February '25 School Spotlight - Cathedral High School in Houston, TX
- Isabella Maciejewski
- Feb 27
- 6 min read
Cathedral High School, founded on the vision of rebuilding Catholic culture through classical education, has been a beacon of faith and learning since its inception. The school’s mission is to form students to be conformed to Christ, to pursue truth, and to create beauty through a virtuous life. This vision unfolds within the evangelizing mission of the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, deeply rooted in the classical tradition and the spiritual insights of Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, whose motto, (“Heart speaks to heart”), guides the school’s educational philosophy.The origins of Cathedral High School trace back to 2016, when Bishop Steven Lopes, during a retreat at the Abbey of St. Walburga, conceived the idea of a Catholic school that would embrace the classical tradition of education - a tradition that embodied the centuries-old mission of the Church to form hearts and minds of young people to know Truth, Beauty, and Goodness and to allow themselves to be formed by these divine attributes. After a feasibility study and careful planning, construction of the school began, and the beautiful Gothic limestone building was erected on the campus of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston. The school officially welcomed its first class in August 2022, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Catholic education. They also quickly achieved accreditation status by the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops.
A defining aspect of Cathedral High School’s community engagement is its deep connection to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. As the cathedral, Our Lady of Walsingham serves as the principal parish of Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. Catholic education for the Ordinariate aims to recapture a sacramental worldview, equipping and empowering young people to see the deeper truth of God through Jesus Christ. The particular contribution of the Ordinariate is to ensure that this type of Christian formation, as developed in the English context, is lived by well-formed, intentional Catholics. Students, faculty, and families of Cathedral High School are actively involved in parish events, including the Fall Festival and monthly Evensong services, strengthening the bond between the school and the church.
In just its third year, Cathedral High School serves 52 students and anticipates nearly doubling in size next year, with a maximum enrollment capacity of 200 students. With a faculty committed to the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity, the school ensures a robust foundation for the school’s future.
Bishop Lopes' leadership and vision for Catholic education have been integral to the development of Cathedral High School. Remarkably, he has taken a personal and active role in shaping the school’s curriculum. Bishop Lopes’ hands-on involvement demonstrates his deep commitment to ensuring the school’s mission aligns with the Church’s broader educational vision. In his statement about the curriculum, Bishop Lopes says:
"Our intent is less is less education and more formation in the beauty of truth, in the rhythm of prayer, in the cultivation of virtue, and in the vibrancy of a creative imagination. Our students do not just take classes but learn to integrate various disciplines in the service of becoming rational, free, and virtuous persons. This curriculum expresses the methodology of a true liberal education, attentive to moments of integration while at the same time ensuring a firm grounding in theology, history and literature, grammar, logic, and rhetoric, mathematics, natural sciences, and the fine and performing arts. At the same time, primacy is given to the daily celebration of the liturgical life of the Church, since the first education of the soul is conducted not by programs but by the Word of God and sacramental grace."
- Bishop Steven Lopes
Central to Cathedral High School’s approach is its commitment to forming students in the pursuit of holiness and wisdom, aligning closely with the mission of the Ordinariate. The school’s education philosophy integrates the Four Pillars of the Ordinariate Patrimony:
Sacred Worship, Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Music, and Sacred Art
—each of which plays a crucial role in the formation of students.
Sacred Worship:
The daily celebration of Mass is at the heart of Cathedral High School’s spiritual life. Students begin each day rooted in prayer and sacramental grace, participating actively in the worship of God.
Sacred Wisdom:
The academic curriculum—ranging from language and mathematics to natural sciences, theology, and humanities—is infused with the gift of sacred wisdom. This approach invites students to view the world in its unity and relation to the Creator.
Sacred Music:
Music plays a pivotal role in the school, helping students express their faith through song and develop a deeper connection with the divine through sacred sounds.
Sacred Art: Art at Cathedral High School is viewed as participation in God's creation. Students are encouraged to engage in the true, good, and beautiful, developing a creative imagination that reflects the divine order of the world.
Cathedral High School takes great pride in its dedicated and highly qualified faculty. 77% of the faculty hold advanced degrees, ensuring students benefit from a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Each faculty and staff member begins the school year with the Profession of Faith and the Oath of Fidelity to the Magisterium, reaffirming their deep commitment to passing on the Catholic Faith through both their teaching and everyday actions. Additionally, every faculty member serves as a House Mentor, playing an integral role in Cathedral's mentorship program, which emphasizes virtue and service. The school also provides comprehensive support for its students with a full-time Chaplain, College and Vocations Counselor, and Director of Learning Enrichment, all dedicated to nurturing students' spiritual, academic, and personal growth.
Despite its youth, Cathedral High School has already achieved remarkable success in just three years. Students have excelled in academic competitions, earning over 20 awards in the National Latin Exam, including two gold awards for perfect scores. The school’s classical approach to education has earned it recognition as both an ICLE Member School and a Duc in Altum Member School. Furthermore, Cathedral High School partners with the University of St. Thomas (Houston) to offer dual-credit coursework, enabling students to earn college credits while completing their high school education.
At the core of Cathedral High School's culture is its House System, which fosters a strong sense of community and spiritual growth. The four Houses—Barberi, Benedict, Neri, and DeSales—are named after saints and blessed figures who profoundly influenced St. John Henry Newman. These Houses form the foundation of student life, supporting academic achievement, social development, and spiritual formation. Students also participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities, including the National Honor Society, Latin Club, Model UN, Polyphony Club, and athletics such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, and cross-country.
Service is central to Cathedral’s mission, with students regularly participating in outreach projects like assisting with the parish’s holy water fonts and supporting local organizations such as the Houston Coalition for Life and food pantries. Students also lead the charge for organizing the details of daily school mass, including choral and altar service. This commitment to service instills in students a sense of social responsibility and Christian charity, preparing them to lead lives of virtue.
Looking ahead, Cathedral High School is focused on its continued growth. While the school faces the typical challenges of a new institution, such as expanding facilities, sports programs, and curriculum, it remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting students academically and spiritually. Plans to expand its facilities and sustain a faculty that embodies the school’s Catholic mission are already underway. With its unique blend of academic rigor, spiritual depth, and community engagement, Cathedral High School is poised to continue shaping the next generation of Catholic leaders who will carry the mission of the Church into the world and contribute to the rebuilding of Catholic culture.
To learn more about Cathedral High School, watch the video below.
https://youtu.be/pl0PtW2Z1AI
"As teachers at Cathedral High School, we know, as St. John Henry Newman put it, 'what we are about,' and structure our lives—pedagogy, curriculum, activities—toward that. In our distracted lives, we strive to remember that all things should tend toward Him who gave us every good gift. At CHS, we begin in worship, teach, create, and wonder not for mere utility, but to return in worship. We work hard in sciences, math, philosophy, theology, and the arts to show students what truth, goodness, and beauty are, and what they are created for."
-Mrs. Jessica Caruthers, Dean of Houses, Founding Faculty Member in Theology, CurriculumCommittee
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