About Us
History
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno, Nevada has an interesting history and proud tradition. At the time it first opened its doors on September 13, 1948, it was the only Catholic high school in the entire state.
Although it was the only Catholic high school in the state when it opened, there had been other schools in Nevada which had closed decades previously. The Daughters of Charity first established “St. Mary’s School and Orphan Asylum” in 1864 in Virginia City. Both day students and boarders attended this school, and it is estimated that high school students were included in the student population. Father Patrick Manogue was instrumental in bringing the Daughters of Charity to Virginia City to establish the schools. By 1897 Virginia City Catholic schools had closed, suffering the same fate of numerous business and mining enterprises when the fortunes of the city had waned.
The first Catholic school in Reno, St. Mary’s Academy, opened in 1879. St. Mary’s Academy was founded by Mother Delores, a Dominican nun. The student body included students of high school age. Like its counterpart in Virginia City, this school and its sequel closed in 1892.
Today there are only two Catholic high schools in Nevada. Bishop Manogue remains, however, the only Catholic high school in the diocese of Reno which covers all of Northern Nevada.
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School is a separately incorporated, non-profit, diocesan school operated under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, currently Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg. As a diocesan school, it is useful to recall briefly the connection and history with this diocese.
Although previously under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of such western dioceses as Monterey, San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City, Nevada had no separate diocese or resident Bishop. The diocese of Nevada was formally created on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1931. The first Bishop of the state was K. Gorman of Los Angeles. The diocese covered all of the state’s 17 counties which in 1931 included 11 parishes, an elementary school, a hospital, and “an array of missions and stations.” Despite the considerable geographic expanse of the state, there was still no Catholic high school within the state’s boundaries.
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School is a separately incorporated, non-profit, diocesan school operated under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, currently Bishop Daniel H. Mueggenborg. As a diocesan school, it is useful to recall briefly the connection and history with this diocese.
Although previously under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of such western dioceses as Monterey, San Francisco, Sacramento and Salt Lake City, Nevada had no separate diocese or resident Bishop. The diocese of Nevada was formally created on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1931. The first Bishop of the state was K. Gorman of Los Angeles. The diocese covered all of the state’s 17 counties which in 1931 included 11 parishes, an elementary school, a hospital, and “an array of missions and stations.” Despite the considerable geographic expanse of the state, there was still no Catholic high school within the state’s boundaries.
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School Principals
-
Reverend Joseph Linde
(1948-1954) -
Reverend Casimir Paul, CSV
(1954-1958) -
Reverend Robert Despars
(1958-1962) -
Msgr. Donald Carmody
(1962-1969) -
Reverend George Wolf
(1969-1975) -
Reverend Philip O’Donnell
(1975-1976) -
Reverend Ralph Drendel, SJ
(1976-1982) -
Brother Matthew Cunningham, FSR
(1982-1988) -
Brother Ignatius Foster, FSR
(1988-1992) -
Robert Sullivan
(1992-1999) -
Rick Squires
(1999-2001) -
Tim Petersen
(2001-2007) -
Tim Jaureguito
(2007-2013) -
Lauren McBride, Interim
(2013) -
Rick Harris
(2013-2016) -
Brianne Thoreson
(2016-Present)
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School Presidents (since the inception of the Principal/President Model)
-
Brother Ignatius Foster, FSR
(1992) -
Brother Matthew Cunningham, FSR
(1993-1996) -
Carl Shaff
(1996-1999) -
James Williams
(2000-2002) -
Tim Petersen
(2003-2006) (Joint President/Principal) -
Reverend Charles Durante
(2007) -
M. James Toner
(2007-2011) -
Christopher Whitty
(2011-2013) -
M. James Toner, Interim
(2013) -
Maureen Kachurak
(2013-2015) -
Jack Trainor
(2016-2017) -
Yvonne Anxo, Interim
(2017-2018) -
Matthew Schambari
(2018-2024) -
Brother Christopher D. Hall C.F.C., Supervisor
(2024-current)
In 1948, Reno was the largest city in Nevada. There was only one Catholic elementary school in the Reno-Sparks area, St. Thomas Aquinas, which was located at the Cathedral of the same name. Students completing 8th grade at St. Thomas had no choice for high school except the public school option.
