St. Patrick School at 175 St. Patrick Street, McEwen, TN 37101 US - Our History

St. Patrick School 1949 - 2004

St. Patrick's Church in McEwen, built during the tenure of the first Bishop of Nashville, was one of twelve churces founded by an Italian Dominican missionary, Rev. Aloysius Orengo, O.P. Irish immigrants working to build the railroad system across Tennessee were encouraged to settle in McEwen, and the church was built for them in 1849. In 1856 St. Patrick's School was begun in a building erected in the previous year by the pastor. The school was operated by a lay staff until 1925, when Rev. John Murphy secured the Sisters of Mercy to administer and teach. In 1937, the adminstration was assumed by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia at the request of Rev. Thomas Gill, O.P. Reconstruction of the church, school and convent was completed by 1949. Generations of families descended from the original inhabitants have sent their children to St. Patrick's and continue to do so. The parish community has always been committed to a Caholic school for its children, and give time and talent by volunteering in the school. The entire community, even those without school-age children, sponsors the annual Irish Picnic barbecue, which raises approximatesly $90,000 each year to support the school. Several years ago, this event make it into the Guniess Book of Work Records (21,000 pounds of meat was barbecued for the picnic in 1999). St. Patrick School is hte only Catholic school in Humphreys County, and draws Catholic students from three surrounding counties. The academic standards are on a par with all the Catholic schools in the diocese, and St. Patrick sends its students well-prepared to private, as well as public high schools. Most importantly, the Catholic faith is not merely a part of the curriculum, but permeates the atmosphere of the school, as the latest diocesan approval team noted with admiration.

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