MISSION & HISTORY
Mission & Vision Statement
FAITH
Our students and families work together with faculty and staff to form a strong community through faith sharing.
KNOWLEDGE
We offer a resource-rich cutting-edge approach to Catholic education.
SERVICE
Service and outreach are an important part of our mission where students’ lives are transformed to be good citizens of the world.
All students learn and meet standard expectations while responding to God’s call to serve.
Our History
The building was dedicated by the Most Reverend Edward Joseph Hanna on March 24, 1925. The pastor of St. Patrick Parish at the time was Reverend Richard Collins. The dedication ceremony was unique in that it preceded the actual opening of the school, which did not take place until September 14, 1925.
The initial inspiration to build this parochial school had its source in Mr. Edward McLaughlin, a retired banker, resident of San Jose and a member of St. Patrick Parish.
Two weeks before his death, Mr. McLaughlin sent for Archbishop Hanna, of San Francisco and requested that his benefaction to the Archdiocese, which was in his last will and testament, should be used specifically to build a school for St. Patrick Parish.
The task of building the school and obtaining a congregation of sisters to staff it was delegated to the pastor, Father Richard Collins.
Father Collins had observed and admired the work of the Presentation Sisters in San Francisco after the fire and Earthquake of 1906, which had destroyed both their city convents.
In 1924, he requested that the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary administer and staff the school. Mother Mary Carthagly, the Superior General, sent seven sisters to begin their work educating the students of St. Patrick Parish.
Sister Mary Attracta Birmingham served as the first principal of St. Patrick School and Sisters of the Presentation served as principal until 1983.
In 1983, the last Sister of the Presentation left the staff ending the Sisters’ sixty years of service to the St. Patrick School community.
In 1983, Sr. Jolene Schmitz of the Community of the Holy Spirit was appointed principal of St. Patrick School.
In 2004, the Daughters of Charity chose to sponsor Saint Patrick School as a new partner in their mission to serve the least among us. We are blessed to have their presence on staff and their spirituality to guide us. With the generous support of the Daughters of Charity and the Diocese of San Jose, Saint Patrick School becomes a center of Vincentian spirituality and exceptional academics.
