THE HISTORY OF BISHOP ALEMANY HIGH SCHOOL
A Tradition of Excellence
Bishop Alemany High School was erected under the leadership of His Eminence James Francis Cardinal McIntyre in September 1956
with 465 students. Under the name of St. Ferdinand High School, it had been established as a parish high school for girls in 1947 at
the San Fernando Mission. The school was staffed by the Sisters of Divine Providence until 1952 when the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondolet were asked to assume the administration of the school.
In September of 1956, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre changed the status of St. Ferdinand High School by making it co-institutional.
The school was named Bishop Alemany High School in honor of the Most Reverend Joseph Sadoc Alemany, O.P., second Bishop of
California. Owned by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Bishop Alemany operated as a part of the Education and Welfare Corporation.
Five priests of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and one layman staffed the boys’ department. Six sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondolet and six lay teachers continued to instruct the girls.
In September of 1970, Alemany became a co-educational student body. A diocesan priest replaced the Missionary Oblates of Mary
Immaculate as Principal. The Sylmar earthquake in February 1971 severely damaged the chapel; but the school quickly resumed after
repairs. In 1972 four Xaverian brothers joined the faculty. Currently, Alemany is staffed by Archdiocesan priests, a Sacred Heart
priest, Xaverian brothers, and Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Congregation of the Holy Faith, The Poor Clare
Missionary Sisters and eighty lay faculty.
During the 1980s, Alemany grew in numbers and stature. Academically, a full honors and Advanced Placement curriculum were
added while maintaining strong college-preparatory and standard courses. A comprehensive retreat program enhanced religious
studies. Athletics grew to include twenty-two sports and the activities department provides various opportunities for student
involvement.
On January 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m., a powerful earthquake permanently altered the history of Alemany. The majority of the Rinaldi St.
classrooms were destroyed, requiring the campus to move across the street to Our Lady Queen of Angels Junior Seminary. The Junior
Seminary officially closed in the spring of 1995 and Alemany High School began a new chapter at its current site. The 1996-97 school
year marked the start of a phase of building and renovation. A locker hall and an access road were added to the campus.
In 1998-99, the remodeling of the West/East building was completed to accommodate the growing student body. The Student Activity
Center and Gymnasium was dedicated on June 10, 2001 and hosts not only Alemany athletics and activities, but also local diocesan
school volleyball and basketball games and playoffs.
Bishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany, O. P. (1814 - 1888)
Joseph Alemany was born on July 13, 1814 in the small city of Vich in the heart of
Spain’s Catalan region. Entering the Order of St. Dominic, he was ordained a
priest at Viterbo in Italy, March 27, 1847. In Rome, on June 30, 1850, Bishop
Alemany was consecrated Bishop of Monterey in California and was transferred
July 29, 1853 to the See of San Francisco as its first Archbishop.
California, having recently passed from Mexican to American rule and still
containing a large Spanish population with Spanish customs and traditions,
the appointment of Archbishop Alemany as the first bishop under the
changed conditions was a providential measure. Ten years of missionary
activity in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee had enabled him to master the
English language, which he spoke and wrote correctly and fluently. This
familiarized Bishop Alemany with the customs and spirit of the Republic and
imbued him with a love for the United States, which he carried with him to
the grave.
Born in Spain, educated in Rome, and a long resident of America, Bishop Alemany’s experience and his command of several
languages put him in touch and in sympathy with all the elements of his diocese. His humility and simplicity of manner, though by
nature retiring, drew to him the hearts of all classes. In 1884 at the age of 70, the Archbishop resigned his See and returned to his
native Spain. He died in Valencia on April 14th, 1888, a man deeply loved and respected in opposite corners of the world.
The name of Archbishop Alemany is written large in the history of the Catholic Church in California for he met and conquered the
challenging problems of a most difficult pioneer period.
(Excerpts taken from A Biographical Sketch of Right Reverend Joseph Sadoc Alemany, by Rev. Francis J. Weber [available at Bishop
Alemany High School’s Sr. Theresa Eberst Library] and the Catholic Encyclopedia, Dominican University of California Library -
online)
Our Patron: Our Lady, Queen of the Angels
Catholics believe in the doctrine of the “communion of the saints,”
a belief which recognizes the relationship shared among those in
heaven and earth. Though different, our heavenly and earthly lives
share the blessings of the one God and the same call to salvation.
Those believed to be living now with God in heaven are referred
to as saints, for they have reached the sanctity of their place with
God in His kingdom.
Traditionally, local communities have chosen a particular saint as their
patron, entrusting themselves to the prayers of this saint. As a person
may ask a friend to pray for them, or you might pray to a deceased
mom or dad saying, “say a little prayer for me (Mom), I need a little
extra help right now,” so do Catholics believe that those who are in
heaven pray to God for us and bring our needs to Him in a special
and a close way. It is not the saint who answers the prayer, it is God.
The Patron saint of the Bishop Alemany High School Community is Mary the mother of God, specifically honored in the title “Our
Lady Queen of the Angels.” This patronage has existed since the dedication of our original buildings and the property for the
establishment of the Our Lady of the Angels Seminary which formerly occupied this site up until the time of the 1994 earthquake,
which devastated the original Bishop Alemany High School property located across Rinaldi Street.
In the scriptures the angels are the messengers of God. Mary, the mother of our Church is the Queen of these messengers, directing
them (and us) always to bring the Good News of God’s love and salvation to all. The city of Los Angeles itself is the outgrowth of
the original settlement “Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles,” established September 14, 1781. The Spanish settlers chose this
name because it was on the traditional Spanish feast of Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, that they decided on their settlement.
We continue to join ourselves to the spiritual life of heaven in our prayers to the saints, particularly under the protective and
encouraging care of our mother Mary. In the Gospels Mary is portrayed as faithful to God as she directs the people to “do whatever
He tells you.” We pray the invocation, “Mary, Our Lady Queen of the Angels, pray for us” as we pray that Mary will pray with us,
helping us to pray for what is right and encouraging us to be faithful to God.
