Opening of School Liturgy - 90 Years of Traditions

Oct 2 2025

On Wednesday, October 1, the Feast Day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Memorial Gymnasium for the Opening of School Liturgy for the 2025-2026 School Year, celebrating 90 years of Raider Excellence.

Lasting Traditions

On Sept. 16, 1935, upon the founding of Central Catholic, Brother Florentius gathered the 50 students for the first Opening of School Liturgy, held in in St. Mary Church, just down Hampshire Street from our current campus.

Brother Florentius placed the school and our students under the protection of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, asking her to watch over us.

Each day, we continue to pray for her intercession on our behalf...

"St. Thérèse, Pray for us."

Now, 90 years, later CCHS is home to over 19,000 alumni throughout the world and a spirited, talented, hardworking, diverse, college-prep student body of 1,200 young women & men from 60 different communities in three states.

Photo Album: Opening of School Liturgy

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 - Memorial Gymnasium

Click here to view album and download photos on Raider SmugMug.

Thank you to our Celebrant, Rev. Raymond Dlugos, O.S.A.

Rev. Raymond Dlugos, O.S.A. is the Vice President, Mission and Ministry at Merrimack College.

Thank you to our Liturgical Band & Chorus

Thank you to Campus Ministry and the students, faculty, and staff who contributed to our celebration

Thank you to World Language Teacher Brother James Vagan, FMS

Brother James shared about the Statue of Mary, a replica of the statue that St. Marcellin Champagnat had at the Hermitage in France. St. Champagnat's statue held the names of his brothers.

Our statue holds the names of all of our students, faculty, and staff.

"Mary, Our Good Mother, Pray for Us."