HISTORY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SCHOOL

St. Vincent de Paul Parish was founded in March of 1926. The Most Reverend John Henry Tiken, Bishop of Denver, named Reverend Francis W. Walsh as the founding pastor.

In September 1927, the school opened with two teachers and forty-five students in four grade levels. Both of the teachers were members of the Sisters of Loretto: Sister Mary Norbert Parsmeault, who also served as Principal, and Sister Mary de Pazzi, who was a full-time teacher. School attendance doubled the following year (1928) as Sister Rose Celeste took charge of the first and second grade. Sister Mary de Pazzi taught third and fourth grade. Sister Mary Norbert taught fifth and sixth grade. In 1929, Sister Mary Therese joined the staff and enrollment was up to 152 students. Young George Evans, who later became Bishop George Evans, was a member of the first graduating class from Saint Vincent de Paul School.

In 1933, the parish census showed 260 Catholic families. There was an increase of 670 families in less than ten years.

By June 1940, the need for more classroom space materialized. School enrollment continued to increase. In 1949, the census found the parish population to number 850 households.

By 1953, enrollment in the school was up to 430 students. There were eleven teachers; eight grades and nine classrooms. In 1971, the physical plant included the church, the gymnasium, cafeteria complex, rectory, convent and school. There were 575 students enrolled in the school and Sister Mary Judith was the acting Principal. There were 1400 Catholic families, 1000 of them actively involved in parish/school life.

In 1976, Colorado celebrated its centennial and St. Vincent de Paul celebrated the golden anniversary of its establishment. There were 488 students in Pre-School through grade 8. There were eight Sisters of Loretto and seventeen lay teachers.

In 1979 there were 422 students enrolled in the school.

In 1996, with the resignation of Sister Pat Dumphy, the opportunity arose for a new order of sisters to staff the school: The Dominican Sisters of the St. Cecilia Congregation of Nashville, Tennessee. Thus, Saint Vincent's became one of the few schools in Denver that could claim an unbroken history of women religious present in the school. Sister Mary Angela Highfield, O.P. became the new Principal with 525 students and 25 teachers.

Today there are four Dominican Sisters at St. Vincent de Paul School. Sister Mary Gertrude (Principal) and Mr. John Brence (Assistant Principal) are aided by full time lay teachers, full and part-time aides, support staff and volunteers. Many parents are actively involved as volunteers for Library programs, field trips and other events sponsored by the school.

St. Vincent de Paul School continues to strive to follow the faith that "makes all things possible". It continues to hand on the Truth of Jesus Christ. This truth is found most perfectly in the Person of Jesus. He is the heart and center of the school. The Dominican Order is founded on the motto of "Truth in Charity." It is the goal of all at St. Vincent de Paul to pass on the TRUTH and live out the call of Gospel Charity.

The Principal is the administrator of the school and works with the Pastor of the Parish and the staff of St. Vincent de Paul School in order to promote excellence in Catholic education. The Pastor lends spiritual assistance to the building up of a faith-community within the school. He, along with other priests in the Archdiocese, assist in the preparation and reception of the sacraments and the celebration of the Liturgy.