By Fr. Cletus Dawson, C.P.

On Sunday, April 24, Archbishop Thomas Donnellan will celebrate the 12 noon Mass in St. Paul of the Cross Church, marking the 25th anniversary of the opening of St. Paul of the Cross Elementary School. The school received its first pupils in September 1957. The present school year of 1982-1983 is considered the Silver Jubilee Year. Immediately after the Mass, a tea-reception will be held in the school hall. All are invited to these observances, especially former students of the school.

In March 1955, Bishop Francis E. Hyland of the Savannah diocese invited the Passionist community to establish a foundation in Atlanta. For four months, Father Emmanuel Trainor, C.P., the first pastor, lived at Immaculate Conception parish in downtown Atlanta as a guest of Monsignor James J. Grady and Father Donald Kiernan. Once the site of the future parish was obtained, Father Emmanuel took up residence within the parish area. Through the efforts of Dr. Richard Hackney, a house at 29 West Lake Avenue was obtained as a temporary rectory, and Dr. Earl McLendon gave the use of the social hall at the McLendon Hospital for the celebration of Sunday Mass.

The decision was made that priority be given for a Catholic school, and so the first building for the foundation should be a school. A school was looked upon as a primary means of evangelization – a church and rectory could wait. Simultaneously with the building of the school, the convent was erected, since a Catholic school called for the presence of Religious teachers. In the late summer 1957, the school and convent were ready for operation. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, Pa., sent four Sisters to open the first four grades. Sister Ildephonse was the first principal.

Upon completion of the school building, the small Passionist community left the residence on West Lake Avenue to take temporary quarters in the school. The area occupied by the Passionists would not be needed until the number of classes increased. Space designed for three classrooms in the new building was converted into a public chapel for the celebration of Mass. Thus the school and the parish worship were united.

On February 23, 1958, Bishop Hyland dedicated the school to St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists. Forty diocesan and religious priests were present in addition to 400 lay people.

In September 1960 a kindergarten was opened with 26 pupils and with Mrs. Dorothy Leverett as teacher. There were, in addition, seven grades in the school averaging 40 pupils in each. During these early years, the Home and School Association was formed to establish a close relationship between parents and teachers. Upon the opening of the parish church and rectory in 1960, the Passionist community moved into their new residence and their former quarters were left for school use.

In 1961, an eighth grade became a reality. At the beginning of that scholastic year, 366 students were in attendance. Sixty of these were non-Catholic. On May 27, 1962, the first graduation exercise from the school was held as 38 eighth graders received certificates of completion of elementary education.

In 1967, the formation of the first Parish Board of Education was established in accordance with the decree of the Archdiocesan Synod of 1966. Dr. Harding Young, Mr. Robert Gaines, Mr. Willis Scruggs, Mr. Edwin Thompson, Mr. Leon Allain, Dr. Richard Hackney, Mrs. Ora Jenkins, Mrs. Myrtle Davis and Mrs. Lithangia Robinson were the first members, while Sister Mary Coffrey, C.S.J., and Father Edward Banks, C.P., were members as principal and pastor.

In June, 1968, Mr. Roscoe Thomas was appointed the first lay principal of St. Paul of the Cross. He had been on the teaching staff for several years. The school grew with the passing years. The pastors who succeeded Fr. Emmanuel took deep interest in it, especially Fathers Dennis Walsh and Edward Banks. Father Richard Leary will never be forgotten for his love and concern for the girls and boys of St. Paul’s.

There were waiting lists for admission. The special spirit of St. Paul of the Cross manifested itself in the loyalty of its students, teachers and graduates. There were celebrations that formed parts of each year: Thanksgiving with its food donations for the poor; the annual Christmas Eve children’s Mass when pupils presented their Christmas pageant; the February programs for Black History month.

There is the long list of the Sister of St. Joseph of Baden, who gave so much to build the quality of the school and inject into it the spirit of Christ. Sister Patricia Cummings and Sister Paula Drake served as principals in the seventies. The number of devoted lay teachers increased. Among them was Mrs. Christene Minter, who still serves on the staff. There were other staff members who did so much for St. Paul’s, as Mrs. Ruby Livingston and Mrs. Gladys Chandler. All were part and parcel of St. Paul of the Cross School. Each year, graduates went forth to the high schools of the city and held aloft the reputation of St. Paul’s.

In the mid-1970s, under the pastorate of Father Colman Haggerty, an entire new roof was placed on the school and convent, a new lighting system was installed and the building was insulated. These improvements were borne at great expense to the parish.

In 1980, after much work and concern on the part of principals, teachers, pastors and the parish board of education, St. Paul of the Cross became a fully accredited school by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. A celebration for this was held in November during the principalship of Sister Anne Prince, C.S.J. In 1981, Sister Bertha Sutton, C.S.J. became the first native Georgian to serve as principal.

This Jubilee Year turns St. Paul of the Cross School to the future. The institution sees itself as an important means of evangelization for the community of the Atlanta Church, especially for its boys and girls. This celebration should inspire a new zeal that this might always be an accomplishment.