Celebrating 140 Years

The Founding Story of Our School
Parish families were invited to send their primary-aged children to the school.

The Benedictine Sisters of Holy Angels taught a mixed-age morning class daily.

The primary purpose was to teach reading and writing in English (while other schools taught in German) and to ensure that religious faith and history were also taught.

Holy Angles Grade School was Established
Holy Angels Grade School was established and opened on October 2nd, 1887.

A three-story building was constructed to accommodate the school's growing student population.

A total of 160 students were taught by the principal, Mr. Kaiser, along with three sisters.

The school established 9th Grade. Sister Eleanor Irving confronted a pastor of Holy Angels Parish, Father Edward Jones, and asked to open a ninth-grade.
9th Grade was later added starting the high school section. Ninth Grade consisted of 25 students, which was a pivotal point in the school’s growth and hence the name Cathedral High School.
The ninth grade occupied one room on the second floor of the grade school and established a new curriculum that was being taught across other advancing high schools in the country.

Holy Angels Grade School was expanded, and the Arlington Hotel was purchased to provide additional classrooms and living quarters for the convent.

Sister Basilia Cosgrove became the first principal of the new high school, serving in that role until 1920.

First Cathedral Graduate
Emily Ladner earned the distinction of being the sole graduate of the first graduating class, having completed all the required courses for a diploma in just three years.

The first class to complete the four-year program graduated.

The graduates included Anna Doyle, Theodore September, and Charles Lauermann.

Purple and gold were chosen as the school colors.

The senior class edited and published the first edition of The Cathedral High School Graduate.

The Literary Club was established.

The first recorded evidence of drama referenced a performance of the play The Professor.

The first baseball team was organized.

Holy Angels Convent was built to serve as a residence for the Benedictine Sisters teaching at both Cathedral High School and Holy Angels Grade School.

Ground was broken for the North Building on May 1st.

Bishop James Trobec blessed the cornerstone on June 10th.

St. Mary's High School merged with Cathedral High School, and eleven students graduated that year.

With a total enrollment of 75 students, Cathedral High School had one of the largest enrollments of any parochial school in the state.

The North Building opened, and co-education was introduced.

Girls, along with boys in grades 1-5, remained in the grade school, while boys in grades 6-12 moved to the new North Building.

The first football team was organized.

Enrollment in grades 1-12 reached 112, with 15 students graduating.

The school was provisionally placed for accreditation by the University of Minnesota for one year, pending further inspection.

20 students graduated at the commencement ceremony held in the North Building auditorium.

Co-education resumed, and the North Building became exclusively the high school.

Cathedral High School was affiliated with the Catholic University of America.

Alumni formed St. Cloud’s first drama club, known as the Cathedral Players.

The athletic department was established.

The first school publication, Cathedral Chat, began as a typewritten monograph featuring pencil drawings.

William (Duke) Wimmer, a 1914 graduate of Cathedral, coached the first football team.

Enrollment reached 226.

Cathedral Chimes began as the first official school newspaper and later became the Crusader in 1955.

The Mothers Club, the first parent-teacher organization, was established.

Fritz Gross, the teacher of instrumental music, conducted the first orchestra.

The first girls’ varsity basketball team was formed.

Cathedral High School was accredited by the University of Minnesota.

The publication of the yearbook, The Cathedral High School Graduate, resumed after a five-year interruption.

Charles Tanner was the first football coach hired, replacing Duke Wimmer.

Cathedral entered the Catholic Conference.

Enrollment reached 350 students, and there were 21 faculty and staff members.

Organized baseball began.

The annual appeared under the new name, Cathedralite.

Total enrollment was 356 students; 25 boys and 36 girls graduated.

Cathedral High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

The name 'Crusader' was suggested by Stan Kuffel, the football coach; a student vote selected it as the official name for the football team.

In the late 1930s, the name was adopted for all-school use.

Father T. Leo and Father John Denery organized a group of students to provide entertainment for school assemblies; the group became known as the 'Mimers

Tennis was organized for boys.

Cathedral High School publications, Cathedralite and Chimes, were awarded high honors at the ninth annual meeting of the Minnesota State High School Press Association convention.

The girls' physical education program began under the direction of alumna Constance Zierden.

