All Souls Catholic School

All Souls Catholic School celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the school in 1954.

The school was founded during the pastorate of Father Richard Lyons after a fund raising campaign netted the money to purchase the property adjacent to the church owned by the Chase family.

In September 1954, All Souls School opened in the remodeled former garage of the Chase family estate which was purchased by Father Richard Lyons with Sister M. Veronita as the first principal.

All Souls School in Sanford opened on Sept. 7, 1954. The school was staffed by Sisters of Christian Charity of Mendham, NY. They  arrived in Sanford by train on August 23, 1954.

Four classrooms were constructed in the former garage of the Chase estate. Flooring of tile, pastel walls, glass jalousie windows and modern furnishings were featured in the classrooms. The former Randall Chase home on the lot was furnished as a convent. The playground area had a double basketball court.

The faculty included: Sister Veronita, superior; Sister Ventura, Sister Mary James and Sister Germaine. Mrs. James Stafford conducted a kindergarten under the supervision of the Sisters.

The first All Souls Catholic Church was constructed in 1887 and burned to the ground on January 25, 1932. The second church was dedicated on July 4, 1937, exactly 50 years after the cornerstone was laid for the first church by Father Felix Prosper Swembergh.

The 1954 school was not the first associated with All Souls Catholic Church. The first school was called “St. Anne’s” and was run by two Sisters of Mercy – first in a home (still standing) at 823 Park in Sanford and then in the structure on the far right in the photo below. This rare postcard, shows the rectory (built in early 1911 for the first resident pastor Father Patrick J. “PJ” Bresnahan), the first church (constructed in 1887) and the  home for the Sisters of Mercy and their St. Anne’s School (completed by May 1912) as they stood prior to the fire of January 25, 1932.

The Sanford section of the Tampa Tribune, December 23, 1911, p. 11 states: “The Sisters of Mercy, who recently came to Sanford and are conducting a school will soon have a handsome home on South Oak Avenue. They will continue their school in the new building. The property on which the home is being erected is owned by the Catholic Church.”

The May 10, 1912, edition of the Tampa Tribune (page 3) states: “The convent and home for the Sisters of Mercy that has been built on the property of the Catholic Church, in the enclosure with the church, is so near completion that the sisters, who are conducting the school, have moved in, and the children are receiving instruction in the new building, which from the exterior, seems to be ample for use as a school and also a home.”

The children gave many “entertainments” during the year and many are reported in great detail in the Sanford Herald down to the song sung or poem recited and by whom (SEE Documents below). This blurb from the Tampa Tribune, December 26, 1912, p.9 is brief and to the point: “The Christmas exercises of the Sanford Catholic school taught by the Sisters of Mercy, were given Monday evening in their splendid new school building. A most excellent and appropriate program was well rendered, and was very much enjoyed by the large audience. The children acquitted themselves most creditably.”

The diploma shown here was presented to members of the second graduating class at All Souls Catholic School in June 1957. The graduates included Joy Brueggeman, Nancy Filegar, Francis Gurucharri, John Kennedy, Paula Markham, Charles Oravetz, Stephen Powell, Fred Teslo, William Wight. The text states: This Diploma is awarded to Frederick Paul Teslo for having completed in a satisfactory manner the prescribed course of study for the Ninth Grade of All Souls School, Sanford, Florida June 9, 1957. Sister M. Veronita, Principal; Rev. Richard Lyons, Pastor.

Students graduating from ninth grade at All Souls Catholic School in Sanford, Florida were featured in the June 4, 1959 edition of the Sanford Herald. The photograph shows the students standing in front of the 1937 Church with the Mass Schedule on the left and the pamphlet/magazine rack on the right.

