The History of St. Patrick's Academy

MOMENCE, ILLINOIS, by Cheryl J Smith Hess

The story of St. Patrick’s Academy cannot be told without talking about Rev. Armand L. Labrie. He became pastor of St. Patrick Parish in 1896. In 1905 he needed a new church building. Instead he went to see Rev. Mother Mathilde, who was the Provincial of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary. He asked her about sisters to teach in a new convent school he had just built for the children of his parish. He decided the school was more important than a church building. The cornerstone for St. Patrick’s Academy was laid in 1906.

The sisters visited the school and thought it was very beautiful, and so they began teaching in 1907. There were five sisters, Sister St. Emily, Sister St. Claire, Sister St. Patrick, Sister Mary Carmel and Sister Mary Lawrence, six boarders and 75-80 day pupils. The high school department also opened in 1907 with two freshmen students, Vernie Gelino and Edna Fontaine. They were also the first two graduates in 1911.

The first additional wing was put up in 1910 by Mother Mary Liguori. The amount of boarders continued to grow and the building had to be annexed in 1917, installing a commercial department a first grade room, two dormitories and a recreation hall. An additional wing was added in 1924.

The beautiful grotto that you see was erected on the southwest side of the first building.

It is hard to believe, but soon the grounds were so small, that Mother Mary Liguori purchased three adjoining lots and Mother St. Emily purchased two more adjoining lots. These lots gave the children the playgrounds that you might remember. The city gave permission to close the alley separating the grounds on the west side of the building.

In March of 1926, the high school department of the Academy was accredited to the University of Illinois and in April of 1931, it was recognized by the State Department of Public Instruction.

The academy continued to grow and in 1931, the gym was erected. They had state of the art facilities for P.E. and sports activities.

From 1907 until 1949, St. Patrick Academy was under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In May of 1949, it became part of the Diocese of Joliet of Illinois. In 1957, there were 23 sisters teaching. High school classes at the Academy continued until 1965. Then the Academy started to offer elementary education only.

On April 25, 1954, The Mother’s Club of St. Patrick Academy had an Open House. The mothers of students, grades seven and eight had a chance to meet the Sisters who were teaching the children. They also received a tour and refreshments. Hostesses for the afternoon were: Mrs. Robert LaMotte, Mrs. Russell Hemphill, Mrs. Earl Bruckman and Mrs. Paul Sweeney.

You may remember some of the Staff of St. Patrick Academy in 1957: Very Reverend Mother St. Eugenie, Reverend Mother Mary Mercy, Mother Mary Eleanore, Mother Mary Dolores, Sister Genevieve, Sister, Mary Adelaide, Sister Mary Cecilia, Sister St. Ignatius, Sister Francis Xavier, Sister Marie of the Annunciation, Sister St. Lea, Sister Magdalene, Sister Mary Margaret, Sister Mary Christina, Sister Mary Veronica, Sister Mary Theophane, Sister Mary Madiatrix, Sister Mary Rose, Sister Mary Michael, Sister Mary Daniel, Sister Mary Assumpta – All Sisters – Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary.

In 1984 St. Pat’s Students participated in Bishop McNamara’s Invitational Spelling Bee on April 5th. The following students represented St. Pat’s: Michael Fritz; Alycia Rose; Patrick Cryer; Michael Nelson (alternate), Kim DeMack, Erica Provost, Antoinette Jackson, Ed Shafer, Mary Anne Hermann and Stephanie Case.

The original front entrance was finished with antique oak and cypress wood, beautifully complimenting the interior. However, due to deterioration, the front entrance and convent section was replaced in 1986.

The last year that Sr. Kathleen Morrissey, BVM was principal at St. Patrick’s Academy was 2004/2005, then Rick Preston, a Momence resident took over as principal.

The 28-classroom school closed after the 2009-10 school year. The church board put an asking price of $350,000 in 2013, but no offers came close to the board's asking price.

A small group of people was working to convince the four-member St. Patrick's Church finance committee to meet with a developer from Indianapolis who wanted to turn the building into a 32-unit senior citizen independent living center. Greater Local Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation had rehabbed similar buildings. The effort would not save the four-story, 50,000-square-foot building, however.

Demolition on St. Patrick’s Academy started on December 12, 2015.

The neighboring gymnasium was not razed nor was the parish-owned house located immediately southwest of the gym.

Academy Yearbooks 1963-2005