SPRINGFIELD IN ILLINOIS AND GLEN CARBON, IL — Most Reverend George J. Lucas, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, and Doug Villhard, President of the Board of Directors of Catholic School for Me, Glen Carbon, are pleased to announce that Father McGivney Catholic High School will open in the Fall of 2011.

A regional Catholic high school for southern Madison County has been discussed and proposed for several years, and now it is becoming a reality. The high school, to be located in the Glen Carbon/Maryville area, is now developing under the leadership of the Catholic School for Me Board and with the blessing and support of Bishop Lucas and the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Catholic School for Me, a local Madison County Catholic parents group, has researched the feasibility of a Catholic high school and dedicated itself to assuring that a comprehensive Catholic education is available to children of all ages in southern Madison County. Board President Doug Villhard said, “Of course, there is much to be done in the next three years; however, we’re off to a great start with the support of Bishop Lucas and of the community. We move ahead with confidence that the funding can be secured and the school built and established in time to open as scheduled in 2011.”

Bishop Lucas is supportive of this effort and has praised the Board and other volunteers of Catholic School for Me, saying, “I am very proud of these Catholic lay men and women who have so diligently explored the feasibility of a new Catholic high school. They have proceeded prayerfully and competently, investing so much of themselves in the process. I am confident that God will continue to bless their faith and their desire to serve the young people of the community. I offer my full support to this new Catholic educational apostolate.”

The high school will be named for Reverend Father Michael J. McGivney, the parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus and is remembered for his devotion and commitment to young people and families. On his way to becoming the first American-born priest to be canonized a saint, Father McGivney demonstrated heroic virtue which has been recognized by Pope Benedict XVI and the Church, as he has been given the distinction of “Venerable Servant of God.” The Knights of Columbus, who have a strong and positive presence in Southern Madison County, and in many parts of the world, are recognized defenders of Catholic education. Today, Aug. 14, is the ideal day to make this announcement, as it is Father McGivney’s potential feast day. It is a way of honoring not only Father McGivney and all dedicated parish priests, but literally millions of Knights who have selflessly provided service and charity to people for more than 125 years.

The Catholic high school is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2011 with two classes — freshmen and sophomores (the classes of 2014 and 2015, students currently entering sixth and seventh grades) and will add a class in each of the following two years to have all four classes by Fall 2013. Several committees of interested and supportive Madison County residents are already at work on the many aspects of developing and building the high school. From building and design to faith formation to fund-raising, committees have been working to ensure that Father McGivney Catholic High School will provide a superior education firmly rooted in the Catholic tradition.

Catholic School for Me, Inc. is in the process of formally transforming into the Father McGivney Catholic High School organization. A local office will be established which will oversee the project and serve as a centralized management point. The Board is in the process of procuring a land site for the school and researching and securing designers and builders to carry out the project.

Anyone interested in supporting or being involved in Father McGivney Catholic High School should contact Ed Laughlin at (618) 772-9955 or visit the Web site www.FrMcGivneyHS.com.