Catholic Schools Directory, Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Consider this…

Bow down and worship the Lord our Creator!
The Lord is our God, and we are His people, the sheep He takes care of in His own pasture.

Psalm 95:6-7

Directory of Catholic Schools (in alphabetical order by city) Albuquerque • Belen • Rio Rancho • Santa Cruz • Santa Fe • Brief History
Albuquerque — The state's most populated city, located in north-central New Mexico.
Catholic Schools Office 4000 St. Joseph Pl. NW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87120 831-8173, Fax: 831-8107 Superintendent: Sister Mary Klersey, MPF E-mail: cso@archdiocesesantafe.org For more information about the Catholic Schools Office and its responsibilities, click here
Holy Ghost (PreK–8) 6201 Ross SE, Albuquerque 87108 256-1563, Fax: 262-9635 E-mail: HSchool964@aol.com Principal: Dr. Noreen Copeland Approximate capacity: 200	Holy Ghost Catholic School was founded as a parish school in 1953, when Sisters from the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary teaching order of Monroe, Michigan, arrived in Albuquerque. It is located in the southeast quadrant of the city near some of Albuquerque's largest employers, including Sandia National Laboratories, Kirtland Air Force Base, Lovelace Medical Center, and the Veteran's Administration Hospital.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PreK-K) 9502 Fourth Street NW 897-6501, Fax: 898-0496 E-mail: sncrcell@uswest.net Principal: Nancy Suedkamp Approximate capacity: 20	One of Albuquerque's newest Catholic schools, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School provides early childhood development in a Jesus-centered environment. Our vision is to promote each student's faith and academic excellence through family, parish, school and community involvement. Our values are Kindness, Learning, Prayer and Responsibility.
Our Lady of the Annunciation (PreK-8) 2610 Utah NE, Albuquerque 87110 299-6783, Fax: 299-2182 E-mail: cshields@annunciationcatholicschool.org Web: www.annunciationcatholicschoolabq.org Principal: Cindy Shields Vice-Principal: Amy McCarthy Approximate capacity: 375	Founded in 1959, classes at Our Lady of the Annunciation School began in rented rooms for the first year of the school’s operation; dedication of the new school took place on March 26, 1961. It is situated in a residential neighborhood in the northeast quadrant of the city.
Our Lady of the Assumption (PreK-8) 7910 Lomas NE (Mail: 815 Guaymas Pl. NE), Albuquerque 87108 256-3167, Fax: 232-0282 E-mail: office@olacs.org Web: www.olacs.org Principal: Robert Kaiser Vice-Principal: Patricia Pecos Approximate capacity: 200	Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School was founded on August 15, 1954, the Feast Anniversary date of the Blessed Mother Mary's Assumption into Heaven; thus, the school bears the name of one of the most sacred events in the Catholic Faith. The parish school opened when six Servant Sisters from the Immaculate Heart of Mary teaching order, based in Monroe, Michigan, arrived in Albuquerque. Our Catholic school education mission continues with dedicated administration and teaching staff and the highest retention rate in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Our school's location is in the northeast quadrant of the city within one mile's distance of the Uptown (major malls) Business District, Los Altos Park & Golf Course, and New Mexico Expo/State Fairgrounds. We are also within three miles of Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Labs, and the University of New Mexico campus.
Our Lady of Fatima (K-8) 4020 Lomas NE, Albuquerque 87110 255-6391, Fax: 268-0680 E-mail: anita.michael@hotmail.com Principal: Anita Michael Approximate capacity: 275 Website: www.fatimaschool.us	Ground was broken for Heights Catholic School, as the school was first called, on July 3, 1949, with a formal dedication taking place on January 29, 1950. The school was renamed Our Lady of Fatima in 1951. It is located in the northeast quadrant of the city, near the University of New Mexico.
Queen of Heaven (PreK-8) 5303 Phoenix NE, Albuquerque 87110 881-2484, Fax: 837-1123 (CF) E-mail: queenofheavenschool@osogrande.com Principal: Dr. Richard Dodson Approximate capacity: 305 Website: queenofheavennm.com	Queen of Heaven School first opened in 1952-1953 as a high school under the name of Regina Coeli School. The elementary school began in 1954, when the name was changed to Queen of Heaven. It is centrally located in the city's northeast quadrant.
St. Charles Borromeo (K-8) 1801 Hazeldine SE, Albuquerque NM 87106 243-5788, Fax: 764-8842 E-mail: office@stcharlesabq.com Principal: Barbara Rossow-Deming Vice-Principal: Laraun Harrison Approximate capacity: 385	St. Charles School opened in 1952. It is located in the southeast quadrant of Albuquerque, near University and Coal, just south of the University of New Mexico and across from the Central New Mexico Community College (formerly TVI) main campus.
St. Mary (PreK-8) 224 7th Street NW, Albuquerque 87102 243-5470, 242-6271 Fax: 242-4837 E-mail: snsdomen@qwest.net Principal: Sister Marianella Domenici, SC Vice-Principal: Paul Salcido Approximate capacity: 615	St. Mary School in Albuquerque was founded in 1893. It is located in the northwest quadrant of Albuquerque, in the downtown district. It is the largest Catholic elementary school in Albuquerque.
