History of Holy Redeemer Catholic School
Holy Redeemer School celebrates over 60 years of dedication to the ministry of our church, “to educate the children in the faith.” Fr. Lawrence Moll and the forty –eight members of the newly formed Holy Redeemer Parish saw a great need for a school in this rapidly growing parish. The original 12 room school and cafeteria were completed in time for the opening of school on September 10, 1956. The enrollment was 279 students. Seven rooms were used for classrooms and three were used for living quarters for the five Sisters of St. Benedict that helped comprise the teaching staff.
By fall 1958 enrollment reached 400 and a parish census indicated that at least 100 first graders could be expected in September of 1959. The need for more classroom space as well as a larger place for worship led to plans for a new convent and an auditorium church. The parish continued to experience rapid growth and enrollment figures indicated the need for additional classroom space. Four new classrooms were added, connecting the school building to the church. Student enrollment reached its highest peak during the 1967-68 school year, when the enrollment was a record breaking 700 students. During this time, classrooms were “bursting at the seams” and all possible space was being utilized, including two additional classrooms in the old tin church. In 1986, a feasibility committee was formed to study the need for a new church. Our present Church was dedicated by Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger on April 11, 1992. Also at this time, the former church was converted to the Activity Center.
With continued growth on the North side of Evansville, the parish council formed a task force in 1998 that sought parishioner input as to the future needs of Holy Redeemer Parish. Out of this study, Forward in Faith was established in 1999 to provide present and future generations the physical space needed to carry out the ever-growing ministries of our parish. A Pre-School program was established and in 1999, two portable classrooms were purchased to temporarily ease the overcrowding in the school building. Education in the new millennium required a hands-on- approach and daily use of manipulatives for every child. The technological explosion hit education and classrooms needed to be wired for and contain computers and media equipment.
The 2002 school year opened serving 298 students and celebrating our Golden Jubilee as Holy Redeemer Parish began with groundbreaking for a 35,000-square foot addition with a new Parish administration building, 10 new classrooms, a computer lab, and a large media center and an adult education conference room. The cramped quarters and living “under construction” was blessed by the faith and hard work of the parish, faculty and staff. A notable example is on July of 2003; sixty volunteers and teachers moved 22 classrooms in 4 hours into our new facility.
Holy Redeemer School celebrates over 60 years of dedication to the ministry of our church, “to educate the children in the faith.” Fr. Lawrence Moll and the forty –eight members of the newly formed Holy Redeemer Parish saw a great need for a school in this rapidly growing parish. The original 12 room school and cafeteria were completed in time for the opening of school on September 10, 1956. The enrollment was 279 students. Seven rooms were used for classrooms and three were used for living quarters for the five Sisters of St. Benedict that helped comprise the teaching staff.
By fall 1958 enrollment reached 400 and a parish census indicated that at least 100 first graders could be expected in September of 1959. The need for more classroom space as well as a larger place for worship led to plans for a new convent and an auditorium church. The parish continued to experience rapid growth and enrollment figures indicated the need for additional classroom space. Four new classrooms were added, connecting the school building to the church. Student enrollment reached its highest peak during the 1967-68 school year, when the enrollment was a record breaking 700 students. During this time, classrooms were “bursting at the seams” and all possible space was being utilized, including two additional classrooms in the old tin church. In 1986, a feasibility committee was formed to study the need for a new church. Our present Church was dedicated by Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger on April 11, 1992. Also at this time, the former church was converted to the Activity Center.
With continued growth on the North side of Evansville, the parish council formed a task force in 1998 that sought parishioner input as to the future needs of Holy Redeemer Parish. Out of this study, Forward in Faith was established in 1999 to provide present and future generations the physical space needed to carry out the ever-growing ministries of our parish. A Pre-School program was established and in 1999, two portable classrooms were purchased to temporarily ease the overcrowding in the school building. Education in the new millennium required a hands-on- approach and daily use of manipulatives for every child. The technological explosion hit education and classrooms needed to be wired for and contain computers and media equipment.
The 2002 school year opened serving 298 students and celebrating our Golden Jubilee as Holy Redeemer Parish began with groundbreaking for a 35,000-square foot addition with a new Parish administration building, 10 new classrooms, a computer lab, and a large media center and an adult education conference room. The cramped quarters and living “under construction” was blessed by the faith and hard work of the parish, faculty and staff. A notable example is on July of 2003; sixty volunteers and teachers moved 22 classrooms in 4 hours into our new facility.
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