The release of “Faith. Virtue. Wisdom.”
The commemorative/historical book Faith. Virtue. Wisdom. was released by Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School today during the kickoff to its 150th anniversary celebration. Montgomery Catholic was founded as St. Mary of Loretto School in 1873 by the Sisters of Loretto and today operates as a busy and thriving institution. Based in Kentucky, the original mission of the Sisters of Loretto was the education of girls living in poverty. Their work in Montgomery, Alabama was begun at the request of then-Bishop of Mobile John Quinlan.
Originally a school for girls only, St. Mary of Loretto operated alongside St. Peter’s School for Boys until their merger into a coeducational institution in 1929. Later developments within Montgomery’s Catholic schools included the addition of two parochial elementary schools at St. Bede Parish and Our Lady Queen of Mercy Parish in 1958 and 1962, respectively. Then “Catholic High” (as St. Mary of Loretto would come to be known) lefts its downtown roots for a new campus in 1965. These individual schools on separate campuses were combined by a Unified Board in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Over a century-and-a-half, St. Mary of Loretto has evolved into Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, which is now one K-12 school with three campuses. It is the longest-standing continuously operated school in Montgomery and one of the most enduring institutions in the state of Alabama.
This book-length treatment of the school’s history was commissioned for the school’s sesquicentennial in 2023. It was privately printed, and inquiries about obtaining a copy should be made through the school.
Jim Power, Jr. Foster: What a lot of work this new book must have been, but also what an accomplishment. I’m certain you’ll be on the circuit soon–invited by many to speak about this undertaking and the impact of the school on this community. Congratulations. You never stop. I saw your note about how to acquire a copy–is it through your wife’s office? I’d love to get one and place it on the shelves of the library at St. John’s Episcopal Church. I think there would be some interested readers there–as I meet church members whose children have attended Montgomery Catholic through the years. Ideally, they would buy a copy for themselves or for their children. Perhaps there’s a way to get its placement in the church bookstore, instead of placing it in their library for free access. I saw you WAY down front at the appearance of Ta-Nehisi Coates several weeks ago at ASU–an excellent few minutes spent hearing from him in person. Glad to know that the Fitzgerald Museum Foundation (?) can bring guests of that calibre to this city. Last night I attended the launch of Mayor Steven Reed’s book he has co-authored “First. Best.” A standing-room-only crowd at the NewSouth Bookstore. That was the first occasion I have had to hear him in person, and I thought he did an excellent job. Of course, politics was all around, but I do always enjoy such a show. Hope all is well with you and the family. Kudos to the Mont. Catholic football team. I know you are all delighted. Best, Jim Jim Power, Jr.Montgomery, Alabama 508.367.8058
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