Bishop McDonnell Society
Reflecting back, most alumnae from “Bishop’s” will agree that their Catholic education created the foundation needed to succeed in life. The Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of St. Dominic, the Sisters of Mercy, the Daughters of Wisdom, and the Sisters of Charity (and later the Nursing Sisters of the Sick Poor and a nun from the Sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Blessed Trinity) all came together to make a Bishop’s education one of the finest in the city.
The McDonnell-Loughlin relationship is much deeper than the annual joint boat ride to Rye Beach. Loughlin and fellow Christian Brother school, St. Augustine High School, carry forward a shared tradition and mission with Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School. In recognition of this bond, Memorialites have created several lasting scholarship funds to support the young women attending Loughlin. The Bishop McDonnell Scholarship Fund has supported many young women over the past ten years.
Many Memorialites know that Loughlin became a co-ed high school in 1973 — months after McDonnell sadly closed. At the time, 240 Memorialite sisters enrolled at Loughlin to continue or complete their high school education. Since 1974, more than 5,000 young women have graduated from Loughlin.
The McDonnell Society is named for the beloved Bishop Charles McDonnell, the second Bishop of Brooklyn. McDonnell was zealous in establishing religious schools and Bishop Thomas Molloy believed that naming the school was an appropriate recognition for his efforts. The Society was created to celebrate the generous friends who have made planned or estate gifts to Loughlin in support of Catholic education in Brooklyn.
How Can You Join?