Holy Spirit Catholic School
| 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 |
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]
Background
[edit]The 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
[edit]2009 Criminal Investigation
[edit]In 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
[edit]Bishop 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
[edit]Source:[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
[edit]Holy Spirit offers volleyball,football, cross country, basketball, softball, baseball, track, cheerleading, bowling, soccer, golf, and tennis.[11]
Football Cancellation
[edit]Holy 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
[edit]As 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".
