History

Quality Catholic Education Since 1958

With the approval of His Grace, Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, a twelve-acre tract was purchased on SE 12th Street and Federal Highway, with the foresight to build a new church, school, convent, auditorium, and rectory.

In February 1958, Fr. Fogerty, Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Church, announced a Building Fund Drive to raise funds to cover the costs of constructing a new church, an eight-classroom elementary school, and a convent for ten teaching Nuns of the Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate.

The school opened on September 9, 1958, with Rev. Michael J. Fogerty as Pastor and Sr. M. Thelma Majer as founding Principal. The school, originally called Our Lady of the Assumption, was part of the Diocese of St. Augustine. Eight classrooms were built, seven of which were in immediate use. The enrollment was 247 children in grades one through seven. Grade eight was added in 1959.

In October 1958, the new Diocese of Miami was formed with Coleman F. Carroll as Bishop. On May 7, 1959, Fr. Fogerty announced a change of name. Bishop Carroll decided this was an appropriate time to distinguish Our Lady of the Assumption on A1A from Our Lady of the Assumption on 12th Street. The A1A Parish kept its name, while this parochial unit became St. Coleman Parish.