Archbishop Francis Cardinal George Descends Upon An Auburn Gresham Historic Institution
Carlos Nelson
Published: November 1, 2013
Leo Catholic High School, a historic institution on Chicago's south side, continues to receive blessings as it prepares high school boys in the City and suburbs for the rigors of college with a well-rounded, quality education.
His Eminence, Archbishop Francis Cardinal George, made a personal appearance on 79th Street in Auburn Gresham to bless Leo Catholic High School and confer a special blessing on the school's fleet of brand new buses. The new buses were paid for with donations from the Alumni Association.
He visited with the students and the Pricipal, Phil Mesina, before posing for a few impromptu photographs with faculty, community partners, and St Leo's Lions Alumni. He then proceeded to the parking lot to offcially bless the buses which the school will use to transport students from their homes to destinations all over Chicago's southland. The new buses make traveling accessible and convenient for St. Leo's families.
After the blessing, Cardinal George spoke fondly of St. Leo's long history dating back to the Irish Christian Brothers who founded the school and named it after Pope Leo XIII. Dan McGrath, an alum and the school's President, talked about St. Leo's legacy of educating young men from Chicago's south side neighborhood and reminded those in attendance that many graduates have gone on to become leaders in all walks of life.
St. Leo's Catholic School is an all male school and is governed by the Archdiocese of Chicago. It continues to make history in the City and beyond. The visit by Cardinal George marks the first time a Chicago Archibishop has visited the school since 1926 when George Cardinal Mundelein dedicated the opening of this great school.