St. Michael's marks 200th year

836 Catholic schools in New York State celebrated the 200th birthday of Catholic education.

St. Michael School's celebration was held on September 22, in McDonnell Hall (gymnasium). Each class is decorated a large box as a birthday present and filled these with cans of food. Fifteen food closets will benefit from this collection of food.

The decorated boxes are pictured, as is music teacher Kay Oosterling, at the keyboard.

The 299 students in grades K-8 celebrated this special time in the history of Catholic education with a prayer service.

In 1801, Father Matthew O'Brien, O.P., pastor of St. Peter's church, opened the free school of the parish which has been carried on ever since without interruption. During the first five years, it was supported entirely by the people of the parish. In 1806 the legislature of the state, by an act passed March 21, placed the school on the same footing as those of other religious denominations in the city; all of them received their share of the public money. Catholic education began before public education in NYS.

The average number of scholars in St. Peter's and St. Patrick's schools from their opening has been about 500 each. These two were the pioneer schools of that great Catholic parochial system of free schools throughout the diocese which has been the example and stimulus for Catholic education all over the United States.

(S. Marcano photos)