Bishop Gorman – still the Reno Bishop in 1948 – with the support of the Catholic community, decided the time to open a Catholic high school was overdue. The diocese owned property in an area which had most recently been the Flick Ranch east of Sparks along the Truckee River. The Bishop decided to dedicate this property for the high school. Many of the ranch house bedrooms were converted into classrooms.
However, there was considerable risk in starting a new Catholic high school. There was but one Catholic parochial elementary school, and finances in the diocese did not come without challenges. Nevada was considered mission territory, so concern existed as to whether the school could succeed.
Undaunted, the school opened its doors for the new school year in September 1948. Reverend Joseph Linde, a diocesan priest, was appointed the first principal. The first year of operation was limited to freshman, sophomore and junior classes. There was no senior class, so the first class to graduate was the class of 1950, consisting of 14 students: eight boys and six girls. The next graduating class (1951) was larger, consisting of 37 students.
Bishop Gorman – still the Reno Bishop in 1948 – with the support of the Catholic community, decided the time to open a Catholic high school was overdue. The diocese owned property in an area which had most recently been the Flick Ranch east of Sparks along the Truckee River. The Bishop decided to dedicate this property for the high school. Many of the ranch house bedrooms were converted into classrooms.
However, there was considerable risk in starting a new Catholic high school. There was but one Catholic parochial elementary school, and finances in the diocese did not come without challenges. Nevada was considered mission territory, so concern existed as to whether the school could succeed.
Undaunted, the school opened its doors for the new school year in September 1948. Reverend Joseph Linde, a diocesan priest, was appointed the first principal. The first year of operation was limited to freshman, sophomore and junior classes. There was no senior class, so the first class to graduate was the class of 1950, consisting of 14 students: eight boys and six girls. The next graduating class (1951) was larger, consisting of 37 students.
The school was named after Bishop Patrick Manogue, an Irish-born prelate who as a young man worked as a miner in the Moore’s Flat area of northern California. He worked there for approximately five years to support his orphaned family of six brothers and sisters. After working in the mines, Patrick Manogue entered the seminary at San Sulpice in Paris. Ordained in 1861, he was assigned to Virginia City where he served for some twenty years. Virginia City, home to the Comstock silver and gold lode, was a mining mecca at the time. Father Patrick Manogue was particularly suited for the assignment, given his own labor in the mines.
Father Patrick Manogue was consecrated coadjutor bishop of Grass Valley in 1881 and took over the diocese in 1884, moving diocesan headquarters to Sacramento in 1886. This diocese held jurisdiction over northern Nevada at the time. Because of the extensive association with the northern Nevada area, the selection of Bishop Manogue as the school name was seemly and appropriate. To this day the nickname attached to the school is the “Manogue Miners.”
Though the first location of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School at the Flick Ranch was dearly cherished and idyllic, the space constraints obliged a move to larger, improved headquarters after 9 years.
Father Patrick Manogue was consecrated coadjutor bishop of Grass Valley in 1881 and took over the diocese in 1884, moving diocesan headquarters to Sacramento in 1886. This diocese held jurisdiction over northern Nevada at the time. Because of the extensive association with the northern Nevada area, the selection of Bishop Manogue as the school name was seemly and appropriate. To this day the nickname attached to the school is the “Manogue Miners.”
Though the first location of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School at the Flick Ranch was dearly cherished and idyllic, the space constraints obliged a move to larger, improved headquarters after 9 years.
And so it was the second Bishop of Reno, Bishop Robert J. Dwyer, who moved and expanded the school to some 22 acres northeast of the University of Nevada. This new school opened in September 1957. The school grew and enjoyed acceptance and stature in the community.
Many priests and religious members served as faculty, chaplains and administrators at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. As a diocesan school, numerous diocesan priests served in this capacity. Religious orders likewise served the Bishop Manogue family. These included:
In 1992 the days of priests and religious figures serving as principals of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School changed course. At that time the school also adopted a President – Principal model of governance. Lay principals became the norm, and religious brothers in the persons of Brother Matthew Cunningham, FSR, and Brother Ignatius Foster, FSR, previous principals themselves, served as presidents. In 1996 the presidency, too, moved to lay persons.
