Holy Spirit Catholic School
Holy Spirit Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic K-12 school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.[3]
| Holy Spirit Catholic School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
601 James I. Harrison Jr. Pkwy East , , | |
| Coordinates | 33°10′26″N 87°31′39″W / 33.17389°N 87.52750°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational |
| Motto | "Accept the Mission, Share the Spirit" |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Founded | 1963 |
| School district | Diocese of Birmingham |
| Principal | Jonathan Loper |
| Staff | 59 |
| Faculty | 27 |
| Grades | Pre-K-12 |
| Number of students | 232 |
| Education system | Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama |
| Color(s) | Scarlet Red, Black and White |
| Song | Sanctuary |
| Athletics | Alabama High School Athletic Association (Class 1A) |
| Mascot | Saints |
| Team name | Holy Spirit Saints |
| Rivals | American Christian Academy, Tuscaloosa Academy |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2] |
| Yearbook | Spiritus |
| Affiliation | National Catholic Educational Association[1] |
| Website | www |
Background
editThe school was dedicated in 1963; predecessor schools date back to 1863. The high school division was added in 1995 and the first class graduated in 1999.
Sexual Misconduct Allegations
edit2009 Criminal Investigation
editIn November 2009, Tuscaloosa police arrested Holy Spirit's assistant football coach, Chip Ervin, for sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old student of the school and for the distribution of drugs to a minor.[4] The investigation, led by Sgt. Michael Caisson of the juvenile division, focused on crimes that Ervin committed during the fall semester of 2008.[4]
Ervin pleaded guilty to the charges.[5]
Sr. Elaine Sebera, a member of the Sisters of Mercy[6] and school principal at the time of the investigation, directed reporters' questions to diocesan officials who also declined to comment.[4]
2018 Diocesan Review
editBishop Robert Baker, about a year before his canonically required retirement,[7] published a list of all priests the church deemed credibly accused of sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Birmingham.[8]
Accused Priests
editSource:[8]
- Charles Cross
- John "Jack Ventura
- Formerly served in the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey. See priest shuffling and incardination.
- Charles Bordenca
- Kevin Cooke
- Roger Lott
- Jonathan "John" Franklin
The Holy Spirit website does not provide a list of former priests who have served the school.[9] However, there are no known claims against priests of that parish.
Athletics
editHoly Spirit offers volleyball,football, cross country, basketball, softball, baseball, track, cheerleading, bowling, soccer, golf, and tennis.[11]
Football Cancellation
editHoly Spirit suspended its varsity football program in 2019 citing low student interest and a lack of funding. According to AHSAA rules, the athletic program will not be allowed to have a varsity team until the 2022 school year.[12]
Football Reinstatement
editAs of 2022 Holy Spirit has reinstated their varsity football team. [13]
References
edit- ^ NCEA. "NCEA School Locator". Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
- ^ AdvancED. "AdvancED-Find Accredited Institutions". Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
- ^ "Holy Spirit Catholic School - Tuscaloosa, AL". www.holyspirit-al.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ a b c Writer, Jason MortonStaff. "Former Holy Spirit coach faces sex, drug charges". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Writer, Stephanie TaylorStaff. "Sex charges against former football coach, wife dropped". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Holy Spirit Catholic Preschool and Elementary School". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Bishop sent retirement letter to Pope, plans BJCC event". al. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ a b Digital, WVTM 13 (2018-12-15). "Catholic Diocese of Birmingham releases names of 6 priests accused of child sex abuse". WVTM. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH". HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ Teachers give a lot of extra credit
- ^ "Athletics - Holy Spirit Catholic High School". www.holyspirit-al.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ Editor, Edwin StantonExecutive Sports. "Holy Spirit drops football program". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "How Holy Spirit football coach Bobby Snyder has revived the Saints football program".