Rosary High School to host 60th Anniversary Opening Mass Aug. 28
In the early 1960s, increasing enrollment in local Catholic high schools prompted Bishop Lane of Rockford to ask the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, to staff a high school for young women in Aurora, Illinois.
Bishop Lane presided at the ground-breaking ceremonies on a 20-acre campus on North Edgelawn Drive on Sunday, July 11, 1962, and he later announced the name to be Rosary High School.
Classes began in the fall of 1962, and the first class graduated in 1966.
A Rosary education is built on the four pillars of Dominican life: Prayer, Study, Community and Preaching.
A Rosary student is encouraged to "preach with her life." Rosary students regularly perform double and triple the number of required service hours each year, and recently established an annual "Day of Service" to go out into the community to serve.
Rosary students consistently perform well on standardized testing and in academic competitions, and are accepted at their first choice colleges throughout the country, and are offered a large number of scholarships.
Artistically, students perform in multiple choirs and orchestras, musicals and plays, and art and photography exhibitions.
Athletically, students compete in golf, volleyball, tennis, swimming, cross country, cheerleading, basketball, soccer, softball, and track and field.
The school recently added lacrosse and is adding bowling this year. Rosary athletes regularly sign to play their sport in college.
Rosary will celebrate its 60th anniversary with activities throughout the year, beginning with an Opening Mass on Sunday, Aug. 28.
All members of the Rosary Community are welcome to join them for any event.
The 60th Anniversary Opening Mass is open to all members of the Rosary community, past and present.
Mass begins at 1 p.m. in the auditorium, 901 N. Edgelawn Drive.
It will be followed by refreshments and school tours led by the Student Ambassador Leadership Team.
RSVP for the Mass at www.rosaryhs.com/60mass or call (630) 896-0831 and leave your name and the number attending.
Events throughout the year include special events for alumnae, young families, and those interested in music/theater, athletics, and trivia.
• Rosary's annual Candlelight Ball, now called "Loyal to the Royals," will be held Feb. 25. All are welcome to attend.
• For alumnae, Rosary is bringing back an all-school reunion luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 12. The Dominican Alumnae Awards, honoring graduates for professional and community service, will be presented Nov. 12 as well.
• The annual Remembrance Mass on Sunday, Nov. 13, includes all deceased Rosary alumnae and all family members of the Rosary Community who have passed in the last year.
• For alumnae and community members with young families, Rosary is offering trick-or-treating for Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 29; a pancake breakfast with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 4; and an Easter egg hunt on March 25.
• The fall musical will be "Fiddler on the Roof," featuring Rosary and Marmion students, on Thursday to Sunday, Nov. 3-6. Rosary previously staged this show in 1977, 1982, and 1995, and Marmion in 2006. Show alumni will be recognized at the performances.
• All are welcome to join in for Trivia Night on Jan. 14 at Rosary, sponsored by the Rosary Royal Parents (formerly Parents Auxiliary). Prizes will be awarded for trivia winners and for table themes. Alumnae are encouraged to get a table with their classmates and join in.
• Sports Boosters is sponsoring an "NCAA Take Over the Tavern" event at Two Brothers Roundhouse for the March Madness tournament. All past Rosary athletes and supporters are invited to attend.
• The anniversary year will close with Fine Arts Dinner Theatre sponsored by Rosary Fine Arts Boosters. Alumni from Rosary and Marmion are welcome to perform, solo or in a group. This year's theme is "Decades," and they are looking for popular songs from the past 60 years. Current students from both schools will perform as well. All are welcome.
Watch Rosary's website at www.rosaryhs.com/60 for full details as they become available.
Rosary High School is a Catholic, college-prep high school for young women sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois. Rosary creates a sisterhood of truth, faith and strength. For more information about Rosary High School, visit www.rosaryhs.com.