Alumnae Celebrated Bishop McDonnell School Centennial
Graduates gathered at the original Crown Heights building to honor the school that educated 25,000 women.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Former students of Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School met in Brooklyn to mark the 100th anniversary of the institution. Although severe weather impacted turnout, 125 attendees participated in the reunion held at the historic Eastern Parkway site.
Why it matters
The gathering honored the legacy of a school that served as a vital diocesan scholarship institution for girls for nearly five decades. It serves as a reminder of the institution's historical role in women's education before its 1973 closure.
Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School opened in 1926 at 260 Eastern Parkway and saw 25,000 students graduate before closing in 1973. The building currently houses the St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf.
The players
Bishop Robert Brennan
He is the current Bishop of Brooklyn who led the Mass during the anniversary event.
Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School
It was a prominent diocesan scholarship high school for girls located in Crown Heights.
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
This institution became coed in 1974 after absorbing students from the closed McDonnell school.
The details
The centennial celebration featured a Mass led by Bishop Robert Brennan at the school's original location in Crown Heights. The school transitioned its legacy in 1974 when Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene became coed to absorb the displaced student population.
Timeline
1926-1973: Period when the school operated as a girls high school.
1974: The year Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School became coed.
September 26, 2026: Date of the centennial celebration and reunion.
Roadmap
This centennial event highlights the consolidation of diocesan education that followed the 1973 closure of Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School. The shift reflects a broader trend of integrating single-sex institutions into coed environments across the diocese.
Former students and community members can visit the historic building at 260 Eastern Parkway, which now serves the community as the St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf. The reunion provided a final opportunity for many alumnae to gather at the original school site.
The takeaway
Preserving the history of institutions like Bishop McDonnell ensures that the impact of early diocesan education is not lost to time. Former students are encouraged to document their personal archives to contribute to the collective history of the school.
Further reading
For more on the history of local institutions, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tablet.
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