St. Catherine’s Academy (SCA), an all-boys’ Catholic school with a military tradition, located in Anaheim, celebrated its 130th anniversary on Saturday, March 16, 2019. The festivities included a special Mass, lunch reception, band performance, drill competition and a commemorative cake-cutting ceremony. Approximately 300 friends of SCA and alumni traveled from all over the world to witness the historic milestone.
A very special Mass in honor of the 130th anniversary was presided by The Most Reverend Bishop Kevin Vann and Concelebrants: Bishop Timothy Freyer, Father Ed Poettgen, and Father Michael Pontarelli, O.S.M. inside the school’s beautiful Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapel, named after the Dominican Friar, St. Thomas Aquinas. It is also the holiest place on campus where hundreds of students have received their sacraments throughout the years.
Alumni dating back as far as the class of 1946 joined the festivities and participated in a friendly drill competition to showcase the school’s rich military tradition. There was a special musical performance by SCA’s band. Tours of the beautiful 9-acre campus located less than 2 miles from Disneyland were also available. Another special highlight was a military-style birthday cake-cutting ceremony recognizing the years of commitment of building young men into great leaders.
“St. Catherine’s Academy is happy to host our Dominican Sisters, the community, alumni, and families celebrating 130 years,” said Sister Johnellen, OP, president/administrator of St. Catherine’s Academy. “On behalf of the Sisters of Mission San Jose, we are happy to
educate young boys with strong Catholic values, a rigorous education and a rich military tradition that shapes boys into fine young men of their generation.”