Photo by James A. McBride
Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for Gloucester Catholic High School’s new athletic complex are, from left, John Colman, head of school; Father Allain Caparas, Director of Catholic Identity; Msgr. James Curran, pastor, St. Mary Parish, Gloucester City; State Senator Fred Madden; Bishop Dennis Sullivan; students Max McCall, Rachel Haines, Kyle Murphy and Zach Carney; and principal Edward Beckett.
Alumni, friends, representatives of the Camden Diocese and school officials celebrated the groundbreaking for Gloucester Catholic High School’s new athletic complex in a ceremony at Rowan College at Gloucester County on April 2.
Bishop Dennis Sullivan blessed the fields, and New Jersey State Senator Fred Madden, a 1972 GCHS alumni, reflected on how a Catholic education shaped his life.
Student representatives Zach Carney ’14, National Honor Society President, and Kyle Murphy, ’18, GC Junior High Student Council President, also addressed the overflow audience in the college’s University Center complex, which sits right behind where Phase 1 of the project has begun.
Bishop Sullivan commented on the enthusiastic turnout of Gloucester Catholic alumni and friends for the groundbreaking. “Gloucester Catholic has a proud tradition in athletics, and it’s exciting that our future students will finally have home fields to call their own,” he said. “The spirit of the alumni is absolutely contagious in support of these new fields.”
In 2010, the Diocese of Camden offered Gloucester Catholic the use of 75 acres located off County Road 603 in Deptford to develop a new athletic complex. Since the school’s founding in 1926, Gloucester Catholic has borrowed fields throughout the area. Only Ram basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams enjoy a true home game advantage.
The school administration, with the counsel of alumni and volunteers, have raised nearly $1.2 million to date toward the development of the new complex. School officials hope that Phase 1 of the project, consisting of practice fields for football and as well as varsity lacrosse and soccer fields, will be ready for action by fall 2014.