St Cecilia Academy

read moreOur school is a rich blend of age-old wisdom and dynamic discovery, a place where learning and laughter happily coexist. St. Cecilia is a community where girls from diverse backgrounds discover a home not just for four years, but for life. At St. Cecilia Academy, we have faith in young women: in who they are, in what they can become, in the greatness God intends for each one of them. I love St. Cecilia Academy! Four years ago, I would have considered this place to be a fairytale, but now I am here and it is real.

read moreBishop James Whelan, O.P., the second Bishop of Nashville, asked Dominican Sisters from Somerset, Ohio to establish a school that could provide an excellent faith-based education for young women. Four sisters left Ohio in August of 1860 to start the school, and St. Cecilia Academy opened its doors for classes on October 4, 1860. During the summer of 1861, the Civil War began. However, St. Cecilia Academy remained open. Despite the ongoing war, the sisters decided to begin construction on the school's first permanent building, which was completed in time for St. Cecilia Academy's first graduation in June of 1862.

read moreAs human beings, we "can only find ourselves through a sincere gift of self, " as St. John Paul II said. Giving of oneself through service is an opportunity to participate in the charity and servant leadership of Christ, and it brings students into an essential encounter with people from all walks of life. This exchange helps them recognize the dignity of all persons and better understand God, themselves, and others. Through outreach to people and communities in Nashville and beyond, students learn personal and civic responsibility and are transformed in ways they do not always expect.