Comedy and Cuisine

In this era of social upheaval and Civil Rights progress, St. Cecilia’s recognizes it is not an island. Omaha becomes embroiled in a school integration struggle and more families leave the core of the city. While it needs students, St. Cecilia’s earnestly follows the archdiocese policy of not becoming an outlet for white flight. “The whole idea of white flight was big in those days,” recalled Father Baxter. “We did not allow families to put their children into our schools to get away from integration. In our own schools, most of us were white, middle-class kids. But we were becoming more diverse. We had African-American students in our class, some Cuban refugees, an interesting mix of kids.”

In June 1968, Msgr. Graham retires, after 23 years as senior pastor, the longest tenure of any Cathedral pastor. He is replaced by Fr. Schad.

The Cathedral High School football team wins the state Class B football championship that fall. The high school boys’ basketball team claims the state Class B basketball championship in 1971.

St. Cecilia’s also receives Title 1 status in 1971. This is a federal program designed to bring additional money and academic services to lower-income areas. Enrollment in the grade school drops to 765. Both the parish and schools encounter financial difficulties, and Fr. Paul Peter becomes pastor. In October 1971, Archbishop Daniel Sheehan writes to Father Peter: "I am pleased that you have come to the conclusion that the Cathedral High School and Grade School must remain open... Your schools are important - not only to the young people who attend, but to the entire neighborhood." The parish starts bingo as a fundrais¬er that year, followed by its first Octoberfest two years later. Fr. Peter becomes well-known for “recruiting” help from parents.

In the 1971-72 school year, the grade school hits the human resources jackpot: A 15-year teacher named Bonnie Pryor, herself a St. Cecilia graduate, is named principal. Mrs. Pryor is the first lay principal, not only for St. Cecilia’s but also for the archdiocese. Despite her early apprehensions, Mrs. Pryor finds the nuns to be supportive. The nuns see Mrs. Pryor as carrying on their traditions. Sister Marie Patrice, the last nun still in the school, says Mrs. Pryor is as Dominican as any Dominican sister. "We Dominicans educate the whole child," Sr. Marie Patrice said. "I
look at all the awards these youngsters get, and the compete in everything: art, science, history day, everything. They have talent, and they show it, and the teachers get it out of them.”

From the start, Mrs. Pryor puts her own mark on the school.

Mrs. Pryor remembers corporal punishment during her student days at St. Cecilia’s. Her miscreant students, she decides, will experience the pain of sitting silently outside her office - on Saturday mornings. For a student in trouble, that is only a little better than being in her office. “You’d get that look,” Father Baxter said. “It was very pronounced. It’s a look that says, ‘I can see right through you.’ You didn’t want to mess with that.” Mrs. Pryor’s philosophy on discipline has never wavered: Be firm and consistent, yet reasonable. "A rule is a rule," Mrs. Pryor said, "but you have to be willing to make an exception." Maintaining order in the school, at times, has meant keeping outside influences at bay. For example, when long hair hit boys’ shoulders in the 1960s, Sr. Monique and then Mrs. Pryor just said no. Father Baxter recalls boys being called on their hair length in the late 60s, while Sr. Monique was principal. Even then, his seventh-grade English teacher, Mrs. Pryor, also would observe and comment. “If she thought your hair was too long, you would know it,” Father Baxter said. Mrs. Pryor took a similar hard line on body piercing years later, sending a student teacher packing when she showed up pierced.

During her quarter century in the principal’s office,Mrs. Pryor’s name has become synonymous with St. Cecilia’s.A product of the school’s tradition, she also carries it forward.