History & Mission

The History of BCHS

The founder of Bishop Connolly High School, Bishop James L. Connolly, invited the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to staff this school for boys in 1966. In the fall of 1969, the Brothers of Christian Instruction joined the staff, bringing to Connolly a rich tradition of educational excellence which had marked Msgr. Prevost High School in Fall River since 1927. Ten years later, in 1980, Bishop Connolly High School became coeducational; successor to Bishop Gerrard High School. Bishop Gerrard’s vibrant history of Catholic education for young women had its traditions founded in Jesus Mary Academy, Sacred Hearts Academy, Dominican Academy and Mount Saint Mary reaching back to the early years of the 20th century. Today, as a Catholic college preparatory high school in the diocesan educational system of Fall River, Bishop Connolly High School serves students from over 30 cities and towns in an extensive geographical area covering southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The Mission of Our School

Rooted in Jesus Christ and the values of the Catholic Church, Bishop Connolly High School supports and develops students holistically to be “not only hearers, but doers of the Word.

We believe that… Each member of the school community has the obligation to live out the gospel value of love and service to others. All students can come to know and have a personal experience with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. A standards-based curriculum, rooted in the Gospel, facilitates academic, spiritual, physical, cultural, and social growth among students. Ongoing professional development in the spiritual, academic and pedagogical domains cultivate a more skilled and nurturing faculty. All students can learn provided they are given the appropriate contextual support. Critical thinking can be taught and nurtured. Students learn best in an environment that is safe, secure and accountable. A Catholic, holistic approach to education facilitates the development of life-long learners who become leaders in the secular world. Families are a vital component of the school community. Personal integrity, respect for diversity and multiculturalism should permeate the entire school community. There exists an obligation to attend to the health and well-being of members of the school community.

Our students will be able to… Demonstrate knowledge of the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. Make morally responsible decisions based on the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. Develop a culture of Christian Service to the neighbor. Acquire, integrate and apply essential knowledge. Access information from a variety of sources. Communicate effectively through reading writing, speaking, active listening, computing, the arts, and technology. Think critically. Solve problems effectively. Develop skills for life-long learning. Demonstrate moral personal, social, and civic responsibilities. Actively participate in and contribute to their Church and civic communities. Demonstrate respect for diversity in a global society.

Our Religious Vision The Jesuits’ long association with Connolly, from 1966 to 1995, laid a strong foundation upon which Connolly continues to build. That tradition calls young men and women to find God in all things, to experience their own value in God’s eyes, and to respond to that experience with generous service to God and others. This vision, which is the heart of Connolly, remains the central focus and mission of our faculty, staff and families. In order to appreciate and develop their talents, students are challenged to excellence. This goal is accomplished through academic classes, extra-curricular activities, religious instruction, and team cooperation. Interwoven throughout these experiences is the principle that to know God is to learn more about loving oneself, so as to love one’s neighbor. Consequently, our graduates, as people touched by the Spirit of God in the tradition of St. Ignatius, are prepared to be “not only hearers, but doers of the Word.”