Leaders of Holy Cross High School announced the 37-year-old school’s first fundraising campaign at a special mass on September 13 commemorating the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

During mass, the students of the school were invited to pray for the success of the campaign.

The co-ed school at 5144 Dixie Highway, which was created by the merger of Angela Merici and Bishop David high schools, set a goal of $ 5.5 million and school officials said $ 4 million had already been promised during a silent phase.

The school is now looking to the wider community to raise the remaining $ 1.5 million during its public phase of the campaign, titled “Opening the Doors to Tomorrow”.

“We’re already at $ 4 million,” school president Danielle Wiegandt told the student body at morning mass. “It means people said yes – yes to you.”

In a procession on September 13, Holy Cross students carried letters representing Angela Merici and Bishop David High Schools. The old schools merged to form Holy Cross in 1984. (Recording photo by Marnie McAllister)

The Archdiocese of Louisville, which sponsors Holy Cross, made the major donation in March 2020. The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, who sponsored Angela Merici, were the next to step in.

“We have a lot to be thankful for today,” Wiegandt told his students. “So many people believe in you, believe in the community; we have to make them proud.

The campaign has three phases and objectives:

Renovations: The first phase was to complete renovations to the university building, which was constructed in 1960. Work on the building began in 2018 and ended with campaign dollars in time for this school year.

The project replaced all of the school’s windows, which were single-glazed and aluminum, with energy-efficient double-glazed and tinted windows to increase efficiency.

The project also updated the classrooms, revamped the restaurant-style cafeteria, and added a STEM lab and manufacturing space (a lab area where students can be creative using traditional technology and materials) , LED lighting, central heating and air, suspended ceilings and new doors.

Financial aid: The school currently provides about half of the financial aid needed by eligible students. The demonstrated need is over $ 1 million each year and the school provides just over $ 500,000. The next phase of the campaign aims to increase this amount.

Athletics: The final phase of the campaign focuses on building a new athletics complex over the next few years.

Students from Holy Cross High School presented an activity in a STEM lab, created with funding from a silent phase of the school’s first fundraising campaign. Holy Cross announced the campaign on September 13 after raising $ 4 million of its $ 5.5 million goal during a silent phase. (Recording photo by Marnie McAllister)

Dr Brian B. Reynolds, Chancellor and Executive Director of the Archdiocese of Louisville said, “It’s easy to support Holy Cross. “

“They have a wonderful mission and are having a huge impact in this part of Jefferson County,” he said. “There is a lot of creativity here with a commitment to the social teachings of the Catholic Church.”

“Whenever I meet students from here, they praise the educational experience, but more than that, they praise family and unity. “

Reynolds also noted the support of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville.

“The long history and commitment of the Ursuline Sisters is great to see continue,” he noted.

Holy Cross students provided music for a special Mass celebrated by Father Bill Burks to announce the school’s fundraising campaign on September 13th. (Recording photo by Marnie McAllister)

The legacy of the Ursuline Sisters, founders of Angela Merici, is now tangible in the academic building of Sainte-Croix. The school named a wing on the second floor of the Sainte-Angèle Merici room in honor of the founder of the Ursulines.

“We have just been given the right to nominate and that surprised us,” said Sister Jean Anne Zappa, president of the Ursuline Sisters. “Due to our commitment to Angela Merici (high school), we wanted to support them in any way we could. “

She noted that the Ursuline Sisters were historically teachers and engaged in the teaching mission of Jesus.

“We can no longer be teachers,” she noted. “We don’t have the ministry of presence that we had when we were teachers. But now we have the ministry of influence.

Father Bill Burks dedicated and blessed a renovated wing of Holy Cross High School, newly named in honor of Saint Angela Merici on September 13 in honor of the Ursuline Sisters, who were among the campaign’s early donors. funding of the school. (Recording photo by Marnie McAllister)

Dr Cynthia Crabtree, retired president of the Sacred Heart Schools, is a member of the Sainte-Croix board of directors and has been a consultant for the Sainte-Croix campaign. She graduated from Angela Merici in 1975 and believes that Holy Cross is a necessity.

“I grew up here and I feel like the Southwest needed a strong school,” she said.

“A lot of people have supported Holy Cross,” she said, noting that her annual fund is always a success. “But we never really asked boldly. Holy Cross has been a secret in the South End.

“These kids are amazing; the faculty and staff are amazing. Danielle is a dynamic leader, ”she added. “They need a framework that reflects this.”