Austin Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
Austin Preparatory School is a co-educational Catholic
school located in Reading, Massachusetts
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine
in 1961. The institution is colloquially referred to as Austin Prep and serves students in grades 6-12.
The School was founded by members of the Order of Saint Augustine
, Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. Since 1973 the School has been operated by a lay Board of Trustees, and is a fully incorporated, not for profit, 501-C3 organization. The Augustinians continued to serve formally at Austin Prep until 1992. While there are no Augustinian friars currently on the faculty, the present staff does include two priests and one Affiliate member of the Order of Saint Augustine.
In 1987 Austin opened a Middle School Program, and further expanded in 1992 by admitting young women to become fully co-educational. The current enrollment (2010–2011) of 700 students is almost equally divided between young men and women. The Middle School enrolls roughly 200 students and the Upper School enrolls approximately 500 students.
The original motto of the school is "In lumine tuo videbimus lumen" ("In your light we see light"), from Psalm 36, however in 2001 the School adopted a new motto, "God, Self, Neighbor" based upon the Great Commandment. The School's patron is Saint Augustine. The "Austin" in Austin Prep is a shortened form of Augustine. Augustine was a key figure in the doctrinal development of Western Christianity
and is often referred to as a "Doctor of the Church
" by Roman Catholics. Two of his many surviving works, namely "The Confessions
" (his autobiography
) and "The City of God" are Western Classics, and are read and studied by Christians of many denominations around the world. Augustine is also considered to be one of the theological fountainheads of Protestant Reformation
, because of his teaching on salvation
and grace
; Martin Luther
himself also having been an Augustinian friar. Augustine was not a Biblical fundamentalist.
Other American Augustinian Schools with the same patron include Malvern prep in Malvern PA, Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, PA, Villanova Prep in Ojia, CA along with Richland, New Jersey
; San Diego, California - as well as Villanova University in Villanova PA (The Augustinian flagship college.) and Merrimack College in North Andover, MA - just 15 minutes from Austin Prep.
printed a list of clergy accused of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Boston. The article stated "The Rev. Robert Turnbull was sued in 2000 for sexually abusing a boy at Austin Preparatory School in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Turnbull is dead. The case against the school and the archdiocese is pending."See article here. The case has since been reportedly settled.
The December 12, 2002 issue of The Boston Herald revealed the Rev. Alfred Murphy allegedly molested a 17 year old boy 2 years before his assignment at Austin Preparatory School (the school is not mentioned, but Murphy served as a teacher in the 1985-1986 school year and then later served as Campus Minister, which involved running weekend retreats with students (at the time the school was all male) called Christian Awareness Weekends until the early 1990s. No known allegations have be levied against Murphy in his capacity as an employee of the school. He was exempt from the Archdiocese of Boston investigations because he is a member of the Augustinian Order (O. S. A.) and is subject to a different hierarchy. Murphy is currently stationed at Villanova University
, an Augustinian university.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
school located in Reading, Massachusetts
Reading, Massachusetts
Reading is an affluent town situated in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, some north of central Boston. The population was 24,747 at the 2010 census.-Settlement and Independence:...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It comprises several counties of the state of Massachusetts...
. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine
Order of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
in 1961. The institution is colloquially referred to as Austin Prep and serves students in grades 6-12.
History
Though founded in 1961, Austin Prep enrolled its first students in September 1963.The School was founded by members of the Order of Saint Augustine
Order of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
, Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. Since 1973 the School has been operated by a lay Board of Trustees, and is a fully incorporated, not for profit, 501-C3 organization. The Augustinians continued to serve formally at Austin Prep until 1992. While there are no Augustinian friars currently on the faculty, the present staff does include two priests and one Affiliate member of the Order of Saint Augustine.
In 1987 Austin opened a Middle School Program, and further expanded in 1992 by admitting young women to become fully co-educational. The current enrollment (2010–2011) of 700 students is almost equally divided between young men and women. The Middle School enrolls roughly 200 students and the Upper School enrolls approximately 500 students.
Demographics
Students commute to Austin from over 50 towns from the northern suburban communities of Boston reaching north through the Merrimack Valley Region and North Shore communities and also southern New Hampshire.Patron saint
Western Christianity
Western Christianity is a term used to include the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church and groups historically derivative thereof, including the churches of the Anglican and Protestant traditions, which share common attributes that can be traced back to their medieval heritage...
and is often referred to as a "Doctor of the Church
Doctor of the Church
Doctor of the Church is a title given by a variety of Christian churches to individuals whom they recognize as having been of particular importance, particularly regarding their contribution to theology or doctrine.-Catholic Church:In the Catholic Church, this name is given to a saint from whose...
" by Roman Catholics. Two of his many surviving works, namely "The Confessions
Confessions (St. Augustine)
Confessions is the name of an autobiographical work, consisting of 13 books, by St. Augustine of Hippo, written between AD 397 and AD 398. Modern English translations of it are sometimes published under the title The Confessions of St...
" (his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
) and "The City of God" are Western Classics, and are read and studied by Christians of many denominations around the world. Augustine is also considered to be one of the theological fountainheads of Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, because of his teaching on salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
and grace
Prevenient grace
Prevenient grace is a Christian theological concept rooted in Augustinian theology. It is embraced primarily by Arminian Christians who are influenced by the theology of Jacob Arminius or John Wesley. Wesley typically referred to it in 18th century language as prevenient grace...
; Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
himself also having been an Augustinian friar. Augustine was not a Biblical fundamentalist.
Other American Augustinian Schools with the same patron include Malvern prep in Malvern PA, Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, PA, Villanova Prep in Ojia, CA along with Richland, New Jersey
St. Augustine College Preparatory School
St. Augustine College Preparatory School is an all-boys Roman Catholic four-year high school located in the Richland section of Buena Vista Township, New Jersey, United States...
; San Diego, California - as well as Villanova University in Villanova PA (The Augustinian flagship college.) and Merrimack College in North Andover, MA - just 15 minutes from Austin Prep.
Fall sports
- Cross Country
- Football
- Varsity
- Junior Varsity
- Freshman
- Golf
- Soccer
- Boys Varsity
- Boys Junior Varsity
- Boys Middle School
- Girls Varsity
- Girls Junior Varsity
- Girls Middle School
- Volleyball
- Varsity
- Junior Varsity
- Freshman
- Varsity Cheerleading
Winter sports
- Basketball
- Boys Varsity
- Boys Junior Varsity
- Boys Freshman
- Boys Middle School
- Girls Varsity
- Girls Junior Varsity
- Girls Freshman
- Girls Middle School
- Ice Hockey
- Boys Varsity
- Boys Junior Varsity
- Boys Freshmen
- Girls Varsity
- Girls Junior Varsity
- Ski Team
- Swim Team
- Track
- Hockey and Basketball Cheerleading
Spring sports
- Baseball
- Varsity
- Junior Varsity
- Freshman
- Lacrosse
- Boys Varsity
- Boys Junior Varsity
- Boys Middle School
- Girls Varsity
- Girls Junior Varsity
- Softball
- Varsity
- Junior Varsity
- Middle School
- Tennis
- Boys Varsity
- Girls Varsity
- Track
Clubs and organizations
- Academic Decathlon
- Anime Club
- Arts Club
- Asian Club
- Austin Magazine
- Austin Service Club
- Badminton Club
- Band
- Business Club
- Chorus
- Classics Club & Certamen Team
- Dance
- Event Production Services
- French Club
- Gamers Club
- Gentlemen's Club
- Guitar Club
- Human Rights Squad
- Intramural Sports
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Softball
- Whiffleball
- Italian Club
- Middle School Arts & Crafts
- Middle School Chess & Scrabble
- Middle School Classics And Certamen
- Middle School Drama Festival
- Middle School Math Team
- Middle School Puzzle Club
- Middle School Quiz Bowl
- Knitting Club
- The Legend
- Liturgical Music
- Magic: The Gathering Club
- Math Team
- Math Peer Tutors
- Multicultural Club
- National Honor Society
- New England Club
- The Omega
- Peer Leaders
- Ping Pong Club
- Russian Club
- Science Fiction /Fantasy Club
- Senior Retreat Leaders
- Sign Language Club
- Snowboarding/Ski Club
- Spanish Club
- Student Council/Government
- Theatre, Drama Club
- Web Design Club
- Weight Training - Boys
- Weight Training - Girls
- Yoga
Sexual abuse allegations against faculty
On January 28, 2002, The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
printed a list of clergy accused of sexual abuse within the Archdiocese of Boston. The article stated "The Rev. Robert Turnbull was sued in 2000 for sexually abusing a boy at Austin Preparatory School in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Turnbull is dead. The case against the school and the archdiocese is pending."See article here. The case has since been reportedly settled.
The December 12, 2002 issue of The Boston Herald revealed the Rev. Alfred Murphy allegedly molested a 17 year old boy 2 years before his assignment at Austin Preparatory School (the school is not mentioned, but Murphy served as a teacher in the 1985-1986 school year and then later served as Campus Minister, which involved running weekend retreats with students (at the time the school was all male) called Christian Awareness Weekends until the early 1990s. No known allegations have be levied against Murphy in his capacity as an employee of the school. He was exempt from the Archdiocese of Boston investigations because he is a member of the Augustinian Order (O. S. A.) and is subject to a different hierarchy. Murphy is currently stationed at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, an Augustinian university.
Notable alumni
- Thomas Birmingham - former Massachusetts Senate President
- Richard Meelia '67 - Chief Executive OfficerChief executive officerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Covidien Ltd (formally Tyco Healthcare) - Tom Fitzgerald (hockey)Tom Fitzgerald (hockey)Thomas James Fitzgerald is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He currently serves as assistant to the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins...
'86 - NHL Player. - Joe Sciacca '75 - Boston HeraldBoston HeraldThe Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
Editor-in-Chief - Ross Alameddine '05 - victim of the Virginia Tech shootings on April 16, 2007
- Paul Sullivan '75 - Hosted The Paul Sullivan Show on WBZ (AM)WBZ (AM)WBZ is the call sign for an AM radio station in Boston, Massachusetts owned by CBS Radio, itself owned by the CBS Corporation. Originally based in and broadcast from Springfield, Massachusetts, WBZ was the first commercial radio station in the United States...
NewsRadio 1030 before his death September 9, 2007. See Boston Globe Article Here