Dear Parents and Alumni,
Over the last few days, a number of you have reached out to share your feelings about the decision to retire our current mascot. As you might expect, the responses ranged from enthusiastic to angry, supportive to accusatory. As one parent commented, no other Priory issue in recent history has prompted so much interest from so many people in such a short time.
We want to make sure that our original emails are not misunderstood and ask that you read them again. The decision to retire the Rebels was made in order to eliminate a symbol that did not communicate our Catholic Benedictine mission. Originally, our mascot was the Saints. The student body changed it in the 1960’s under the influence of a charismatic history teacher who specialized in the Civil War. For decades, spectators would waive and wear confederate flags to Priory games. Our gym had an enormous General Beauregard painted on one of its walls. Some time ago, we discontinued these practices; now we have discontinued the Rebel name that inspired them.
Our student leaders will once again have the chance to establish a new identity for our school teams. We are appreciative of the members of the Alumni Board, who have indicated their willingness to provide input to our student leaders as they work through this process.
At a time when we are seeking to clarify the communication of our school’s unique mission to the broader St. Louis region, we need to reassess the symbols, signs, and statements that we use, so that in everything Christ might be glorified. May the Lord guide us in this effort.
Yours sincerely in Christ, Abbot Gregory & Father Cuthbert
Saint Louis Priory School | 500 S. Mason Road | St. Louis, Mo. 63141 |