St. Pius X High School (9-12) 5301 St. Joseph Pl. NW, Albuquerque 87120 831-8400, Fax: 831-8413 E-mail: brothweiler@spx.k12.nm.us Principal: Barbara Rothweiler Assistant Principal-Academics: Barbara Ducaj Assistant Principal-Instruction: Sue Picco Dean of Students: Lillian Torrez Approximate capacity: 1,050 Website: www.saintpiusx.com	The Archdiocese established St. Pius X High School in 1956 on the east side of the city. In 1968 the administration of the school was transferred to the Basilian Fathers. In 1988, the high school moved to its present campus, the former University of Albuquerque site. It is located on the west mesa off of Coors Road, about 1.5 miles north of Interstate 40. The Catholic Center is on the south end of these grounds.
St. Therese (PreK-8) 311 Shropshire NW, Albuquerque 87107 344-4479, Fax: 344-4486 E-mail: romangarciasts@yahoo.com Principal: Roman Garcia Approximate capacity: 150 Website: http://stthereseschool.net/	Classes at St. Therese School began on September 15, 1947, in a quonset hut; the 150 children who attended sat on benches and drank water from the garden hose of a neighbor who lived next door. The current building was finished in 1955. It is located in the northwest quadrant of the city in what is called the North Valley.
San Felipe de Neri (PreK-8) 2000 Lomas NW, Albuquerque 87104 242-2411, Fax: 242-7355 Email: sncrcell@uswest.net Principal: Nancy Suedkamp Approximate capacity: 250	In December 1872, the Jesuit priests, who were operating San Felipe de Neri parish and school, asked Bernalillo County for public funds to establish the first free school in Albuquerque. In 1927, under pressure from city expansion, the old courthouse, built in 1886, was renovated to hold the school. In January 1959, the school moved from the old courthouse building to its current location—in Old Town, just east of Rio Grande Boulevard.
Belen — Located approximately 40 miles south of Albuquerque via I-25.
St. Mary's (PreK-8) Church & Tenth St., Belen 87002 864-0484, Fax: 864-2414 E-mail: smsschool@qwest.net Principal: Dr. Gayle D. Fortna Approximate capacity: 200	St. Mary's School, a mission of Our Lady of Belen Parish, was founded in 1927 and staffed by the Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union until 1932. At that time, the Dominican Sisters took over the school and remained at St. Mary's into the 1960s. St. Mary's is the only Catholic school in Valencia County. It is situated in the heart of Belen, adjacent to Our Lady of Belen Church.
Rio Rancho — Adjacent to Albuquerque's northwest boundary, accessible via Coors Road and Alameda Boulevard.
St. Thomas Aquinas (K-8) 1100 Hood Rd. SE, Rio Rancho 87124 892-3221, Fax: 892-3350 Email: srabascal@hotmail.com Principal: Sr. Anne Louise Abascal Approximate capacity: 410	St. Thomas Aquinas School was founded as a parish school in August 2000 by the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini. Situated on ten acres of land overlooking the Sandia Mountains, it is the only Catholic school in Rio Rancho. The school began as K-5 with an enrollment of 150 students; within three years, enrollment had more than doubled, and sixth, seventh, eighth grades were added. Our mission is to empower each other as educated Catholics to build the Kingdom of God today and forever!
Santa Cruz — Located 40 miles north of Santa Fe.
Holy Cross (PreK-6) P.O. Box 1260, Santa Cruz 87567 753-4644, Fax: 753-7401 E-mail: holycross2@windstream.net Principal: Lorraine Madrid-Sanchez Approximate capacity: 185	Holy Cross Catholic School was formally founded in 1949, although the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids had been teaching in the public school adjacent to the building since 1928. It is the only Catholic elementary school in the area. Santa Cruz is more than 95% Hispanic and follows the tradition, culture and life-style of its ancestors. It is a strong Catholic community.
Santa Fe — The state capitol, located 60 miles north of Albuquerque via I-25.
St. Michael High School (7-12) (private Catholic school) 100 Siringo Rd., Santa Fe 87505 983-7353, Fax: 982-8722 Principal: Valerie Johnson Assistant Principal: Diahann Larson, Paul Baca Guidance Director: Cecilia Arredondo Approximate capacity: 790	St. Michael High School will always be associated with the name of John Baptist Lamy, first Archbishop of Santa Fe. Through his persistence, Brother Philip, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, allowed four Brothers to cross the Atlantic and travel to Santa Fe, where they founded the school in 1859. The school remains under the administration of the Brothers.
Santo Niño Regional Catholic School (PreK-6) 23 College Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87508 505-424-1766, Fax: 505-473-1441 E-mail: snrcs@santonino.k12.nm.us Principal: St. Phyllis Stowell, SCL www.santoninoregional.org	Santo Niño Regional Catholic School is the newest Catholic school in Santa Fe. Catholic education has been available to the Catholic community of Santa Fe for over one hundred years. SNRCS continues this tradition by serving all seven parishes in Santa Fe and one parish in Pecos.
For information about a particular school's enrollment openings, tuition costs, etc., please contact the school directly. See also: School Mission Statements, Catholic Schools Office, Enrollment, Financial, Policies

