History

St Joseph's Parochial School

On 15 September 1924, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky, at the request of the Pastor of St Joseph's Catholic Church, Father McCarthy, opened the doors of St Joseph's Parochial School to 65 students. Sister Superior Julianna, Sr. Restituta, and Sr. Casimir taught all eight grade in the church's parish hall, since a proper schoolhouse had not yet been built. Two years later, Archbishop Curley, who had initiated the parochial school system in Southern Maryland, had the honor of dedicating the new school building. On 22 September 1927, St Joseph's Colored Parochial School was opened. It started with only 2 classrooms and two lay staff, but when Sister Charles (the Principal), and Sr. Elise arrived the following year, enrollment was at 67 students.

"Dedication of St. Joseph's School, Morganza, MD - October 20, 1926"

"The original Mother Catherine Spalding School."

Building a New School

Shortly before his death in 1962, Dr Leonard Johnson graciously donated 20 acres of land to the Church for the purpose of building a new school. This new school would be a consolidated school serving three parishes: Immaculate Conception (Mechanicsville), Our Lady of the Wayside (Chaptico), and St Joseph's (Morganza). The name Mother Catherine Spalding was selected by Archbishop O'Boyle in appreciation of the many years of work that the sisters of Charity of Nazareth have given to the parishes and to St Mary's County. On 23 August 1964, the Archbishop annointed the altar and celebrated the first mass in the Chapel with eight "eager" Sisters, the parish pastors, and the superiors of the surrounding missions. After mass, His Excellency said There you are, the Lord is with you now, and may you have a wonderful and successful year. That afternoon the Archbishop presided over the formal dedication to an overflowing assembly gathered in the gymnasium. The new school featured eight classrooms, a library, health office, multi-purpose auditorium and chapel, and carried a half million dollar price tag.

The new Mother Catherine Spalding School under construction."

"The new Mother Catherine Spalding School."