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Sacred Heart High School was a co-educational four-year Catholic high school in Vineland, in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The school had been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1963.

As of the 2009–10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 288 students and 23.8 faculty (on an FTE basis), resulting in a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

History

In 2012 the archdiocese announced plans to close the school, but it was given a reprieve. In the spring of that year the school, designed to accommodate an enrollment of 350, had 67 twelfth graders and a total of 202 students.

On April 12, 2013, it was announced that Sacred Heart High School would close at the end of the school year, on June 30. This announcement was made with no prior warning by Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan of the Camden Diocese. He maintained that his decision was final and gave no chance for the five-year plan that was established a year prior to take effect.

Post-closure St. Joseph High School in Hammonton was the closest remaining Catholic high school. That school closed in 2020, replaced by the private non-diocesan St. Joseph Academy.

Athletics

The Sacred Heart High School Lions competed in the National Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference comprised of both public and private high schools in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Gloucester counties, operating under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

The baseball team won the Non-Public Group C state championship in 1974 (defeating St. Mary High School of Rutherford in the playoff finals) and 1978 (vs. Immaculate Conception High School of Montclair), and won the Non-Public B title in 1999 (vs. Paterson Catholic High School) and 2000 (vs. St. Mary). The 1978 team won the Parochial C title with a 5-2 win against Immaculate Conception of Montclair in the championship game at Mercer County Park. The 2000 team finished the season with a record of 28-3 after winning the Parochial C title by defeating St. Mary of Rutherford by a score of 6-0 in the championship game.

The 1979 boys basketball team won the Non-Public Group C state title, defeating runner-up St. Anthony High School by a score of 75-68 in overtime in the championship game to finish the season with a 19-4 record.

The girls basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state title in 2003 (defeating Morris Catholic High School in the tournament final) and 2005 (vs. Morris Catholic). The team, coached by Steve DiPatri, won the 2001 Parochial South B state sectional championship with a 34–28 win against Gloucester Catholic High School. The 2001 team moved on to win the Group B state championship with a 65–53 win over Marist High School. In 2003, the team won the Parochial South B title again, capping off a 22-game winning streak that included defeating St. Rose High School 47–40 in the final game of the tournament. The team won the title again in 2005 over Holy Spirit High School. The 2005 team moved on to win the Group B state championship with a 74-37 drubbing of Morris Catholic High School.

In 2004, the girls' softball team won the Parochial South B state title over McCorristin Catholic High School with a 5–2 win in the tournament final.

The girls' tennis team won the 2006 Parochial South B title with a pair of 3-2 wins, over Bishop Eustace High School in the semifinals and over Moorestown Friends School in the tournament final.

In 2008, the boys' soccer team won the Non-Public B state championship by defeating Gill St. Bernard's School by a score of 1–0, ending the season with a 19–2 record and marking the program's first state title.

In 2012, the softball team won its first and only state championship, defeating Immaculate Conception High School of Lodi by a score of 3–1 in the Non-Public B tournament final, completing the season with a 27–6 record.

Notable alumni

• Nelson Albano (born 1954), politician who represented the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006 to 2014
• Grace Mary Flickinger (1935–2024, class of 1952), religious sister and college professor
• James Louis Schad (1917-2002), bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Camden from 1966 to 1993

