Alumnae Marked Bishop McDonnell Centennial in Brooklyn
Graduates gathered at the historic Crown Heights site to honor the school's legacy a century after its founding.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Former students returned to 260 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School. Despite severe weather impacting turnout, 125 attendees gathered to commemorate the institution.
Why it matters
The event recognized a century of history for a school that served as a major educational pillar in Brooklyn for nearly 50 years. This milestone highlighted the lasting impact of a diocesan institution that graduated over 25,000 students before its closure in 1973.
The school graduated 25,000 students during its operation from 1926 to 1973. The centennial event was held at the original building at 260 Eastern Parkway, which now serves as the St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf.
The players
Bishop Robert Brennan
The Bishop who presided over the centennial Mass and serves as the leader of the diocese where the school operated.
Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School
A former diocesan scholarship school for girls that educated 25,000 graduates in Brooklyn before closing in 1973.
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
A Fort Greene institution that integrated students from Bishop McDonnell in 1974.
The details
Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School functioned as a diocesan scholarship high school for girls for decades. Following its 1973 closure, its student population was absorbed by the coeducational Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene starting in 1974. The centennial commemoration included a Mass presided over by Bishop Robert Brennan at the historic Crown Heights site.
Timeline
1926-1973: Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School operated as a girls school.
1974: Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School became coed.
September 26, 2026: The centennial celebration and reunion took place.
The Home Front
This centennial marks a transition in the Brooklyn educational landscape that defined the region for nearly half a century. The event reflects a broader history of shifts in parochial school management and consolidation within the diocese.
If you are a graduate or family member with memorabilia from the school, consider digitizing paper records or photographs to help preserve the legacy of this institution. You may also check with the diocese for any ongoing archives or collections related to the school's history.
The takeaway
The event served as a reminder of the foundational role that diocesan institutions played in the lives of Brooklyn families for generations. Alumnae and families can reach out to diocesan offices to track down historical records or contribute personal stories to the school's archival legacy.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of local schooling, see Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tablet.
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