Bourgade Catholic High School is a high school whose mission is to educate the hearts and minds of students in the Catholic tradition and, in partnership with families, to be servant leaders and stewards of the Gospel. Here’s the history behind this incredible school that has a 27-acre campus with over 400 students in west Phoenix today.

Namesake

Bourgade Catholic High School is named after the Most Reverend Archbishop Peter Bourgade, a French missionary priest sent to work in the New Mexico-Arizona area in 1869. He oversaw Tucson’s diocese, which included Phoenix until 1969 when the Diocese of Phoenix was established, and supervised the Church’s growth in the Southwest.

Founder and Beginnings

Bourgade Catholic High School was founded by Bishop Green in 1962 to serve Catholic students in Phoenix’s west side. Male students were taught by Marist priests, while the female students were taught by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sisters who also assisted with administration. Students were also taught by the Congregation of the Humility of Mary and lay teachers.

The school administration consisted of the principal, Fr. John H. Hillmann, S.M., and vice-principal for the girls, Mother M. St. Rose, I.B.V.M.

Students

When the school opened on September 4th, 1962, there were 179 freshmen (76 male students and 103 female students). Boys and girls were originally segregated until 1965. Today there are 372 students on campus.

The Building

The campus was originally a one-story classroom building, and Hillman Center served as residence for the priests. In 1964, the school was upgraded to two stories. A large-scale campus renovation by Shea Homes took place in June of 1999, which updated the classrooms, infrastructure, office space, and media center.  A Student Services Building was added in 2003, and, a multipurpose center with space for a theater, called Blue Angels Hall, was built in 2013.

Administration Changes and History

In 1972, the Holy Cross Community of Priests from the University of Notre Dame assumed Administration of Bourgade Catholic High School. In 1988, the Holy Cross Community relinquished administration to the School Sisters of Notre Dame.  Today, the school is not order run but a diocesan high school run by lay persons.  The first lay principal was Ms. Kathryn Rother, following Sister Mary McGreavy.  Ms. Rother led Bourgade for seven years until 2018 when Bourgade welcomed its current principal, Mr. Javier Bravo.

Catholic Education Arizona is proud to support schools like Bourgade Catholic through the Private Education Tax Credit. Want to learn how you can make a difference in a student’s life? Direct your Private Education Tax Credit to Catholic Education Arizona.