Father Peter Gruenes formally organized the Sodality of the Immaculate Conception; they also organized and directed the first Boys' Glee Club.

Hockey was introduced as a boys' sport.

The Drum and Bugle Corps was organized by Sister John Clement Beck, with assistance from Sylvan Huss, a Cathedral High School graduate, and Otto Rupp.

The first initiation of 45 GAA members took place on April 1st

Coach Dennis Hennan introduced the study of papal encyclicals for senior social science classes

Holy Angel Pro-Cathedral was struck by lightning at 12:40 a.m. on September 16, and the entire interior was gutted. It was rebuilt and ready for use by December 23.

The school colors were changed to blue and gold.
Blue and gold were announced as the school colors, replacing purple and gold. The change was made because purple fabric was difficult to obtain and faded easily.

The graduating class consisted of 80 seniors.

The German and Science clubs were organized.

The Mothers' Club became the PTA

The Student Council was organized to foster and promote cooperation between faculty and students.

The Monogram Club sponsored the first formal dance for students and alumni.

Total student enrollment reached 490, the largest thus far.

The Cathedralite received an All-American rating from the National High School Press Association.

Commencement exercises were held at Holy Angel Pro-Cathedral for the first time.

Ground was broken for the Center Building on April 9; the cornerstone was blessed by Father Keaveny on June 30; and the building was ready for occupancy on November 2nd.

Holy Angels Grade School was converted into the Vocational Building.

Cathedral High School became a separate entity, diocesan rather than parochial.

The first school band was organized by Sister Laurice Koering.

Enrollment reached 600 students, with 106 graduates.

The Booster Club was organized to promote athletics and other co-curricular activities.

The Chimes received its first All-American rating from the National Scholastic Press Association.

Sister Eleanor Irving, foundress of Cathedral High School, died on November 3rd.

The National Catholic Rural Life Conference took place at Cathedral High School and Holy Angels Church.

Cathedral High School became a member of the Catholic High School Association.

The largest senior class to date, 130 students, held its commencement exercises in St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Four new clubs were organized: printing, math, safety, and debating.

The Student Council was revived.

The Land Corps Club was established, with students volunteering to assist farmers who had gone to serve in the war.

The first Homecoming Queen was elected.
Kathryn Bruning became the first Homecoming Queen, chosen by the student body.

Cathedral High School gained the Vocational Building, Holy Angels Convent, and athletic field from Holy Angels Parish.

Cathedral High School became a separate corporation.

A tunnel connecting the North and Center Buildings was constructed

The North Building was purchased by Cathedral High School and Holy Angels Parish.

Classes were offered for students of superior ability.

Logic was added to the curriculum, with Sister Jeremy Hall as the teacher.

Total enrollment reached 973.

Urban Nagle’s Our Lady of Fatima was presented by the Crusaders, directed by Sister Laurent Trombley, to several audiences totaling over 3,000.

The Drum Corps received a first-place award at the Aquatennial Parade in Minneapolis.

Arrangements were completed for Cathedral High School students to take shop courses at Technical High School.

Ten sets of twins this year puzzled Cathedral High School students and teachers.

The National Forensic League, an honorary debating club, was inaugurated.

Sister Basilia Cosgrove, the first principal of Cathedral High School, died on July 22nd.

Cathedral High School celebrated its Golden Jubilee, and the largest class to date, numbering 255 seniors, graduated.

Elfriede Sauerwein was Cathedral High School’s first foreign exchange student

A fund drive began for the construction of the South Building.

Total school enrollment reached 1,100

The first students were inducted into the National Honor Society by members of the Technical High School National Honor Society, thus forming the Cathedral National Honor Society.

Classes began in the new South Building on January 6th.

Bishop Peter Bartholome blessed the South Building on May 12th.

An open house brought in 5,000 people, and total enrollment was 1,149.

The Franciscan Friars (TORs) became part of the teaching faculty at Cathedral High School

The Benedictine Sisters moved into the newly built Cathedral High School convent.

The TORs moved into the former Holy Angels Convent and renamed it St. Louis Monastery.

An intramural basketball program was established for boys not involved in varsity, with Terrance Haws as the first director.

