Stacy McCarron knew exactly where she wanted to be as soon as she walked into Absecon’s Holy Spirit High School as an eighth-grader.
“I was there for its Open House, and I immediately felt something special,” she says. “Even then, I felt part of the family.”
McCarron quickly contributed to the Spartan culture, lettering in tennis, basketball and softball while a student there. Graduating in 1997, embarking on college and later, a career in marketing and project management, she never lost sight of the values and tradition instilled in her at Holy Spirit.
“The Catholic morals I learned at the school have carried me throughout my life and made me a successful contributing member of society,” McCarron knows.
In Fall 2021, she returned to the school as its advancement director, and is excited to be part of the school’s current yearlong celebration of its 100th anniversary.
“So many generations bleed glue and gold; I’m proud to be a Spartan, and this centennial celebration is a fantastic thing to be a part of,” she says.
During this academic year, the school has held an anniversary Mass and brunch, auction night, Thanksgiving football game tailgate for past and current Spartans, and a “Nutcracker” performance.
Traditions Take Root
Holy Spirit’s hallmarks of faith and excellence began 10 miles from its current campus on Absecon’s Route 9. In September 1922, the school first opened its doors on Massachusetts Avenue in Atlantic City with 45 ninth-graders in attendance.
Its founder was Msgr. William F. Dittrich, then-pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Atlantic City – part of the Diocese of Trenton at the time. Sister Mary Augustine, from Watchung’s Sisters of Mercy, was the first principal.
Here, its strong traditions took shape. Basketball, track, baseball, tennis and softball were introduced, along with the annual Thanksgiving football game against Atlantic City High School. The annual Broadway musical production became a place for students onstage, backstage and in the pit to showcase their talents and build community.
In the 1950s, a growing enrollment necessitated a bigger school. Through the generosity of the Falivene family of Absecon, a property on Route 9 was donated to the now-Diocese of Camden.
Archbishop Celestine J. Damiano broke ground for the school in 1963, and in September 1964, Holy Spirit opened its new doors, with the continued presence of the Sisters of Mercy joined by diocesan priests and lay faculty.
Since then, improvements such as a football field and tennis courts have expanded the Absecon campus, furthering its mission to develop the God-given talents of young women and men.
School Mentors
Like McCarron, Dennis Smith, Class of 1989 and current dean of students, returned to the school after making a career elsewhere, wanting to give back to the place that “molded me and made me who I am.” He says he wanted to be a role model like his Holy Spirit mentors, most notably Ed Byrnes, famed Spartan football coach. Byrnes, the winningest gridiron coach in school history, took Smith under his wing while the latter was a student. Smith was a football manager all four years of high school. “He made sure I was part of something [bigger than myself],” Smith says.
After college, he returned to Holy Spirit in two separate instances. He first worked in the school’s athletics department and served as public address announcer for the basketball team. Since 2010, has been full time at the school, serving as chairman of the science department, and for the past three years, as dean of students and head softball coach. “It means a lot for me to be a part of this culture,” he says.
Smith sees himself following in Byrnes’ footsteps as “a defender of students and their biggest fan.” He says the school community will “always be a part of my family. … [There is] something palpable [here]. Everyone cares about everyone else; I wake up every morning and I’m thrilled to go to work.”
Bright Future
Halfway through its centennial, Holy Spirit has much more celebrating to do: upcoming service projects for students and alumni; a Hall of Fame induction and gala Feb. 10 in Atlantic City; a day of giving and a beach bash.”
Principal Dr. Thomas Farren is looking forward to seeing the continued participation of generations of Holy Spirit alumni.
“Anywhere you go in South Jersey, somebody went to Holy Spirit – doctors, priests, religious, deacons, servicewomen and men, lawyers, police officers, small-business owners,” he says. This year is about “celebrating the past, while looking forward to the future. We’re capturing great memories.”
Father Perry Cherubini, school president and pastor at Saint Joseph Church in Sea Isle City, acknowledges that much has changed in the past 100 years. “What hasn’t changed is our strong family atmosphere and how we continue to educate and inspire the entire person – mind, body and spirit – while fostering academic success and a culture of service.”
At the same time, he notes the school’s smaller class size, which he says “makes our school a very special community. We work harder to give all our kids the opportunities of a bigger high school through our academics, athletics and arts program. Because of our smaller environment, everyone knows each other and looks out for one another. We truly are a family.”
Looking to the next century, Smith is confident that blue and gold will continue to shine bright in Absecon. “Holy Spirit will continue to be strong; we are a perfect example that Catholic education is well worth it.”
For more information and event updates on Holy Spirit’s centennial celebration, visit holyspirit100.com. Holy Spirit alumni interested in contributing, or having memorabilia or a message to share for the 100th celebration, can email smccarron@holyspirithighschool.com.
Hall of Fame induction and gala
Holy Spirit High School, Absecon, will induct its 2023 Hall of Fame class the evening of Feb. 10 at Atlantic City’s Tropicana Casino and Resort.
The school’s Hall of Fame, which began in 2000, honors the outstanding accomplishments of those who have been a part of or contributed to the Holy Spirit community and who have enriched the lives of all those involved, and who represent what it means to be a Spartan through character, integrity, honesty and faith. Demonstrating a level of loyalty, dedication, generosity, leadership and ambassadorship, these women and men have advanced the school’s mission throughout the years.
The 2023 Class includes:
Legendary Spartans
Jay Connell ‘68
Kathleen Marczyk-Wilkins ‘51
Hall of Fame Inductees
Andrew Applegate ‘82
Stephen Brown* ‘76
Daniel Bryz-Gornia ‘77
Robert Dennehy* ‘81
Alicia Hall-Downey ‘05
Victor Fabietti ‘81
Thomas Finan ‘94
Patricia Galupo ‘73
Father Overton Jones*
Dr. Stanley ‘82 & Mara Marczyk
Joseph McDevitt* ‘85
Joseph McGowan* ‘26
Dr. Frank & Maureen Previti
Dr. Ralph Sacco, ‘75
John J. Sykes IV* ‘61
*Posthumously
For more information, visit holyspirit100.com.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
