Providing Well-Rounded Education For Your Children

Holy Spirit School

About Us

Catholic Schools

The goals of a Christian education are unique. Their most effective fulfillment requires a school that is also unique. That school should match the development of a personality and the growth of the Christian and should relate human culture to the news of salvation.

The Second Vatican Council reminds parents of their obligation to entrust their children to Catholic schools wherever possible to support such schools to the extent of their ability, and to work along with them for the welfare of the children. The Catholic school teacher, who assists parents in the fulfillment of their obligation to educate, has a unique vocation and is engaged in a true service which our materialistic and secular times make extremely necessary. The Catholic schoolteacher must possess extraordinary qualities of mind and heart, and a constant readiness to renew and adapt.

The Catholic school must provide its charges with a quality education, pursue cultural goals and the natural development of youth while at the same time announcing the way of salvation to all men so that they may grow into the fullness of the life of Christ. For the effective accomplishment of these ends, the school must create an atmosphere enlivened by the gospel spirit of freedom and charity.

Adapted from the First Synod of Allentown

 

The History of Immaculate Conception School

Following the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century, Allentown, and the sixth ward in particular, played host to a great influx of Irish Catholic immigrants who flocked to the iron works then located within the Immaculate Conception parish boundaries.

Construction of the present church was begun in 1873, the same year the iron works closed, leaving 75% of the men of the parish unemployed. Fortunately, the Adelaide Silk Mills and iron and steel factories soon opened, offering jobs to many local residents. By 1881, times had improved and the new church was dedicated in October of that same year.

In keeping with the 1984 Plenary Council of Baltimore, which required every parish to operate a school, Immaculate Conception School opened its doors to 185 pupils in 1907. The Sisters of Saint Joseph were selected to operate the school, and Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia conducted the dedication ceremony on October 27.

The school, the second in the city, was a modem structure of brownstone and Monticello brick with room for 400 students. The classrooms were located on the first two floors, and the auditorium on the third. The latter was used for a variety of gatherings and entertainment, and the stage was fully equipped with footlights, dressing rooms, and scenery.

The first May Procession, dedicated to Mary Immaculate, patroness of the parish, was held on May 10,1908. By the fall of 1908, 300 pupils were enrolled at Immaculate Conception School. In 1923, Allentown Catholic High School began its life on the third floor of Immaculate Conception School. Eight classrooms were built, housing 21 freshmen. The first commencement ceremony was held at the Lyric Theatre in 1927.

Allentown Catholic High School served the parish well unti11934, when diocesan officials arranged for a merger with Central Catholic High School, which had opened its doors at the Sacred Heart parish in 1926. This merger, which became known as Allentown Central Catholic High School, continues to serve the students of Allentown today.

The Great Depression brought great changes to our community. Many residents were forced to move away from the area in order to find jobs. As a result, school enrollment dropped and remained low, even after WWII brought renewed prosperity to the city. Many newly affluent families moved to larger homes in the west end of Allentown, and consequently joined parishes there.

In spite of lower enrollment, the quality of the education received by students of Immaculate Conception school remained high. The Sisters of Saint Joseph were joined by many dedicated lay teachers.

 

The History of St. John the Baptist School

St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church held its first service on March 3, 1907, in an old mansion that had been hastily converted into a church. St. John's became the 74th parish in the Diocese of Allentown, and the fifth in Lehigh County. Due to the depressed economy of the early twentieth century, ground for the present day church was not broken unti11911. The building project was completed and dedicated in 1913.

 

In 1916, St. John's opened its parish school in what is now the convent. The school consisted of two makeshift classrooms, and was under the supervision of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius. The cramped conditions proved inadequate, and the school closed after only one year of operation. In 1923, under the energetic leadership of Father George M. Petro, construction was begun on the present day school. Opened in the fall of 1924, the modem brick building housed nine classrooms and a great deal of recreational space. It was staffed by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who resided nearby. The school continued to operate until the spring o f 1975.

 

The Birth of Holy Spirit School In 1975, both Immaculate Conception and St. John's schools faced declining enrollments and increased operating costs. The two schools were consolidated to form Holy Spirit School. Students from our neighboring parish, Saints Peter and Paul, also attend Holy Spirit. The former St. John's School is now the elementary building, serving grades pre- kindergarten through three. The former Immaculate Conception School, now the middle school building, now houses grades four through eight. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the school staff, sacrificial support from the parents and subsidies from the host parishes.

 

Holy Spirit school continues to serve our children to this day.