Catholic Identity

Faith & Service

Faith is not a separate program at Kolbe — it is the foundation that shapes how we teach, how we treat one another, and what we ask of our graduates.

Named for a Saint

St. Maximilian Kolbe

Our school is named for St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish Franciscan friar who, imprisoned at Auschwitz, voluntarily took the place of a stranger condemned to die. He was canonized a martyr of charity.

His witness — sacrifice for the dignity of another human being — anchors the school’s identity and the call we ask every graduate to carry forward.

“Greater Love Has No One.”
John 15:13

Forming Scholars. Forming Saints.

The cathedral nave and altar — the spiritual home that gives Kolbe Cathedral its name

Lived, Not Labeled

Catholic identity in practice.

Five ways faith shows up in the ordinary days of a Kolbe student.

Religion, all four years
A four-year graduation requirement — every student takes religion every year, alongside the full college-prep curriculum.
Mass & prayer
Mass and prayer are part of the rhythm of the school week — including daily Mass at St. Augustine’s Chapel and Masses for the great feasts.
The Sacraments
The Sacraments are made available to students throughout the school year, meeting each student where they are on their journey.
Service to others
Service to the broader community is woven into student life — faith put into action beyond the classroom walls.
Whole-person formation
Faith Formation is paired with academic, social, emotional, and physical formation — the whole person, not a single part.

Kolbe Cathedral students gathered together as a community

Open to All

A Catholic home for every background.

Kolbe Cathedral was established by the Diocese of Bridgeport, but admission is open to students of all faiths and backgrounds. A multicultural community is welcomed into a Catholic learning environment that respects each student’s path.

≈45%

Black

43%

Hispanic

12%

Asian / White

Sacred Spaces

Where the school gathers to pray.

The cathedral in the heart of Bridgeport is the spiritual home that gives our school its name — and has shaped generations of Cougars.

Spiritual Life

A life informed by the Gospel.

As a family of faith, Kolbe challenges administrators, teachers, and students to a higher standard — a life informed by the Gospel inside and outside the classroom. Regular visits from clergy, daily Mass, retreats, and the sacraments give that life its rhythm.

Daily Mass at St. Augustine’s Chapel

Offered at 7:00 AM — and every class begins with prayer.

Spiritual Director

Father Gregory

frgregory@kolbecaths.org

Masses & Liturgies

Opening of the School Year Mass
Bishop's Mass & All Saints Mass
Immaculate Conception Mass
Senior Baccalaureate Mass
Ash Wednesday & Holy Thursday prayer services
Daily Mass at St. Augustine's Chapel

Sacraments & Prayer

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Advent & Lenten seasons)
Confession by appointment with the Spiritual Director
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Every class begins with prayer
Chapel open for prayer; box for prayer requests

Retreats & Formation

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior & Senior retreats
Faculty retreat
Freshman Orientation & Open House liturgies
Junior Ring Ceremony
Vocation Awareness Day & VOCARE participation
Catholic Schools Week

Our Story

A union of two proud traditions.

The Franciscans

Kolbe Boys’ High School

Staffed by the Franciscans — the order of our patron, St. Maximilian Kolbe.

The Daughters of the Holy Spirit

Cathedral Girls’ High School

Staffed by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, in the heart of Bridgeport.

In 1976, under Bishop Walter Curtis, the two schools merged to become Kolbe Cathedral. More than four decades later, we continue both traditions as a strong, diverse, value-centered college prep — fully accredited by the NEASC and the Connecticut Department of Education.

The cathedral at the heart of the Kolbe Cathedral community in Bridgeport, Connecticut

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