References

1. ^ Member Directory Archived June 9, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed September 20, 2012.
2. ^ Data for Sacred Heart High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 10, 2011.
3. Catholic Schools Office, Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed July 17, 2007.
4. DiPento, Melissa (December 19, 2012). "Despite parish and school mergers in Camden Diocese, local Catholic schools say they're thriving". NJ.com. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
5. Cook Jr., Jim. "Camden Diocese closing Sacred Heart High School, St. Mary Magdalen, Notre Dame elementary schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 20, 2012, updated January 18, 2019. Accessed March 14, 2021. "The Camden Diocese and the Office of Catholic Schools announced today that they are closing three area schools. Sacred Heart High School in Vineland and St. Mary Magdalen Elementary School in Millville, as well as Notre Dame School in the Landisville-Newfield area, will be closing at the end of the academic year, according to a letter from Rev. Joseph Galante, bishop of Camden, to the parents of the students who attend the three schools."
6. Smith, Joseph P. "Sacred Heart to close", The Daily Journal, April 12, 2013. Accessed July 26, 2013.
7. Cook, Jim Jr. (January 21, 2012). "Three Catholic schools closing in Cumberland County region". Nj.com. Retrieved April 1, 2021. "For high school students, St. Joes in Hammonton is the closest to attend.".
8. Yates, Riley. "5 N.J. Catholic schools to close, including South Jersey football powerhouse", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. April 17, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "Five Catholic schools in southern New Jersey are closing permanently and include Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton,"
9. "Shuttered N.J. Catholic school revived as private academy by alumni, supporters". Nj.com. September 15, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
10. League & Conference Affiliations 2016-2017 Archived November 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017.
11. Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
12. "Bishop Eustace wins Parochial B title, 5-0", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4, 1978. Accessed February 7, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Bishop Eustace and Sacred Heart of Vineland each won NJSIAA state baseball championships yesterday in the Parochial finals held at Mercer County Park.... In Parochial C, Sacred Heart downed Montclair Immaculate, 5-2, behind Stan Burzinski (8-0). Designated hitter Martin Murray ripped a three-run homer to left field in the second inning to start the win."
13. "Yesterday's NJSIAA Baseball Finals", Home News Tribune, June 11, 2000. Accessed March 13, 2021. "Parochial B Sacred Heart 6, St. Mary-Rutherford 0: senior left-hander Cory Brown threw a five-hitter and struck out 14 in pitching Sacred Heart to a win over St. Mary of Rutherford at Toms River North. Sacred Heart (28-3) won its second straight state title while St. Mary's finished 17-10."
14. Boys Basketball Championship History 1919–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed March 26, 2024.
15. Covella, Jerry. "19-4 record and a State Title; Lions Cream of Local Crop", The Daily Journal, April 4, 1979. Accessed February 8, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "After years of frustration, Jim Mogan finally found that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Sacred Heart: New Jersey State Parochial C Champion. 'Winning this title is something I'll always remember,' Mogan, Sacred Heart's nine-year head coach said, recalling his team's 75-68 overtime win over highly-touted Saint Anthony's of Jersey City March 10.... In addition to leading the area with a 19-4 record, the Lions also grabbed their first Parochial C State Championship ever with a 75-68 overtime win over St. Anthony's of Jersey City in the season finale."
16. Girls Basketball Championship History: 1919–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
17. 2001 - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
18. 2001 - Parochial Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
19. "Camden Catholic takes on a tall foe - Defending state champ Bergen...", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 15, 2003. "Sacred Heart has won 22 in a row, including Wednesday's 47-40 win over St. Rose of Belmar in the South Jersey Parochial B championship."
20. 2003 Girls Basketball - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
21. 2005 Girls Basketball - Non-Public, South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
22. Seegers, Sandy. "Mo. Catholic hits the wall: Nothing goes right for Crusaders as title hopes dashed by Sacred Heart, Daily Record, March 13, 2005. Accessed July 17, 2007. "Little, if anything, went right on Saturday night for the Morris Catholic girls' basketball team in their 74-37 loss to Sacred Heart in the Non-Public B final at the Ritacco Center in Toms River."
23. 2005 Girls Basketball - Non-Public Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
24. 2004 Softball - Parochial South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
25. 2006 Girls Team Tennis - South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
26. NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
27. Staff. "Sacred Heart 1, Gill St. Bernard's 0 (High school Boys Soccer scores & results)", The Star-Ledger, November 18, 2008. Accessed July 10, 2011. "Matthew Bik scored the lone goal on an assist from his brother, Patrick, in the 75th minute to steer Sacred Heart to a 1-0 victory over Gill St. Bernard's in the NJSIAA/MAC Testing Non-Public B final last night at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.... Sacred Heart (19-2), which captured its first state title in coach Chris Meyrick's first season, took advantage of one of its few opportunities."
28. Lulgjuraj, Susan. "Softball: Sacred Heart wins state Non-Public B title after emotional season", The Press of Atlantic City, June 9, 2012. Accessed December 2, 2017. "On Saturday, Gavigan got the hit that started Sacred Heart (27-6) on the way to a 3-1 win over Immaculate Conception (Bergen County) at Toms River North for the Lions' first state Non-Public B championship."
29. Softball Championship History 1972–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed April 1, 2024.
30. Assemblyman Albano's Legislative Website, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 17, 2007.
31. "Vineland Catholic High Graduates 46 At Ceremony", The Press of Atlantic City, June 4, 1952. Accessed December 11, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Forty-six Sacred Heart High School seniors yesterday were graduated at impressive commencement exercises attended by a capacity throng.... Grace M. Flickinger, second honors and a four -year attendance certificate"
32. Pray, Rusty. "Bishop James L. Schad, leader in Camden Diocese", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 29, 2002, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 4, 2016. Accessed December 2, 2017. "Bishop Schad, who grew up in Vineland, N.J., and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in the town in 1935, 'wanted to be a priest forever,' said his brother Louis."

