Our School

Holy Cross High School welcomes the general public to attend  In His Path, a 9/11 Memorial Program on September 11 at 7:00pm at the school on 587 Oronoke Road in Waterbury, CT  to commemorate Father Francis E. Grogan, C.S.C., a beloved faculty member. Other members of our local community who lost their lives on September 11th will also be remembered. 

Register Online for This Event 

Special guests for this event include the the Hon. Neil M. O’Leary,  Mayor of the City of Waterbury,  Ann Marie Brown,  Fr. Grogan’s sister, Holy Cross High School Board Chair, Jack Senich ’84, Rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Father James Sullivan, and Reverend Dennis McGuire.  Waterbury Police and Fire Color Guard and Police Pipes & Drum will also be present. 

The purpose of this event is multifaceted. First, the general public can view  In His Life: The Life and Untimely Death of Father Francis E. Grogan, C.S.C., a documentary about Father Grogan, allowing them to gain insight into his remarkable life and contributions. 

The short film, which contains reflections and stories from 28 alumni in the 1970s is produced by filmmaker Gorman Bechard ‘77.  The documentary provides a powerful look at the extraordinary life and impact of Father Grogan, who was a treasured figure within our school and community. Watch the trailer for the documentary below. 

Additionally, the event serves as a poignant way for us to honor and remember the courageous residents of Connecticut, as well as the brave firefighters and police officers, who perished on 9/11. 

“Holy Cross High School wants to give the public an opportunity to learn about Fr. Grogan, someone very special to our school.   This event is not about his death.  It is about how he lived his  life, and how his values and his way of proceeding had such a positive impact on those he encountered in his time here on earth.  Fr. Frank’s was a life that embraced hope and kindness.  The tragedy of 9/11 can never take away from his profound goodness.  In fact it serves as a call to action for all of us to create a better world for our children.” said Dr. Thomas C. Pellegrino, President, Holy Cross High School. 

“The idea for this event originated from a previous commemorative event held at Holy Cross High School held during the regular school day,” said Dr. Pellegrino. “ There was a desire to make this event accessible to the general public. By doing so, it was hoped that a different context could be provided, one that goes beyond what is typically offered to our students.”

In his memory, the Father Francis E. Grogan, C.S.C. Legacy Fund was founded at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.  This new fund will:

• Support curricular and co-curricular programs and speaker series that explore the life and legacy of Father Francis Grogan, C.S.C.
• Provide support to the Holy Cross Annual Fund to help with the myriad of needs the school and its student body faces on a daily basis
• Assist students in need of financial support to participate in service experiences and retreats
• Support facility upgrades at Holy Cross High School including improvements to our Chapel
• Provide additional funding for the service and mission work accomplished each year by our Holy Cross community, for events such as retreats and liturgical offerings, Founders Week, Mission Trip, Peer Ministry, Day of Service, Christmas and Catholic Schools Week Service Projects and much more