFL emerged out of rising ethnic tensions and civil unrest du ...

(NPFL) rebel leader Charles Taylor's forces during the continued strife. The brothers then ran the school until April 6, 1996, when the hierarchy closed all Catholic facilities.

Notable alumni

* Emmanuel Nyan Gbalazeh – Chief Justice,

Supreme Court of Liberia The Supreme Court of Liberia is the highest judicial body in Liberia. The court consists of the Chief Justice of Liberia, who is also the top judiciary official, and four associate justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by ...

.
'' Liberian Times''.

Principals

#Father Francis Carroll (1936–) #Father Thomas Lakins #Father Joseph Guinan #Father Michael Rooney #Father O'Donovan #Brother Donald Allen #Brother Austin Maley #Brother Paul Clark #Brother John Zoglemann #Brother Edward Foken (1971–79, 1980–84) #Brother James Newberry (1982–89) #Sister Shirley Kolmer #Richard Goodlin - 1996

References

1936 establishments in Liberia Christian schools in Liberia Defunct high schools Defunct private schools 1996 disestablishments in Liberia Educational institutions disestablished in 1996 Educational institutions established in 1936 Holy Cross secondary schools Catholic Church in Liberia Catholic secondary schools in Africa Schools in Monrovia Defunct schools in Liberia {{Africa-school-stub

History

Notable alumni

Principals

See also

References