Bishop Noll Institute
Encyclopedia
Bishop Noll Institute is a private
, Roman Catholic high school in Hammond, Indiana
. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
.
. Reverend Father Lauer, who was pastor of the Saint Mary's Church in East Chicago at the time, allowed the sisters to use two classrooms as a temporary school until a proper building could be established.
In May 1922, the ground for a new school was broken on a purchased plot of land on White Oak Avenue between Hoffman Street and Chicago Avenue. However, the school's completion was delayed, and because Saint Mary's parochial grade school was accumulating higher enrollment numbers, five temporary structures were hurriedly constructed on the southwest corner of the school grounds. These served as the classrooms for the 1922-1923 senior class. Father P. J. Schmid was appointed as the school's director in 1922. The completed left wing of the building was dedicated later on September 9, 1923. An outdoor Mass, the first of its kind in the United States, was celebrated on a makeshift altar, bringing in 5,000 participants. The school was enlarged over the next ten years to include a convent, rectory, and gymnasium.
It was renamed Bishop Noll High School in 1947, in honor of Bishop John F. Noll
of the Diocese of Fort Wayne
.
In 1963, the building was dedicated by the bishop of the time, Andrew G. Grutka
, who laid the cornerstone of the new Bishop Noll Institute.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Roman Catholic high school in Hammond, Indiana
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary is a Roman Catholic diocese in Indiana. It was founded on December 10, 1956.-Bishops:#Andrew Gregory Grutka #Norbert Felix Gaughan #Dale Joseph Melczek...
.
Background
The school opened as Catholic Central High School on September 16, 1921. It was founded by the Sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus ChristPoor Handmaids of Jesus Christ
The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ is a religious order of Catholic women. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ American Province has its motherhouse in Donaldson, Indiana.-Ministries:...
. Reverend Father Lauer, who was pastor of the Saint Mary's Church in East Chicago at the time, allowed the sisters to use two classrooms as a temporary school until a proper building could be established.
In May 1922, the ground for a new school was broken on a purchased plot of land on White Oak Avenue between Hoffman Street and Chicago Avenue. However, the school's completion was delayed, and because Saint Mary's parochial grade school was accumulating higher enrollment numbers, five temporary structures were hurriedly constructed on the southwest corner of the school grounds. These served as the classrooms for the 1922-1923 senior class. Father P. J. Schmid was appointed as the school's director in 1922. The completed left wing of the building was dedicated later on September 9, 1923. An outdoor Mass, the first of its kind in the United States, was celebrated on a makeshift altar, bringing in 5,000 participants. The school was enlarged over the next ten years to include a convent, rectory, and gymnasium.
It was renamed Bishop Noll High School in 1947, in honor of Bishop John F. Noll
John F. Noll
Most Rev. John Francis Noll was bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1925 until his death in 1956. He was a native of Fort Wayne, and one of nineteen children. John Noll attended St. Lawrence Seminary in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin from 1888 to 1893. He was ordained a priest...
of the Diocese of Fort Wayne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-central and northeastern Indiana. The Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades was appointed diocesan bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on November 14, 2009, and was installed on January 13, 2010...
.
In 1963, the building was dedicated by the bishop of the time, Andrew G. Grutka
Andrew Gregory Grutka
Andrew Gregory Grutka was a 20th century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as first bishop of the Diocese of Gary in the state of Indiana from 1956-1984.-Biography:...
, who laid the cornerstone of the new Bishop Noll Institute.
Alumni
- Judge Mary Beth Bonaventura, seen on MTV's JuviesJuviesMTV Juvies is a MTV television show following minors in the Lake County, Indiana Juvenile Justice Complex. The series' first and only season debuted on MTV in February 2007, and has re-aired regularly, most recently in May 2009...
television program - Television personalities Phil PoncePhil PoncePhil Ponce is a Chicago television journalist who hosts Chicago Tonight, a nightly television magazine of news and culture on WTTW 11.Ponce grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, and graduated from Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond. He then attended Indiana University and received a B.A. in English in...
and Frank ReynoldsFrank ReynoldsFrank James Reynolds was an American television journalist for ABC and CBS News.He was a New York-based anchor of the ABC Evening News from 1968 to 1970 and later as the Washington D.C.-based co-anchor of World News Tonight from 1978 until his death in 1983... - From 1968-72, Mike McGill, a 1964 BNI graduate, played in the NFL for three different teams (Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers).
- In 2008, Andrew R. Loomis (graduated in 2004) was drafted by the MLB, Florida MarlinsFlorida MarlinsThe Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, in the 16th round in 2008. He is currently with the Jacksonville SunsJacksonville SunsThe Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
(Double-A) in the Southern LeagueSouthern LeagueSouthern League may mean:*Southern League , a United States minor league baseball league**Southern Association, a United States minor league baseball league, was known as the Southern League from 1901–1919...
. - Zbig KepaZbig KepaZbig Kepa is the current offensive coordinator for the William & Mary Tribe football team. The Tribe compete in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision competition and are located in Williamsburg, Virginia...
(Class of 1975), offensive coordinatorOffensive coordinatorAn offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the William & Mary Tribe footballWilliam & Mary Tribe footballThe William & Mary Tribe are a college football team representing the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. As of 2010, Jimmye Laycock is in his 31st...
team