Girls Catholic Central High School

School in Detroit, Michigan, United States

Girls' Catholic Central High School

Address

58 Parsons Street

Detroit

Michigan

United States

Information
Other name| GCC
Type| Private non-boarding Catholic high school
Established| 1893
Founder| Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Closed| 1969
Chaplain| Priests of CICM Order
Faculty| 14 (12 IHM Sisters, 2 lay teachers)
Grades| 9-12
Gender| Female
Enrollment| 320
Color(s)|  Navy blue and  White
Accreditation| North Central Association
Newspaper| The Centribune
Yearbook| The Centravue

Girls' Catholic Central High School (GCC) was a private, non-boarding college preparatory secondary school for girls grades 9 through 12 located in midtown Detroit, Michigan.

## History

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In September 1893, four IHM Sisters (Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) opened a school called St. Patrick's, at Cathedral parish in Detroit. After several years as St. Patrick's Grade School, and Saints Peter and Paul Academy, the building was renamed Catholic Central High School for Girls and converted into a high school curriculum in the school year 1927-28. The first graduate was recorded on June 22, 1899.

Thereafter, the school, under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Detroit, was administered by the IHM Sisters, Priests of the CICM order, and was accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation. The tuition-based academic program included strict entrance exams and admission requirements under which potential student applicants were carefully scrutinized.

Many students traveled from considerable distances, not only from Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park but also suburbs including Ferndale, Grosse Pointe, and Livonia. Although the student body was predominantly white for many years, the social changes of the late 1950s and early 1960s began to bring about the enrollment of a small number of students of color.

Located on a quiet side street in mid-town Detroit, the three-story school building's Gothic Revival structure is in keeping with the beautiful sounds wafting from nearby Orchestra Hall as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra rehearsed. Familiar symphonies and classical works by famous composers inadvertently provided accompaniment to afternoon classes.

## Academics

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The demanding college preparatory curriculum offered the required and elective courses at each grade level in Religion, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language (Latin I, II, III), Business (Typing, Shorthand), and Physical Education.

Faculty Pledge

## Religion

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With both St. Thérèse the Little Flower, and Patroness The Virgin Mary as inspiration, the principles of Christian life in the Roman Catholic tradition were stressed at all times. In addition to IHM Sisters faculty members, Diocesan priests of the CICM order also held regular religion classes. The academic program was accompanied by mandatory strict adherence to deeply religious values and devotion to the Catholic faith and Church rituals. Prior to the beginning of classes each morning, Mass was attended at the Chapel of St. Theresa-the Little Flower, which was adjacent to the school building, and the Sacrament of Confession was offered weekly.

## From 1969 to Today

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Girls’ Catholic Central High School held its final graduation ceremony and closed its doors for the last time in 1969. The historic building sat vacant until 1973, when Sister Mary Watson, O.P. (1934-2021) of the Racine Dominican order, seized upon the previously unrecognized potential of the abandoned school building. So, she initiated a free meal program for senior parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church, which is located next door. And with the support and blessing of the Church's pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Duffey, (1924-2007), Sister Mary worked diligently, raising funds and seeking out grants in order to grow her ministry. Soon, as word spread around the Cass Corridor community, the need for the services being offered was confirmed. Today, approaching 50 years of service to Detroit seniors, St. Patrick Senior Center has grown and expanded tremendously, and currently offers a host of senior services for people over the age of 55.

## References

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* Archives - IHM Sisters Motherhouse, Monroe, Michigan
* St. Patrick Senior Center - [1]
* Video History of The School Building: https://vimeo.com/191498440

## External links

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* https://www.freep.com/mosaic-story/news/local/detroit-is/2022/03/04/st-patrick-senior-center-answers-call-help-older-adults/9360693002/
* IHM Sisters, Motherhouse, Monroe, Michigan
* CICM (Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae) Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
* St. Patrick’s Senior Center

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Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit

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Ordinaries of the Archdiocese of Detroit

Bishops|

* Frederick Rese
* Caspar Borgess
* John Samuel Foley
* Michael Gallagher

Coadjutor bishop|

* Peter Paul Lefevere

Archbishops|

* Edward Aloysius Mooney
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Churches in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Cathedral|

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

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| Detroit|

* Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
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* St. Albertus Church
* Ste. Anne de Detroit Church
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Monroe County|

* St. Mary's Church, Monroe
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Wayne County|

* St. Paul Church, Grosse Pointe Farms
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Former|

* St. Boniface Church, Detroit
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Shrine|

* National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak

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Education in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Higher education|

* Madonna University
* Marygrove College
* University of Detroit Mercy

Seminaries|

* Sacred Heart Major Seminary
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High schools|

| Macomb County|

* De La Salle Collegiate High School, Warren
* Regina High School, Warren
* Austin Catholic High School, Ray Township

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Monroe County|

* St. Mary Catholic Central High School, Monroe

Oakland County|

* Academy of the Sacred Heart High School, Bloomfield Hills
* Bishop Foley Catholic High School, Madison Heights
* Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills
* Detroit Catholic Central High School, Novi
* Everest Collegiate High School and Academy, Independence Township
* Marian High School, Bloomfield Hills
* Mercy High School, Farmington Hills
* Notre Dame Preparatory, Pontiac
* Our Lady of the Lakes High School, Waterford
* Shrine Catholic High School, Royal Oak
* St. Mary's Preparatory, Orchard Lake Village
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St. Clair County|

* Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Marine City

Wayne County|

* Cabrini High School, Allen Park
* Detroit Cristo Rey High School, Detroit
* Divine Child High School, Dearborn
* Gabriel Richard Catholic High School, Riverview
* Ladywood High School, Livonia
* Loyola High School, Detroit
* University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, Detroit

Former|

| Higher education|

* Duns Scotus College
* Maryglade College

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High schools|

* Girls Catholic Central High School, Detroit
* Holy Redeemer High School, Detroit
* Notre Dame High School, Harper Woods
* Sacred Heart High School, Roseville
* Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School, Wyandotte

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Auxiliary bishops|

* Moses Anderson
* Allen James Babcock
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* Alexander M. Zaleski

Priests|

* Alexander Joseph Brunett
* Solanus Casey
* Charles Coughlin
* Francis Kelley
* Camillus Paul Maes
* Jeffrey Marc Monforton
* William Murphy
* John A. Trese
* Kenneth Edward Untener

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