As years progressed, the “building on the hill” near the University became increasingly inadequate and grew into increased disrepair. Classrooms were limited, and portable units were set up. The school could not be effectively wired for advances in technology, and sports facilities were lacking. The University of Nevada, interested in acquiring the area for its own expansion needs, made periodic inquiries into acquisition of the property. As a consequence of these factors, Bishop Manogue’s strategic plan in the late 1990s included a vision to build a new high school.
Many priests and religious members served as faculty, chaplains and administrators at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. As a diocesan school, numerous diocesan priests served in this capacity. Religious orders likewise served the Bishop Manogue family. These included:
- The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
- Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians)
- The Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians)
- Brothers of our Lady of the Holy Rosary
- Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Presentation Sisters)
- Sisters of St. Joseph (Josephites)
- Sisters of the Holy Family
- Sisters of St. Philip Neri
- Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
- Order of Friars Minor, Conventual (Franciscans)
- Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart (Sacred Heart Sisters)
In 1992 the days of priests and religious figures serving as principals of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School changed course. At that time the school also adopted a President – Principal model of governance. Lay principals became the norm, and religious brothers in the persons of Brother Matthew Cunningham, FSR, and Brother Ignatius Foster, FSR, previous principals themselves, served as presidents. In 1996 the presidency, too, moved to lay persons.
As years progressed, the “building on the hill” near the University became increasingly inadequate and grew into increased disrepair. Classrooms were limited, and portable units were set up. The school could not be effectively wired for advances in technology, and sports facilities were lacking. The University of Nevada, interested in acquiring the area for its own expansion needs, made periodic inquiries into acquisition of the property. As a consequence of these factors, Bishop Manogue’s strategic plan in the late 1990s included a vision to build a new high school.
Bishop Philip Straling, appointed Bishop of the Reno Diocese in 1995 when the state of Nevada was split into two dioceses—one headquartered in Reno and one in Las Vegas—was foresighted on many fronts. Bishop Straling moved to construct a new, improved, state-of-the-art facility. An ambitious capital campaign ensued.
Despite the considerable challenges of raising sufficient funds, a new school facility opened in the fall of 2004. Certain components of the old facility were incorporated in the new: the chapel steeple, the chapel’s stained glass windows, the brick archways, the vaulted ceilings, the Stations of the Cross among them. This third location and facility of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School has enjoyed praise and plaudits from virtually everyone who has seen it. Built for some 750 students on a campus of almost 50 acres, the school has the ability to expand if needed.
In 2004 the school was separately incorporated as a 501(c)(3) corporation. Also in 2004 Bishop Manogue Catholic High School moved to Division 4A within the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association for sanctioned sports and activities. Although considerably smaller than the threshold of the minimum of 1200 students for schools designated 4A, Bishop Manogue has proven itself highly competitive in all academic and athletic aspects of the division.
The school serves a population of families residing in the Reno-Sparks area as well as communities in Carson Valley, Fernley, Minden-Gardnerville, Incline Village, South Tahoe and Truckee, CA areas.
The school serves a population of families residing in the Reno-Sparks area as well as communities in Carson Valley, Fernley, Minden-Gardnerville, Incline Village, South Tahoe and Truckee, CA areas.
In the 2009-10 academic year, Bishop Manogue established an Independent Learning Center (ILC) for students with learning differences. In the academic year 2010-2011 the school established an International program for students leading to graduation.
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School has produced more than 7,000 alumni throughout the course of its history. In recent years 99% of the school’s graduates have continued their education at the college level.
Currently Bishop Manogue Catholic High School is accredited by the National Catholic Education Association and Northwestern Association of Accredited Schools and is a member of the Western Catholic Educational Association.
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School is a four-year Catholic, co-educational private high school in Reno, Nevada. The only Catholic high school in northern Nevada, it is a separately incorporated non-profit diocesan school operated under the authority of the Diocesan Bishop, Daniel H. Mueggenborg.
