Redeemer-Seton High School
Encyclopedia
Redeemer-Seton High School was a Catholic high school
in New Orleans, Louisiana
. It was permanently closed after Hurricane Katrina damaged the campus in September 2005. A formal honorary commencement ceremony was held for Katrina graduates at St. Rita's Church in New Orleans on June 25, 2006.
Many dedicated alumni of Redemptorist, originally sent their children to the new Redeemer High and eventually, the merged Redeemer-Seton High. Such families as the Schmitts, the Gorgones, the Gallianos, the Fields, the Jacksons, and a host of others. True RAM alumni acknowledge the school to be a mosaic of races and cultures. Originally, Redemptorist was predominantly a Caucasian student body, until its later years, when more Black Americans and other minorities enrolled, providing the school with more enrollment revenue and added cultural significance to the RAMS legacy. Since its Irish Channel years, the school was a co-educational institution. Redemptorist/Redeemer/Redeemer-Seton, was known for its rich history, its lovable and eccentric faculty and student body, and its resilience. The school provided and affordable educational option for devout Catholic working and middle class families. This high school was originally locacted in the Gentilly
neighborhood in New Orleans.The school colors were blue and gold.
give um all you can - Hey, Hey, Hey!
Show them that our team rates,
the finest and the bravest in the land - Da, da, da, da, da!
The RAMS will march to victory, while our co-lors fly
And if we gotta take a lickin' we will do it with-out kickin'
for REDEEMER H-I-G-H, Hey!
and was the second-most damaged campus in the city, after Alfred Lawless High School in the Lower 9th Ward.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
sold the site of Redeemer-Seton to Holy Cross High School, although this plan elicited strong criticism from various groups, including Redeemer-Seton alumni and former Redeemer-Seton faculty
members. Holy Cross administrators demolished all buildings on the site to make way for the campus
.
Redeemer-Seton shared the site with St. Frances Cabrini Church
and St. Frances Cabrini Elementary
. Parishioners in the Cabrini community agreed to allow the Archdiocese to sell the combined Cabrini/Redeemer-Seton site, but architecture
preservationists and some members of the Cabrini community argued that the church was an important example of mid-twentieth century architecture and was worthy of preservation
and restoration
. Opponents to the preservationists argued that the church had extensive damage and was not significant enough to save. Holy Cross administrators
argued that they needed the entire site for the high school
and could not spare the church. Holy Cross opened in this location at the start of the 2009 school year.
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It was permanently closed after Hurricane Katrina damaged the campus in September 2005. A formal honorary commencement ceremony was held for Katrina graduates at St. Rita's Church in New Orleans on June 25, 2006.
History
Redeemer-Seton was formed by the merger of two Catholic high schools, [Redeemer High School 1980-1994] and [Seton Academy 1975-1994]. The Redeemer High legacy began as Redemptorist Boys and Girls High School (1937–1980) in the Irish Channel section of New Orleans. As the Redemptorist 1980 class yearbook The Redemptor states, and many living alumni also attest, the name changed to Redeemer High School after the Archdiocese of New Orleans wished to purchase the school. The school had lowered in enrollment, and the Redemptorist Fathers wanted to pull out of their ownership of the school. The new Redeemer High then moved to its last location on 1453 Crescent Street in the Gentilly section of New Orleans. This was the site of the then closed St. Joseph Academy (New Orleans) (all-girls).Many dedicated alumni of Redemptorist, originally sent their children to the new Redeemer High and eventually, the merged Redeemer-Seton High. Such families as the Schmitts, the Gorgones, the Gallianos, the Fields, the Jacksons, and a host of others. True RAM alumni acknowledge the school to be a mosaic of races and cultures. Originally, Redemptorist was predominantly a Caucasian student body, until its later years, when more Black Americans and other minorities enrolled, providing the school with more enrollment revenue and added cultural significance to the RAMS legacy. Since its Irish Channel years, the school was a co-educational institution. Redemptorist/Redeemer/Redeemer-Seton, was known for its rich history, its lovable and eccentric faculty and student body, and its resilience. The school provided and affordable educational option for devout Catholic working and middle class families. This high school was originally locacted in the Gentilly
Gentilly, New Orleans
Gentilly is a broad, predominantly middle-class and racially diverse section of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first part of Gentilly to be developed was along the Gentilly Ridge, a long stretch of high ground along the former banks of Bayou Gentilly...
neighborhood in New Orleans.The school colors were blue and gold.
Fight song
Up and at Um Team-Mates,give um all you can - Hey, Hey, Hey!
Show them that our team rates,
the finest and the bravest in the land - Da, da, da, da, da!
The RAMS will march to victory, while our co-lors fly
And if we gotta take a lickin' we will do it with-out kickin'
for REDEEMER H-I-G-H, Hey!
Hurricane Katrina
The campus suffered extensive flood damage from Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
and was the second-most damaged campus in the city, after Alfred Lawless High School in the Lower 9th Ward.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana...
sold the site of Redeemer-Seton to Holy Cross High School, although this plan elicited strong criticism from various groups, including Redeemer-Seton alumni and former Redeemer-Seton faculty
Faculty (university)
A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...
members. Holy Cross administrators demolished all buildings on the site to make way for the campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
.
Redeemer-Seton shared the site with St. Frances Cabrini Church
St. Frances Cabrini Church
St. Frances Cabrini Church was a Roman Catholic church in New Orleans, Louisiana the heart of the parish of the same name in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish was an area bounded by Lake Pontchartrain, mid-city,and two major canals. The parish was carved from St. Raphael Parish in 1953...
and St. Frances Cabrini Elementary
St. Frances Cabrini Elementary
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Elementary was a Catholic elementary school in the Gentilly section of New Orleans. The school was located near the west side of the London canal levee that collapsed during hurricane Katrina and flooded a major part of the city of New Orleans...
. Parishioners in the Cabrini community agreed to allow the Archdiocese to sell the combined Cabrini/Redeemer-Seton site, but architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
preservationists and some members of the Cabrini community argued that the church was an important example of mid-twentieth century architecture and was worthy of preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
and restoration
Building restoration
Building restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
. Opponents to the preservationists argued that the church had extensive damage and was not significant enough to save. Holy Cross administrators
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
argued that they needed the entire site for the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and could not spare the church. Holy Cross opened in this location at the start of the 2009 school year.