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Saint Augustine
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The Early Days of Our Gymnasium
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St. Augustine School - Established 1952
St. Augustine’s Parish was formed in 1929 with Father Thomas A. Robinson as the first pastor. From the beginning, a goal of the new parish was to build a school. Beginning in September of 1935, the Franciscan Missionaries led by Mother Ambrose agreed to organize and teach catechism in the new parish. They followed this task for the next fifteen years. The Bishop of the Diocese of Providence was Russell J. McVinney who had been educated by the Sisters of Saint Ursula. In 1949, Bishop McVinney brought this order to St. Augustine’s Parish to continue teaching catechism classes and eventually to run a new St. Augustine’s School.
A quote from the convent annals tells of this event:“From here on starts a litany of goodness, charity & thoughtfulness on the part of everyone, not only our friend, but all who will meet us.”
A convent for the sisters was purchased at 24 Elmcrest Avenue. Land for the future school was purchased on July 15, 1950, at a plot on Mt. Pleasant Avenue. An architect, Joseph Mosher, was hired to design the school. The date of opening was to be September, 1951. However, the building schedule did not progress on time, and the opening was delayed until September 7, 1952. The first year had an enrollment of 300 children for grades 1-6.Principals:
Mother Marie Edward (Doyle) 1952-1957
Mother Gertrude (Clohessy) 1957-1959
Mother Marie Edward (Doyle) 1959 - 1964
St. Mary Rose (Murray) 1964 - 1970
St. Mary Carol 1970-1975Sr. Isaac Jogues 1975-1979
Barbara Greene 1979-1982
Sr. Sally (Donnelly) 1982-1986
Sr. Christina (Dolan) 1986-1990
Mrs. Kathleen Morry 1990-2015
Mr. Andrew Brassard 2015 - 2018
Mrs. Janet Rufful 2018 - present
History provided by Thomas E. Greene, Historian