| The second school to be opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Atlanta
was the Sacred Heart Parochial School. Rev. Father John E. Gunn, S. M., in
later years Bishop of Natchez, who was then pastor of the Sacred Heart Church
invited this order of nuns to open a school in that parish.
The Sacred Heart School was opened on September 29, 1909, at 330 Courtland
Street (present numbering). This location was the southwest corner of Courtland
Street and Forrest Avenue. The first year, 1909-1910, the school and convent
were located in the same building. In the fall of 1910 another building had
been secured and the school was conducted in a separate building. Both of these
structures were old residences which had been altered to meet their new
requirements. These buildings were used by the Sacred Heart Parish for fifteen
years.
Sister M. Francis was the first Superior. She had four assistants, Sister M.
Joannes, Sister Marie de Lourdes, Sister M. Alphonsa who was later Superior of
St. Anthony's Parochial School for many years, and Sister M. Immaculata who was
also a Superior at St. Anthony's School for two years.
The Sacred Heart Parish grew rapidly and the increased number of children in
the school required larger quarters. In 1924, under the administration of Rev.
Father James A. Horton, S. M., a building ample for the school needs was
erected for the Sacred Heart Parochial School. This building was three floors
in height and of fireproof construction. The cost was $120,000. Most Rev.
Michael J. Keyes, Bishop of Savannah, dedicated it November 16, 1924, and it
has been in continuous use since that date. Grammar school courses for boys and
girls, and three high school courses for girls, literary, commercial and
general, are provided. Music and athletics are also included in the school's
courses. It is fully equipped to care for five hundred pupils. The location,
according to present number is 312-314 Courtland Street, N. E. At present it is
the only Catholic senior high school for girls in Atlanta.
The Sacred Heart Parish also built a fireproof convent for the Sisters at
No. 64 Baker Street, N. E. (present numbering). This building, including land,
cost $63,000. It was built about 1925. The money for both the convent and
school building was raised by prominent Catholic laymen of the Sacred Heart
parish.
At the present time Sister M. Carmelita is the Superior and Principal. Her
assistants are -- High School: Sister Anna Marie, twelfth grade; Sister Marie
Therese, eleventh grade; Sister M. Bernardine, tenth grade; Sister Kathleen
Marie, Ninth grade; Sister Marie Celine, eighth grade; Sister Marie Cecile,
seventh grade. Grammar School: Sister M. Dorothy, sixth grade; Sister Frances
Jane, fifth grade; Sister Alice Joseph, fourth grade; Sister Cecilia Joseph,
third grade; Sister Agnes Joseph, second grade; Sister Roberta Joseph, first
grade.
Sacred Heart School pupils who have been blest with vocations in the
services of Holy Mother Church are: In the order of Sisters of St. Joseph:
Catherine Wolpert, Sister Bernadette; Nellie Stephens, Sister Agnes Catherine;
Agnes Carmen, Sister Gertrude Therese. In the order of Holy Cross Sisters:
Helen Minahan, Sister Canisius; Gertrude Minahan, Sister Benjamin. In the order
of Holy Name Sisters: Geraldine O'Donnell, Sister Imelda Marie. In the order of
Sisters of Mercy: Amelia Eisle, Sister M. Francene. In the order of Sisters of
the Most Holy Sacrament: Mary Calkens, Sister Marie de Lourdes.
Rev. Father Marion Perry, O. M., was formerly a Sacred Heart School pupil.
Two other boys, James Pratt and Daniel Mannen, are now students preparing to
enter the Marists.
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