Holy Spirit Catholic School

Holy Spirit Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama.[3]

Holy Spirit Catholic High School
Address
601 James I. Harrison Jr. Pkwy East

Tuscaloosa
,
Tuscaloosa County
,
Alabama
35405

United States
Coordinates33°10′26″N 87°31′39″W
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
Motto"Accept the Mission, Share the Spirit"
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Founded1963
PrincipalJonathan Loper
Faculty27
GradesPre-K-12
Number of students232
Education systemRoman Catholic Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Color(s)Red, Black and White    
SongSanctuary
AthleticsAlabama High School Athletic Association (Class 1A)
MascotSaints
Team nameHoly Spirit Saints
RivalsAmerican Christian Academy
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools [1]
YearbookSpiritus
AffiliationNational Catholic Educational Association [2]
Websitewww.holyspirit-al.com

Background

The school was dedicated in 1963; predecessor schools date back to 1863. The high school division was added in 1995 and the first class graduated in 1999.

Sexual Misconduct Allegations

2009 Criminal Investigation

In November of 2009, Tuscaloosa police arrested Holy Spirit's assistant football coach, Chip Ervin, for sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old student of the school and for the distribution of drugs to a minor.[4] The investigation, led by Sgt. Michael Caisson of the juvenile division, focused on crimes that Ervin committed during the fall semester of 2008.[4]

Ervin pleaded guilty to the charges.[5]

Sr. Elaine Sebera, a member of the Sisters of Mercy [6] and school principal at the time of the investigation, directed reporters' questions to diocesan officials who also declined to comment.[4]

2018 Diocesan Review

Bishop Robert Baker, about a year before his canonically required retirement,[7] published a list of all priests the church deemed credibly accused of sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Birmingham.[8]

Accused Priests[8]
  • Charles Cross

The Holy Spirit website does not provide a list of former priests who have served the school.[9] However, there are no known claims against priests of that parish.

Athletics

Holy Spirit offers volleyball, cross country, basketball, softball, baseball, track, cheerleading, bowling, and tennis.[10]

Football Cancellation

Holy Spirit suspended its varsity football program in 2019 citing low student interest and a lack of funding. According to AHSAA rules, the athletic program will not be allowed to have a varsity team until the 2022 school year.[11]

References
  1. AdvancED. "AdvancED-Find Accredited Institutions". Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  2. NCEA. "NCEA School Locator". Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
  3. "Holy Spirit Catholic School - Tuscaloosa, AL". www.holyspirit-al.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  4. Writer, Jason MortonStaff. "Former Holy Spirit coach faces sex, drug charges". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  5. Writer, Stephanie TaylorStaff. "Sex charges against former football coach, wife dropped". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  6. "Holy Spirit Catholic Preschool and Elementary School". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  7. "Bishop sent retirement letter to Pope, plans BJCC event". al. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  8. Digital, WVTM 13 (2018-12-15). "Catholic Diocese of Birmingham releases names of 6 priests accused of child sex abuse". WVTM. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  9. "HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH". HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  10. "Athletics - Holy Spirit Catholic High School". www.holyspirit-al.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  11. Editor, Edwin StantonExecutive Sports. "Holy Spirit drops football program". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2020-12-29.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
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