Through the vision of Father Lawrence Donovan, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, the first Roman Catholic high school in Ocean County opened its doors to 115 freshmen on September 15, 1962. The original staff included four Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, two lay teachers and two athletic instructors.  1966 marked the year of the first graduating class.

The original physical complex contained 12 classrooms, office facilities, a library, cafeteria, and medical suite.  More classrooms were added in 1965 and in 1970 a three-story wing provided additional classrooms, storage space and the lecture hall.   Under the direction of Mr. Steve Gepp, Athletic Director from 1963 to 1994, the original wooded tract of land developed into an attractive campus with athletic fields and spectator facilities.

 On August 14, 1983, Bishop John C. Reiss renamed the school in honor of its founding director, Monsignor Lawrence Donovan.  After Monsignor’s death in 1987, Monsignor Casimir Ladzinkski assumed the duties of pastor of St. Joseph Parish and Director of MDHS.  He served from March 19, 1987 to June 1996. Under his tenure, the new church was completed and the Class of 1993 became the first to celebrate graduation in the new worship space. In August 1996, Monsignor Sean P. Flynn became the school’s third director when he became pastor of St. Joseph Parish.  Under Monsignor Flynn’s direction, St. Joseph Parish constructed the athletic fields, for SJGS and MDHS on 26 acres on Whitty Road, which were officially opened in September 2000.  In March 2001, the school gym was renamed Steve Gepp Gymnasium.  Father John P. Bambrick is the school’s current director having been made pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in June 2008.

 In July 1988, Dr. Edward Gere replaced Sister Carmella DiMatteo who had been principal for 17 years.  In 1989, Dr. Gere expanded the administrative team to include the Office of Campus Ministry.  September 1989 also witnessed the opening of a computer laboratory and the Alumni Chapel.  Under his leadership in 1998, MDHS created an Enhanced Learning Community (ELC) through the educational format known as block scheduling.   In 2002, another standard was set when 40 hours of Christian Service became a mandatory requirement to graduate. (The requirement is now 70 hours.)  The school’s innovative Tablet PC program was launched in September 2003. 

In 2004, Dr. Gere formed the Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations to plan and ensure the future vitality of MDHS.  In conjunction with this office, Dr. Gere appointed a Leadership Advisory Council (LAC) to assist in planning for future needs.

Throughout its almost 50-year history, Monsignor Donovan High School has continued to uphold the motto, “Modern Excellence, Rich in Tradition.”  More than 7,000 students are graduates of  SJ/MDHS, Ocean County’s only Catholic High School.

 The School Emblem

The school emblem’s circular form encloses a center design containing an adaptation of the Dominican Order’s shield and motto Veritas, “truth.”  Maria Spes Mea “Mary, My Hope”, the motto of the late Bishop (of Trenton) George W. Ahr appears under the shield.  The lily to the left of the shield symbolizes the parish and school patron, St. Joseph.  The long-stemmed rose is symbolic of Mary, patroness of the school.

 The Griffin

In 1967, the SJHS Student Council sponsored a contest to name a school mascot.  Students submitted a variety of ideas from which the faculty chose five finalists.  The student body then voted on the nominations, and the Griffin secured the majority of the ballots.

The Griffin is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.  As the lion was traditionally considered the king of the beasts, and the eagle the king of the birds, the griffin was thought to be an especially powerful and majestic creature.  In antiquity, it was a symbol of divine power and
a guardian of the divine.

The Griffin symbolizes vigilance, swiftness, loyalty, and strength.  The Griffin functions as protector of man and the earth’s treasures, and as guardian of the dead.  In Christian tradition, the Griffin suggests Christ’s dual nature.  The eagle half signified Christ’s divinity and the lion half represented His humanity.