This year marked the ninth consecutive year in which the Drum and Bugle Corps were Aquatennial champions.

This year, a peak enrollment of 1,621 students was reached.

The Drum Corps took first place in appearance at Bemidji, Wilmar, and St. Cloud.

The North Gymnasium, with a seating capacity of nearly 2,500, was built.

Holy Angels Grade School closed after 80 years of existence.

The Cathedral Athletic Association held its first fundraising banquet.

Shared time with Tech High School began.

John XXIII Middle School was established, with Sister Dianne Theisen as the first principal.

Les Voyageurs Canadian wilderness adventure trips began under the direction of Cathedral High School alumnus Fred Rupp.

A new religion course entitled “Christian Involvement” was introduced, marking the beginning of a movement toward a community service component in the Cathedral High School curriculum.

The Vocational Building was demolished.

Cathedral High School joined the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).

The first Thanksgiving Food Drive was sponsored and conducted by homerooms.

The TORs vacated St. Louis Monastery, marking their last year of teaching at Cathedral High School.

The first Golden Crusader Award was given.

The Benedictine Sisters vacated the Cathedral High School Convent.

The two top floors of the North Building were closed down.

A plaque was erected on Holy Angels Church, declaring it a historical site by the Minnesota Historical Society in 1972.

The first issue of Crusader Companion was published.

The National Honor Society celebrated its Silver Jubilee

The Office of Campus Ministry was established, with Rev. Lauren Germann named director.

The auditorium of the North Building was demolished.

The first all-night senior graduation party, sponsored by the parents of seniors, was held.

The Crusaderettes, a dance line for girls from 7th to 12th grade, was organized.

The first Homecoming king, Thomas Albers, was elected by the student body.

Cathedral High School/John XXIII became one school with one administration, each unit keeping its separate title.

A modified traditional schedule replaced modular scheduling.

The cafeteria in the South Building was renamed “The Commons.”

The Cathedral High School cheerleaders took first place in the state competition.

The movie Catch Me If You Can premiered; it was written and directed by St. Cloud native Steven Sommers and included scenes featuring the Cathedral campus and students.

The first Exploration Day became part of Catholic Schools Week; students explored their future by visiting colleges, “shadowing” a person in the work community, or exploring something new in other areas.

The North Building was demolished.

The Cathedral Athletic Hall of Fame was established.

The Environmental Awareness Scholarship was started.

Holy Angels closed as a parish.

The Father John Laky Scholarship Fund was established to support students in need.

The production of “Music Man” at the Paramount Theater marked the return of the theater program at Cathedral High School after a 13-year hiatus.

The Board of Directors approved a plan to renovate Holy Angels Church into a fine arts facility and create additional classroom space.

The Father Robert Voigt Scholarship Fund was established to support students in need.

The Holy Angels Performing Arts Center was dedicated by Bishop John F. Kinney. The first production in the new center was “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller.

The Julianne Williams Foundation for Social Justice was established.

A program was initiated for students to work with the Minnesota State Legislature to share their concerns.

The former Holy Angels Convent was demolished, and the vacated space was converted into a parking lot for the high school.

The first all-school “Culture Day” was celebrated on April 28th.

The Cathedral High School Alumni House was opened.

Cathedral High School won the first-ever Class A Challenge Cup.

Cathedral High School won the Class A Challenge Cup for the second time.

Computers were introduced school-wide, and every student and faculty member was provided with an Apple laptop.

North Building Expansion

A facility was created to serve both students and faculty for the next century.

The building was designed to encourage hands-on learning, critical thinking, and creativity among students and faculty, promoting greater success in college and future careers.

It houses the main office, new science labs, visual art rooms, an applied engineering room, and common areas that facilitate collaborative work.

A new chapel is located at the front of the building, featuring the preserved stained-glass windows from the renovation of Holy Angels.

A proper middle school was created, following the models established by other schools in the area, redefining the structure of CCS elementary education. The new middle school features a new principal and classrooms all under one roof. It incorporates cross-curricular, project-based learning, applying standardized curriculum principles in dedicated interactive learning spaces rather than traditional classrooms. This approach allows students to collaborate on hands-on projects while developing critical thinking and communication skills.

Cathedral celebrates 140 years of academic success!