A brief history of Catholic education in New Mexico…

The Catholic Church is deeply involved in the history of New Mexico. Fray Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan, first saw the land we now call New Mexico in 1539 and reported on the rich possibilities to be found here. All of the early expeditions into this "New Kingdom of St. Francis" included Franciscan missionaries, many of whom stayed behind and were martyred by the Indians once the Spanish soldiers returned to Mexico.

The first permanent settlement, San Gabriel, was founded in 1598 by Juan de Oñate near present-day San Juan Pueblo. This settlement served as the capitol of New Mexico until 1610, when the capitol was relocated to Santa Fe. Prompted by legitimate grievances, the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680 drove the Spanish settlers out of New Mexico and killed many Franciscan missionaries. The Indians destroyed all that reminded them of the Spanish and their God. Monumental churches and conventos that had been built by the Franciscans during their missionary work among the Indians were destroyed. The Spanish retreated to and settled in the vicinity of Paseo del Norte (present-day El Paso, Texas/Juarez, Mexico) where a mission had been established several years before.

In 1692, newly appointed Governor Diego de Vargas restored Spanish authority, both civil and religious, to New Mexico. He, along with colonists, troops, and missionaries, reentered New Mexico in 1693. The Franciscan friars who accompanied him immediately proceeded to rebuild or restore the destroyed churches, as well as to build new ones in isolated and remote villages throughout New Mexico. Episcopal jurisdiction was granted in 1797 and all the churches in New Mexico were secularized and made responsible to the Bishop of Durango. When Mexico declared her independence from Spain in 1821, the Franciscan friars lost their support and withdrew from New Mexico. This area remained part of the Diocese of Durango until 1850.

On July 19, 1850, Pope Pius IX created the Vicariate Apostolic of New Mexico and appointed Father Jean Baptiste Lamy as its first Bishop. Bishop Lamy arrived in New Mexico in the summer of 1851. His early efforts were directed to building more churches, creating new parishes, and establishing educational and medical facilities. By 1853, the Vicariate Apostolic had become a See in its own right—the Diocese of Santa Fe—and on February 12, 1875, the Diocese of Santa Fe was elevated to an Archdiocese with Bishop Lamy as its first Archbishop. The liturgical center and "cathedra," or chair, of the Archbishop of Santa Fe remain in Santa Fe to this day, although the administrative offices were relocated to Albuquerque in 1967.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe covers an area of 61,142 square miles. There are 91 parish seats and 216 active missions throughout this area. The Archdiocese celebrated its cuarto-centennial —
400th-year anniversary — in 1998!

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