History of Pope John

In 1955 Bishop James A. McNulty initiated a program to establish Catholic high schools in each of the three counties of the Diocese of Paterson - Sussex, Passaic, and Morris. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry Zolzer, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Franklin, and the Rev. Christian Haag, pastor of the Church of St. Monica, Sussex, were delegated by Bishop McNulty to study possible sites for a high school in Sussex County.

The Township of Sparta was selected as the most advantageous location for the new high school, and property belonging to Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Sparta, was deemed best. Originally purchased by the Rev. George A. Brown during his pastorate, negotiations with the parish's then current pastor, Rev. John F. McKenna, began, and eleven acres for the new high school were purchased along Andover Road in Sparta.

Bishop McNulty's realization for the great need of Catholic education, coupled with the insufficient number of secondary schools, proved to be visionary - especially in Sussex County. In the mid-'50's, Sussex County - with a population of approximately 40,000 people - supported few public secondary schools. Additionally, only one Catholic elementary school, destined to become a feeder school to Pope John, existed in the county - The Rev. George Brown School in Sparta, founded in 1954 and staffed by the Benedictine Sisters. (St. Joseph's School in Newton, staffed by the Sisters of Christian Charity and Immaculate Conception in Franklin, staffed by the Sisters of Charity, opened their doors in 1956 and 1961, respectively).

Originally, the new high school was to be called Sussex Catholic Regional High School, but by opening day, the name had already been changed to Our Lady of the Lake High School. At the Bishop's request, the task of staffing the new school was given to the Felician Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi from their mother house in Lodi, New Jersey. Mother Antoinette sent two sisters to lay the groundwork for the new four-year, co-educational diocesan high school.

In 1956 - the year of groundbreaking ceremonies for the high school - thirty-six freshmen met in the activity hall of Our Lady of the Lake Church, where they were taught by Sister Mary Angelina Garbowksi and Sister Mary Eustace Harczynska, assisted by two priests. The following year, 90 students were situated in classes based at St. Joseph's School, Newton.

On May 15, 1957, Rev. John F. McKenna, the school's first director, was delegated by Bishop McNulty to bless and lay the cornerstone of the new high school. The blessing and dedication of the completed Our Lady of the Lake Diocesan High School was held on Sunday, February 2, 1958 at 3:00 p.m. and second semester classes began in the new facility. By December 1959, upon the recommendation of the New Jersey Department of Education, the school was fully accredited. In July 1964, Bishop James J. Navagh renamed the school Pope John XXIII Regional High School in memory of the beloved pontiff.

The high school has been blessed with stability in its administration and faculty, integral to the steady increase in student population and growing reputation for excellence in academics. Members of the Felician Order served as principal from the years 1956-1975 (Sister Mary Angelina, 1956-1965; Sister Mary Viterbia, 1965-1966; Sister Mary Salvine, 1966-1969; and Sister Theresa Mary 1969-1975). Rev. Msgr. James Gacquin, who had served as Director of the high school with the Sisters from 1964, was named principal in 1975. Following Father Gacquin's tenure in 1977, Rev. Msgr. John Boland served until 1979, when Rev. Msgr. Kieran McHugh was named principal and serves to the present day.

During all of those years, Sussex County enticed more and more people to its picturesque lakes, streams, hills, and valleys. As freshman classes doubled, then tripled in size, additions to the high school were necessary. The Sisters were gracious enough to allow theology, art and music classes to be held in the convent basement, as intermittently in the '70's (and into the '80's) portable classrooms appeared - disappeared - and reappeared. In 1973, the library building was added, which was later demolished to make room for The Bella Biondo Research Center as part of the mid-'90's building campaign; in 1980, Pope John temporarily moved its first year students to St. Paul's Abbey in Andover. Finally in 1986, the addition of ten classrooms, a computer center, a music room, and an art room was completed.

While it was hoped that the 1980's addition would accommodate the student population for years to come, the mid-1990's found the high school again bursting at the seams. A campaign for the construction of a library, science laboratories, chorus, band and auxiliary music rooms, art room, chapel, Bella Biondo Research Center, gymnasium, locker rooms, nurse's office and guidance suite was begun in 1995, with groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building in the fall of 1998.

This year, 2008, finds us ready to build once more, and the addition of academic classrooms, science labs, and office space is scheduled to open in September 2009.

Pope John's legacy is one of academic excellence, community value, and spiritual growth made possible by the many men and women who have made Catholic education their vocation. The future remains very bright, indeed, as Pope John continues to attract exceptional people as teachers, administration, and staff, and of course, the incredible students - all striving to be "An Honor to the Father."