History
Welcome to Catherine McAuley High School, a private Catholic college-preparatory school for young women, established in 1969 by the Sisters of Mercy. The Northeast Regional Community, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, continue to sponsor it today through a two tiered board composed of a Members Board (the Leadership Team of the Northeast Regional Community) and the Board of Trustees which governs the school.
Catherine McAuley High School provides an added dimension to a rigorous academic program. Here the formation of character is valued as highly as intellectual achievement. In keeping with the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley students are constantly challenged to think of others and to reach out to those in need. They are expected to become women of mercy-articulate, and poised, confident and compassionate, gracious in their strength, at home in their own times, respectful of the past, but fully prepared to embrace the future. The school’s unique mission is to foster a community atmosphere enriched by the Mercy tradition and to educate young women to pursue knowledge, recognize truth, and respond to the needs of others.
As the only single gender Catholic college-preparatory school for girls in Maine, it attracts students from more than 70 communities. Today 250 girls come to Portland seeking the same rigorous preparation for college as the 5,705 alumnae who have passed through Catherine McAuley’s halls for many years. Our students attend classes and participate in interscholastic athletics on our 12-acre campus.
The McAuley emblem is derived from the Irish coat of arms of Catherine McAuley’s family. The predominant figure is that of a rampart lion, fiery red with a piercing blue tongue. Two human hands are shown above the lions head while on the left is the mercy shield. In the right hand corner is a green pine tree signifying the State of Maine and a yellow Moline cross honoring the Catholic Church. The McAuley Lion gives its name to the school’s mascot and teams, and the school’s colors are green and gold. The school uniform features the McAuley plaid.
The school was incorporated under the title of McAuley Education Center, Inc. to allow for other educational efforts that might be undertaken in the future. Currently, McAuley High School is the sole program of McAuley Education Center.
The high school is located at 631 Stevens Avenue and is comprised of two wings joined by a glassed mall area. One wing houses eleven classrooms, a meditation chapel, the library, a computer lab, two science labs, administrative offices and a health clinic. The other wing contains a gymnasium, recreational swimming pool, locker rooms, auditorium and a music room. Additional classrooms, a physics lab, an art studio and additional administrative offices are located in the former Academy building next to the high school. Behind the historic gold-domed Mother House is the Larry K. Mahaney Athletic Park which houses the Andrew & Helen McSween Lacrosse Field, the Raymond & Peggy Veroneau, Sr. Softball Diamond, and the Wasileski Soccer Field.
As a Mercy school, CMHS honors Mother Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in 1831. She and her followers dedicated themselves to caring for the sick and to the education of children. The sisters traveled to the United States in 1843 and settled in Pittsburgh. Eighteen years later they were invited to the Diocese of Portland. In 1881, St Joseph’s Academy was opened, a private school for residents and day students. Cathedral High School, opened in 1909, and became an all girl’s school. Under the leadership of Mother Mary Denis Schwartz, Catherine McAuley High School was built in 1969 on the grounds of the Motherhouse in Deering, and St Joseph’s Academy and Cathedral High school merged to from the new school.
In the early years, children as young as eight came to school at St Joseph’s Academy and boarded here in the nurturing care of the Sisters of Mercy. Today Catherine McAuley High School is a day school for students in grades 9 - 12. It continues to offer a rigorous academic preparation for college in an environment designed to challenge young minds and to prepare young women to be leaders in their communities. Daughters and granddaughters of alumnae can be found in every graduating class. Alumnae make up 20% of the faculty, volunteer in the Alumnae Association and serve on the Board of Trustees. Their presence in every aspect of school life helps to preserve the tradition and is testimony to the loyalty and affection they have for their alma mater.
Catherine McAuley High School encourages all interested young women to consider the McAuley advantage for their high school years.
