Notre Dame Prep regains religious order's sponsorship

After nine years under lay leadership, Notre Dame College Prep in Niles will once again be sponsored by a religious order.

The Brothers of Holy Cross, a teaching order more than 200 years old, will assume sponsorship of the school, its executive board announced Monday. The order sponsors 17 high schools and two institutions of higher learning across the United States, according to a news release.

The transfer of sponsorship was approved by Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich.

A lay board has been leading the school since 2006, when the Priests of Holy Cross ended their sponsorship after more than 50 years.

"We are delighted to welcome Notre Dame College Prep back to the Holy Cross family of educational ministries," said Brother Chester Freel, provincial superior of the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross. "It is clear from our visits and review of the school's programs that they have been guided by the charism of Holy Cross and have remained faithful to our way of educating young people at this critical time in their formation."

Notre Dame College Prep is the largest all-male school in the Chicago Archdiocese.