Lebanon Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.BackgroundLebanon Catholic High School was established in 1929 and moved to its current location in 1959 when it became a Diocesan high school, serving 6 parishes in the area.History of Lebanon Catholic SchoolIn the beginningThe history of Lebanon Catholic High School began with the parish school of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Rev. Antonius M. Grundner, O.S.B.V.M., established the school in 1859.Willow StreetLay teachers maintained the original school, followed in quick succession by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1861, and the Sisters of Mercy in 1869. In 1870, the Sisters of Saint Joseph took charge of the elementary school, and by 1876, six Sisters cared for 200 students. The pastor was Rev. Aloysius F. Kuhlman. In 1926, it became necessary to formulate plans for a new building that would accommodate a greater number of students seeking admission into the parish school. Facilities were also needed to provide for a Catholic High School. The new building on Willow Street was dedicated on June 3, 1929, with Msgr. Adam Christ as pastor. The second floor of the building contained high school classrooms, science laboratories, and facilities for a commercial course. The first graduating class numbered 18, while Msgr. John F. Lawley was pastor.Assumption HillBy 1950, it was evident that the parish school building would not be adequate for increased enrollments. In 1953, the number of students in both schools was well over 1100, including 380 students in the high school. A building fund was officially launched by Msgr. Paul D. Weaver on December 8, 1954. The site for the new Lebanon Catholic High School was to be Assumption Hill; land on Chestnut Street purchased in 1949. On April 9, 1956, the Most Reverend George L. Leech, Bishop of Harrisburg, created a diocesan institution out of what had been a parochial high school. This meant that five other parishes would lend their support to the proposed new building, and thus a Board of Pastors was also created. On October 11, 1959, the new Lebanon Catholic High School on Assumption Hill was dedicated by the Most Reverend Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States. The first principal of the present school was Rev. Joseph C. Hilbert. Enrollment was 113, with a faculty of nine Sisters of St. Joseph and eight lay teachers.
