The History of St. Vincent Catholic Schools
More than 100 years ago, in 1907, the dream of offering a Catholic higher education to the children of Perryville became a reality when the Daughters of Charity arrived. After a small group of Catholics settled in Perry County in the 19th century, they wanted to establish a church and a rectory and so sent representatives to St. Louis to see Bishop DuBourg. He agreed to visit them and arrange for a church and a parish priest. Fr. Joseph Rosati, C.M., from Bardstown, was sent to supervise the building of a mission. The church and rectory were blessed by Fr. Rosati in 1820.
In 1827, the cornerstone of the Church of the Assumption was laid. October 29, 1837, marked its consecration by Bishop Rosati, C.M. On the same grounds was St. Mary of the Barrens Seminary, where young men prepared to become Vincentian priests of the Congregation of the Mission.
The German Catholics of Perryville erected St. Boniface Church in 1866. It was first staffed by priests from St. Mary's Seminary, but in 1869, Fr. Henry Groll, a diocesan priest, was appointed its first pastor. In 1870, a parochial school was established under the direction of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The Ursuline Sisters replaced them in 1877. In 1947, the Ursuline Sisters withdrew from the parish, St. Boniface was placed under the direction of the Daughters of Charity, and the church was given back to the Vincentian fathers.
The St. Vincent Parish School was opened in 1896 with an enrollment of 33 pupils. The old school building was a large frame structure located on a lot between School and Ste. Maries Streets. At first, lay teachers staffed the school, but the Daughters of Charity assumed charge in the autumn of 1907. St. Vincent High School was begun that same year. It started as a two-year school and in 1917 saw its first four-year graduation class. In 1917, a larger school was built and opened with an enrollment of 332 grade and high school students and a faculty of 10 Sisters. Our present high school building was dedicated in August 1953 by Cardinal Joseph Ritter. Many renovations and improvements have taken place over the years. Some of which include: air conditioning, renovation of the library, new flooring, ceiling, lights, fire alarm system and state of the art technology. From the first graduates in 1909 to the present, St. Vincent High School has fostered Catholic education in the Perryville community.
Daughters of Charity
Catholic education in Perryville began in the early 1800s when Bishop Dubourg sent Father DeAndreis and fellow missionaries to establish a parish mission in 1820. Nearly fifty years later, a parochial school was founded, first led by religious orders and later by dedicated lay teachers. In 1907, Rev. William Musson, C.M., secured the Daughters of Charity to staff the school, beginning a legacy of faithful service that would span nearly a century.
As enrollment grew, from 332 students in 1916 to more than 1,200 by the 1950s, new school buildings were constructed and academic excellence flourished, earning university recognition and state accreditation. The Daughters of Charity served St. Vincent Catholic Schools until 2002, shaping generations of students in faith, scholarship, and service. Their devotion laid the strong foundation upon which our school continues to build today.
What follows is a comprehensive list of the Daughters of Charity whose faithful service and dedication profoundly shaped our parish and school community.