A walking tour, started six years ago, continues to connect incoming students with the Dominican history of St. Mary’s Dominican High School. The idea was from Mrs. Jill Cabes (’87), at the time Vice President of the school’s Office of Dominican Catholic Identity, who taught  8th grade religion classes about Dominican Identity.

“After the session, the religion teachers would test the students. Today each religion teacher plans his or her own annual tour. Before taking the tour, our students learn about the Order of Preachers, its founder St. Dominic, Mary and the Rosary,” shared Ms. Cynthia Donnelly, O.P., MATS., Religion teacher, who always includes on her tour Aquinas Hall that has photos of the first convent on Dryades Street, the second location uptown on St. Charles Avenue and Broadway, and today’s campus.

Teachers can select for their students’ tour a range of stops that are of blend of the past and present. On the first floor of St. Mary’s Hall is the Holy Spirit stained glass window with grape vines – a reminder that Jesus is the Vine and we are the Branches, and the five class colors are represented in the rays coming from the Holy Spirit. The Gayle and Tom Benson Science and Technology Complex incorporates form and function with details reflecting the school’s 164-year history and its Irish roots. Next to the complex is the soaring Veritas Tower. Its cupola is a replica of the one from Greenville Hall that was at the former Uptown campus. The roofline of the Technology Complex angles upward and points toward the Veritas shield of the tower – a reminder that Dominicans search for Veritas – Truth.

On Alumnae Hall’s west side is the statue of the Blessed Mother handing the rosary to St. Dominic, as he prepares to defeat Albigensian heresy. By the north side entrance is the school bell from the former Uptown campus. The St. Catherine of Siena statue is by the gym that bears her name.

“Our 8th Grade Religion teachers are forming our students through class tours as St. Dominic formed the original friars, by journeying together,” shared Dr. Maureen S. Wright, OP, MAPL, Vice President, Dominican Catholic Identity. “As we all can grow in faith through life experiences, our students are being offered an opportunity to actively experience the history of Dominican High School, and then make their story part of our tradition.”