CAPTION: STUDENTS GRADUATE – These are the ninth graders who graduated at All Souls Catholic School in Sanford last week.
Front row, left to right, Michael Hatch, Cecelia Russi, Joan Downs, Patricia Smith; Middle row, Jean Vanzura, Pricilla Mitchell, Deanna Farina, Dixie Lee Gregus, Linda Fitts, Thomas Fay; Back row, Michael Smith, Lloyd Edwards, Richard Jansen, Carlos Velez and Daniel Mathers. Photo by Cox

All Souls Catholic Church, May 31, 1959 Sunday Bulletin had the following announcement regarding the graduation:

Today we are proud to present this year’s class of Graduates from the Ninth Grade of All Souls School. They will receive their Certificates at the 11:30 a.m. Mass. The Class Colors are White and Blue. Here are the Graduates: Lloyd Ignatius Edwards, Thomas Edward Fay, Daniel Hutchinson Mathers, Jr., Michael Peter Hatch, Richard Joseph Jansen, Michael Brian Smith, Charles Modesto Velez, Joan Eleanora Downs, Deanna Colleen Farina, Mary Lina Fitts, Dixie Lee Gregus, Precilla Ann Mitchell, Cecelia Marguerite Russi, Patricia Ann Smith, Wilma Jean Vanzura.

The Graduation Mass will be a High Mass at 11:30 a.m. after which the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration until 4:00 p.m. Closing.

Ground was broken for a badly needed addition to the school in July 1959. An article in the Sanford Herald marked the event.

GROUND IS BROKEN FOR A SCHOOL ADDITION IN SANFORD. Parishioners of All Souls Church, Sanford, join Father Richard J. Lyons and Sisters of Christian Charity at the ground-breaking for a school addition. Above, Sister Veronita prepares to turn a spade full of earth.

All Souls to Add Four Classrooms At Sanford School SANFORD — Members of All Souls parish here have attended the groundbreaking for their parish school addition, Father Richard J. Lyons said this week.

The building, expected to be completed in September, will have four classrooms, principal’s office, a clinic, a kitchen and a separate auditorium. Designed with the future in mind, the school will eventually be a two-story building, he said. He blessed the ground and turned the first shovelful of sand, after which he invited the men present to participate in the groundbreaking, as a feature of the Father’s Day ceremony.

Sisters of Christian Charity of Mendham, New Jersey, who staff All Souls School, also took part in the groundbreaking.

A photograph of All Soul’s Pastor Father William T. Keane and the Sisters of Christian Charity were featured in the June 13, 1969 edition of The Florida Catholic to announce that only two of the sisters would return to teach the following school year.

CAPTION: Two nuns will return next year Father William T. Keane, pastor of All Souls Church, Sanford, said goodbye this week to the Sisters of Christian Charity who teach at All Souls School. Next September, only two of their number will return to teach in Sanford. Leaving are, from left, rear, Sisters Elsa, Ignatia and Josephita, and, foreground, Sister Lucy, who was principal and superior last year and had taught in the Sanford school eight years.

All Souls Catholic School basketball team claimed First Place in the Orlando Diocesan Championship Basketball Tournament in 1974. The March 15, 1974 edition of The Florida Catholic featured a photograph of the team, the coach, school principal and Pastor William Ennis. This amazing photo captures the entire student body, staff and Father Richard Voor and his dog O’Henry in the school courtyard where they gather for prayer to begin each day. The 1937 Church (now referred to as the Historic Chapel) is in the background.

“First place winner in the Diocesan Championship Basketball Tournament held recently at Bishop Moore High School, Orlando, is the eighth grade team from All Souls Parish in Sanford. Pictured with the trophies won in this year’s competition are: front row: Coach Ken Solstman, Joe Perez, John Sierputowski, Mike Fall, Mark Yelsley, and Chris Gillmor; second row: Sister Charlene, SCC, principal, Ken Bogeajis, David Craig, Greg LaTour, Greg Smith, David Wiggins, and Father William Ennis, pastor, All Souls Parish.”

This amazing photo captures the entire student body, staff and Father Richard Voor and his dog O’Henry in the school courtyard where they gather for prayer to begin each day. The 1937 Church (now referred to as the Historic Chapel) is in the background.

READ  ABOUT ALL SOULS CATHOLIC PARISH 

READ ABOUT ALL SOULS CATHOLIC CEMETERY

READ ALL SOULS SUNDAY BULLETINS 1953-1968