External links

• Sacred Heart High School
• Data for Sacred Heart High School from the National Center for Education Statistics
• South Jersey Sports: Sacred Heart HS

v t e Education in Cumberland County, New Jersey
School districts	K-8 Commercial Township Deerfield Township Downe Township Fairfield Township Greenwich Township Hopewell Township Lawrence Township Maurice River Township Stow Creek Township Upper Deerfield Township K-12 Bridgeton Bridgeton HS Millville Millville HS Vineland Vineland HS 9-12 Cumberland County Vocational Cumberland Regional Merged Vineland SHS South Vineland SHS North None Shiloh (to Hopewell Township)
Private schools	Closed Sacred Heart
Tertiary	Rowan College of South Jersey Cumberland County Campus (former Cumberland County College)
School districts by county: Atlantic Bergen Burlington Camden Cape May Cumberland Essex Gloucester Hudson Hunterdon Mercer Middlesex Monmouth Morris Ocean Passaic Salem Somerset Sussex Union Warren High schools by county Atlantic Bergen Burlington Camden Cape May Cumberland Essex Gloucester Hudson Hunterdon Mercer Middlesex Monmouth Morris Ocean Passaic Salem Somerset Sussex Union Warren

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden
Ordinaries	Bishops Bartholomew J. Eustace Justin J. McCarthy Celestine Damiano George Henry Guilfoyle James T. McHugh Nicholas Anthony DiMarzio Joseph Anthony Galante Dennis Joseph Sullivan Auxiliary bishop James Louis Schad
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden Parishes St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, Atlantic City St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church, Camden
Education	High schools Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, Pennsauken Township Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill Gloucester Catholic High School, Gloucester City Holy Spirit High School, Absecon Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield Paul VI High School, Haddonfield St. Augustine Preparatory School, Richland Wildwood Catholic Academy, North Wildwood Closed Sacred Heart High School, Vineland Saint James High School, Carneys Point Township St. Joseph Academy, Hammonton (now independent of Diocese)
Priests	James F. Checchio Miguel Pedro Mundo
Miscellany	Dante Hall Theater, Atlantic City St. Padre Pio Shrine, Landisville
Philadelphia portal New Jersey portal Catholicism portal

• 1927 establishments in New Jersey
• Educational institutions established in 1927
• Educational institutions disestablished in 2013
• Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools
• Private high schools in Cumberland County, New Jersey
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden
• Defunct Catholic secondary schools in New Jersey
• Vineland, New Jersey