Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

high school and

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...

Elmhurst, Queens Elmhurst (formerly Newtown) is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City. It is bounded by Roosevelt Avenue on the north; the Long Island Expressway on the south; Junction Boulevard on the east; and the New York Connecting Rail ...

in New York City. It is operated by the

Diocese of Brooklyn The Diocese of Brooklyn () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Catholic Church in the State of New York. It is headquartered in Brooklyn and its territory encompasses the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, co ...

. It is the last full-time high school seminary day school in operation in the United States.

History

Cathedral College

In early 1914, Charles E. McDonnell, bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn, decided that the diocese needed a

minor seminary A minor seminary or high school seminary is a secondary day or boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming Priesthood (Catholic Church), Catholic priests. They are generally ...

(high school seminary) to ensure a supply of priests. He appointed then Monsignor George Mundelein as the first rector of

Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Seminary House of Formation was a Catholic seminary college in the Douglaston, Queens section of New York City. It was founded in 1914 as a minor seminary for the Diocese of Brooklyn, eventually growing to two New York City campuses in ...

. In September 1914, 110 students started classes in Cathedral College's temporary quarters at Saint John’s Chapel in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. In December 1914, the diocese broke ground for the new campus in the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn. Cathedral College started operation as a six-year minor seminary, with a four-year high school track and a two-year college track. Upon completion of the six-year program, students continuing on to priesthood would be assigned to a

major seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

. Many other students went on to become members of religious orders, lawyers, doctors and teachers.

Cathedral Preparatory Seminary

In 1963, Cathedral College opened a second location in Elmhurst; it was called Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. There were now two minor seminaries in the Diocese of Brooklyn. In 1967, Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception converted to a four-year college seminary and moved to Douglaston, New York. The Queens and Brooklyn campuses of Cathedral Preparatory Seminary were separated from the college. Both campuses continued as four-year high school programs, operated by the Diocese of Brooklyn. The diocese closed the Brooklyn campus in 1985, leaving the Queens campus as the Cathedral Preparatory Seminary. In 2002, the rector of Cathedral Prep, Monsignor Charles M. Kavanagh, was accused of

sexual abuse Sexual abuse or sex abuse is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using physical force, or by taking advantage of another. It often consists of a persistent pattern of sexual assaults. The offender is re ...

by a former seminarian at the school. The accuser, Daniel Donahue of

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

claimed Kavanagh had made unwanted advances and touched him inappropriately in the 1980s, starting as an eighth grader at the seminary and continuing at Cathedral College. Donahue complained to the police and the diocese in 2002. Kavanagh denied all the charges. A review board from the

Archdiocese of New York The Archdiocese of New York () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the New York (state), State of New York. It encompasses the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island in New York ...

found him guilty in 2003. Kavanagh appealed the decision, but a

tribunal A tribunal, generally, is any person or institution with authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title. For example, an advocate who appears before a court with a singl ...

from another diocese affirmed the decision. After another appeal, a second tribunal said Kavanagh was guilty and should be

defrocked Defrocking, unfrocking, degradation, or laicization of clergy is the removal of their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. It may be grounded on criminal convictions, disciplinary problems, or disagreements over doctrine or ...

Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary

Currently, students from both the Diocese of Brooklyn and the Diocese of Rockville Centre attend the school, as well as one student from the Archdiocese of New York. Since 1968, each summer Cathedral has hosted the Father Edward W. Troike Leadership Program for young men of 6th and 7th grades, as well as incoming freshmen. Since 1914 nearly 4,500 students have received high school diplomas from Cathedral Prep. The school alumni include cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and laity.

Demographics

The demographic breakdown of the 132 boys enrolled for the 2019–2020 school year was: * Native American/Alaskan - 3.1% * Black - 5.6% * Hispanic - 30.6% * White - 54.4% * Multiracial - 1.9%

Notable alumni

Vince Lombardi Vincent Thomas Lombardi ( ; June 11, 1913 – September 3, 1970) was an American professional football coach and executive in the National Football League (NFL). Lombardi is considered by many to be among the greatest coaches and leaders in Ame ...

, National Football League coach *

Anthony Bevilacqua Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua (June 17, 1923 – January 31, 2012) was an American cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1988 to 2003. Bevilacqua previously served as bishop of the Diocese ...

, archbishop-emeritus and cardinal of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia * John Carberry, archbishop emeritus and cardinal of the Archdiocese of St. Louis *

Dennis Day Dennis Day (born Owen Patrick Eugene McNulty; May 21, 1916 – June 22, 1988) was an American actor, comedian and singer. He was of Irish descent. Early life Day was born and raised in the Throggs Neck Clason Point section of Bronx in New Yor ...

, actor and singer *

Francis Mugavero Francis John Mugavero (June 8, 1914 – July 12, 1991) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Brooklyn from 1968 to 1990. Early life and ordination Francis John Mugavero (pronounced Ma-GUV-e-ro) was born on June 8, 1914, in t ...

, bishop of Brooklyn (1968–1990) * John McGann, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (1976–1999) * John Dunne, auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre * Gerald Barbarito, bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach *

Gregory Sierra Gregory Joseph Sierra (January 25, 1937 – January 4, 2021) was an American actor known for his roles as Detective Sergeant Chano Amengual on ''Barney Miller''; Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor of Fred G. Sanford on '' Sanford and Son ...

, actor * John Snyder, bishop-emeritus of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida * Ignatius Catanello, auxiliary bishop-emeritus of Brooklyn * Peter Libasci, bishop of the Diocese of Manchester * Edward Scharfenberger, bishop of the Diocese of Albany * Joseph A. Espaillat, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York

Notes and references

External links

School Website

Alumni Website
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1914 Seminaries and theological colleges in New York City Boys' schools in New York City Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn Elmhurst, Queens Roman Catholic high schools in Queens, New York 1914 establishments in New York City Preparatory schools in New York City