A Request, A Farm & A Gift
A few years into his appointment as Bishop of Providence, the Most Reverend Russell J. McVinney visited the Morris family home in Warwick, Rhode Island to share his desire to build an all-boys Catholic high school on their farm property. Mr. and Mrs. Morris knelt in their living room to receive Bishop McVinney, and without hesitation, gave him permission to take whatever property of theirs he needed to make the school a reality.
The Campaign to Keep Bishop Hendricken Open
In 1970, the Brothers of the Holy Cross announced plans to leave Bishop Hendricken. The decision saddened the entire school community, enrollment plummeted, and it appeared likely that our doors would close.
In response, loyal teachers, parents, students, and alumni came together to spearhead a campaign to keep the school open: Save Hendricken. The group assembled an all-out blitz: writing letters to the Brothers of the Holy Cross and diocese, petitioning state and local politicians, and using the press to campaign for Bishop Hendricken to keep its doors open.
Enter the Christian Brothers
Through the intercession of Bishop McVinney, and with the support of the Save Hendricken campaign, the Congregation of Christian Brothers agreed to staff the school following the departure of the Brothers of the Holy Cross.
The Diocese of Providence made the necessary funds available, and in September 1971, with Br. Thomas Feerick as Principal and Br. James Liguori as Assistant Principal, the school opened as usual: now as a diocesan, Catholic secondary school with the Congregation of Christian Brothers at the helm. The Christian Brothers immediately began recruitment efforts to bolster a dwindling enrollment.
Firsts for the Future: Board, President & Strategic Plan
In the spirit of the Vatican Council II calling for shared responsibility and participatory decision making, the Bishop Hendricken High School established a Board of Directors in 1990.
In 1991, Bishop Hendricken would adopt the President-Principal leadership model, and Br. Vincent McNally, C.F.C. served as the school’s first president.
In 1995, the Board of Directors commissioned the development of the school’s first strategic plan: Hendricken 2020. This plan outlined an ambitious program to position the school for strength and evolution, including establishing an endowment fund, and initiatives for physical and technological growth.
Giving the Gift of Hendricken
In 2001, Mr. Joseph P. Healey ’84 started what would eventually become the Healey Scholarship — funding for bright students who have a strong desire to attend Bishop Hendricken, but cannot afford tuition.
Today, the Healey Scholarship is the largest cumulative gift in our history, and no doubt, the most philanthropically transformative.
Keeping the Charism Alive
In August 2010, the Christian Brothers announced that they would no longer be able to staff Bishop Hendricken due to declining vocations. While the school community was saddened by the news, it was heartened by the strong foundation of excellence that the brothers left.
To this day, the Essential Elements of a Christian Brother’s education continue to be the guiding lights of our school, our community, and our mission. Our school community is tremendously grateful for the work of all 68 Christian Brothers who staffed our school for over 40 years.
Adding to the Brotherhood
In 2015, the 8th Grade SELECT program (formerly known as the SELECT Honors Institute) was launched to afford high-achieving students the Bishop Hendricken experience a year early. With growing enrollment, the program was expanded a few years later to include both an honors and general track.
First Female Academic Administrator
In May 2021, Natalie Kessimian became the school’s first-ever female academic administrator when she was named Assistant Principal.