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History

A Brief History of Cardinal Newman High School

Our History

 

Cardinal Newman High School began as an inspired response to a growing need — to provide a Catholic high school for boys in Santa Rosa, the heart of Sonoma County. In the mid-1950s, the long-established Ursuline High School for girls had relocated from downtown to its new campus on Mark West Springs Road and was expanding. As Ursuline thrived, parents began advocating for a comparable school for their sons.

In February 1962, Bishop Leo Maher, the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Santa Rosa, endorsed the idea. He formed a lay Board to plan the new school and recruited a teaching order to guide its founding.

Cardinal Newman High School officially opened on September 8, 1964, welcoming its first class of ninth graders — the Class of ’68 — in the newly completed quad classrooms at Ursuline. Meanwhile, construction began on the 32-acre property next door which would one day be our home. The following year, freshmen and sophomores attended classes in the new building, designed and built by local Catholic families.

The school’s founding coincided with a period of renewal in the Church brought on by Vatican II, a time that emphasized openness, dialogue, and faith in action. Cardinal Newman High School emerged as a reflection of that spirit — a place where students could grow in faith, scholarship, service, and community.

From the beginning, the school enjoyed strong enrollment and quickly developed a reputation for excellence. Students came from across Sonoma County and beyond, including many from other Christian denominations and faith traditions who were drawn to an environment where theology could be taught, beliefs explored, and faith shared.

More than sixty years later, that same mission — fostering faith, learning, and service — remains at the heart of Cardinal Newman High School.

Our School Shield

CN Official Seal - from shadows and symbols into truth

 

These three symbols tell the story of our founding:

  • Saint John Henry Newman – The 19th-century English scholar, writer, convert to Catholicism, and priest whose faith and intellect inspired the school’s mission.

  • The Cross of Roses and Crescent Moon – Represent the Diocese of Santa Rosa, reflecting its “Valley of the Moon” roots.

  • The Chalice and Grapes – Symbolize the Society of the Precious Blood, the Ohio-based religious community that served as the school’s founding teaching order.

Saint and Scholar: John Henry Newman Named a Doctor of the Church

St. John Henry Newman

“Heart speaks to heart.” — St. John Henry Newman

Our patron, Saint John Henry Newman, who was canonized in 2019, has now been named a Doctor of the Church — one of only 38 saints recognized for their lasting contributions to Catholic teaching and theology.

Born in England in 1801, Newman grew up in a society where Catholicism was still widely discriminated against. His lifelong pursuit of truth led him first through the Anglican ministry and the Oxford Movement, which sought to renew the Church of England through a return to its apostolic roots. That journey ultimately brought him into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1845.

As a Catholic priest, writer, and teacher, Newman explored the living nature of Christian doctrine — explaining that while divine truth itself never changes, our understanding of it can grow over time. His reflections continue to shape modern Catholic thought on faith, conscience, and education.

Revered for both his intellect and humility, St. John Henry Newman remains a model for all who seek truth with integrity. His elevation as a Doctor of the Church affirms his enduring influence and deep connection to the mission of Cardinal Newman High School.