St. Francis High School celebrates centennial with special blessing

St. Francis High School marked a monumental milestone on Saturday with a blessing of the 100-year-old old cornerstone. Located on the shores of Lake Erie in Athol Springs, St. Francis kicked off a series of centennial celebrations with the blessing following a special Mass for students, parents, alumni, staff and supporters.

Father Alex Cymerman, OFM Conv., a 1956 graduate of St. Francis, took the congregation down memory lane during his homily. He believes he is the only Franciscan Friar around who knew Father Justin Figas, OFM Conv., the iconic founder of the school, which opened in 1927.

During Father Cymerman’s years as a student – 1952-1956 – tuition for one year was a whopping $75 for students who lived at home. For students who also boarded at St. Francis it was $375. That included a bed, a locker, three meals a day, a quality Catholic education, “and a lot of love, attention and discipline from the Franciscan Friars.”

The standard schedule of the day included Mass at 7 a.m. every day, confessions, and night prayer that took place in the chapel after evening studyhall.

Father Justin would celebrate Sunday Masses, reminding the students to study hard.

“One thing that Father Justin was always very insistent on, he wanted us to have good jobs to raise our family, and be prepared to take up leadership roles in our community, and also be faithful to the Catholic tradition,” Father Cymerman said, adding he would encourage local businesses to hire St. Francis students.

As immigrants came to Buffalo and the surrounding area at the end of the 1800s, they wanted to hold onto their cultural traditions in their new country. They wanted a school for their children, a church to celebrate their customs, a grocery store to buy their special foods, and a saloon “for whatever you do in saloons,” all within walking distance from their homes. 

“People would say right now that over the years, schools have merged, churches are closing, the grocery store turned into supermarkets, but the saloons are still there,” Father Cymerman said. “It’s important to understand why we have so many churches in the city. Everybody wanted their own place within walking distance. That’s where the history of St. Francis High School comes in.”

Father Justin became very interested in the needs of the Buffalo Polish American community. They wanted a high school. So, in 1910, Father Justin gathered local Polish American business leaders and within one year, raised $100,000, equal to $3.3 million today.

Ground was broken July 12, 1925. St. Francis opened a year and a half later.  

The school attracted the attention of students from different parts of New York state, Connecticut, Massachusetts. If a boy seemed to have a vocation toward the priesthood they’d come to St. Francis.

“When I graduated in 1956, 10 of my fellow classmates, from a class of 45, entered seminary,” Father Cymerman said.

“Today, we thank the people who have made this excellence possible in the past, and thus commit ourselves to make this excellence continue for the next 100 years.”

Father Matthew Foley, OFM Conv., president of St. Francis High School, blessed the cornerstone just outside the school chapel following Mass.

“Jesus says something built solid, something built on rock is something that will last. Jesus Christ, He is the true cornerstone on which each of our lives of discipleship must be built. He is the true cornerstone on which the Franciscan charism has been built, and Christ is the true cornerstone on which St. Francis High School has been built. For generations students have been formed here and we must continue to form young men open to the Gospel of Jesus. He is the true cornerstone on which we can build our life,” he said.

This is the first of several centennial celebrations coming up. In 2027, the Conventual Franciscans will celebrate the opening of the school. In 2031, they will have their 100th graduating class.

The school is currently renovating its fine arts area, weight room, and student dining hall for the upcoming school year. 

“For 100 years we’ve been forming well rounded men. The values that our guys have been living by for almost 100 years and that we’re forming today are men of excellence, men who are respectful, men who are humble, and men who are concerned about their brothers and sisters. Those are our core values and it reflects in everything we do,” said Father Foley.