Holy Cross of San Antonio

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Private Catholic school in San Antonio, Texas, US

Holy Cross of San Antonio is a Catholic, coeducational college preparatory secondary school located in the Loma Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, on the west side of the city, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio.

History[edit]

Holy Cross was opened in 1957 by the Archdiocese of San Antonio. At the suggestion of the Brothers of Holy Cross it was established as a four-year college preparatory school for boys. The first class of 84 boys enrolled as freshmen on September 3, 1957, with a faculty of three Brothers and a chaplain. It was jointly funded by a tuition fee and a subsidy from the Archdiocese.[2] In 1968 the school faced possible closure because of the threatened withdrawal of the Archdiocese subsidy, but the financial issues were resolved, in part by adding grades 7 and 8 so that it became a middle and secondary school. Due to a lack of medical services in the area, in 1981 parents and alumni supported the establishment of Holy Cross Family Medical Center, which was expanded in 1985 and moved to a site across the street from the school, where it remains in operation.[3]

In 1994 the school was incorporated as an independent Catholic school with a board of governors. In 2001 ownership was transferred to Holy Cross Community Services, a non-profit which also owned the medical center.[4] Fundraising remained an issue to keep tuition as low as possible.[5]

In 2002 the last Catholic high school for girls in the area closed. During the following decade the school gradually transitioned to a coeducational student body, becoming fully coed in 2009.[6] The school’s trustee, Brother Stanley Culotta, has been managing the school for almost 60 years as of 2017.[7]

Athletics[edit]

Their principal rivals are Central Catholic Marianist High School, Providence High School, San Antonio Christian Schools and Regents School of Austin.[8]

The Holy Bowl[edit]

The Holy Bowl is a traditional rivalry game played between Holy Cross and Central Catholic Marianist High School.[9] The first game was played in November 1963 at the old Missions Stadium on a Sunday. Holy Cross lost that first meeting. The Holy Bowl has been held in almost every stadium in the city. Including the Alamodome (2002-2004). Holy Cross won The Holy Bowl in 1967, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019. There was a hiatus in the series from 1993 to 1997.[8]

Holy Cross VS. Central Catholic in the Holy Bowl (2010)

In 2012, the game marked the first time in the history of the series that Holy Cross and Central Catholic have met in their season opener. The schedule changed when Holy Cross moved from TAPPS 2-I to TAPPS 3-II in the realignment by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

In 2014 The Holy Bowl went on hiatus due to scheduling conflicts.[9] The Holy Bowl will return in Week 2 of the 2018 football season.

Holy Cross “Knights”, named for the English term for a social position. The Fighting Irish (“The Irish”) is the mascot of The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana also a Congregation of Holy Cross Institution.

Religious life[edit]

Christian service is an integral part of a Holy Cross education. Because of the importance of Christian service, Holy Cross students are required to serve the community through charitable acts as a requirement for graduation.

The Grotto to Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of many spiritual places on campus.

Traditions[edit]

  • The Holy Cross annual alumni softball tournament happens each year on Memorial Day weekend. The double-elimination two-day tournament sets teams by individual graduating classes, with an older division and a younger division.[10]
  • In addition to the softball tournament, The alumni basketball tournament is held every year at the end of June in honor of Daniel Gutierrez a graduate of Holy Cross who lost his long battle with Cancer in 2006. Proceeds from this event go to a Scholarship in his name.
  • Holy Cross is a historically All-Boys institution therefore The Alumni softball tournament, The alumni basketball tournament and the alumni soccer tournament are largely competed in by male graduates.[11]
  • The night before “The Holy Bowl”, Holy Cross holds the tailgate party and pep-rally to build community and support for the school, program, team and alumni, which establishes a strong core of support for the game.[8]

Notable alumni[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c “Private School Guide 2020-2021”. San Antonio Magazine. Vol. 16, no. 3. December 2020. pp. 46–49. ISSN 2327-8315.
  2. ^ “History of Holy Cross: 1957-1968”. School website. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  3. ^ “History of Holy Cross: 1968-1994”. School website. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ^ “History of Holy Cross: 1994-2001”. School website. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  5. ^ Gutierrez, Bridget. “Holy Cross eyes needs for future Fund raising, Notre Dame deal in works.” San Antonio Express-News. March 21, 2002.
  6. ^ “History of Holy Cross: 2001-present”. School website. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  7. ^ “Holy Cross of San Antonio alumni worry school will shut down”. KENS5. March 16, 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c “Holy Bowl in dormant mode after 46th renewal”. San Antonio South Side Sports. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  9. ^ a b Considine, Mike (August 27, 2014). “After 46 years, there will be no Holy Bowl”. mysanantonio.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  10. ^ Flores, Matt (2001-05-28). “On the ball forever Alumni of Holy Cross High School have an annual tradition of friendship, good-natured competition”. San Antonio Express News.
  11. ^ “History of Holy Cross: 1957-1968”. School website. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  12. ^ Robbins, Maro (2005-07-03). “Judge’s actions speak louder than words”. San Antonio Express-News (Metro ed.). p. 01A. He attended Christ the King Catholic School, Holy Cross of San Antonio and the University of Notre Dame.
  13. ^ “On The Scene”. San Antonio Express-News (Metro ed.). 2000-04-18. p. 8D. Alumnus Stan Kelly (left) joins Edith McAllister and Holy Cross High School Alumni Association president
  14. ^ “New nominations in hand”. San Antonio Express-News (Metro ed.). 1998-07-19. p. 5C. Roger Metzger – Holy Cross H.S., Houston Astros baseball

External links[edit]