Roman Catholic High gets new president, rector

A veteran educator and priest has been chosen to lead Roman Catholic High School for Boys, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today.

Father Joseph Bongard was named president and rector of the school effective Aug. 1.

Bongard is a 1977 graduate of Roman. He previously served as the school's rector from 2006 to 2010.

"He knows the Roman Catholic High School community well," said Christopher Mominey, the archdiocese's secretary for Catholic education. "Father Bongard is an obvious choice to lead the young men of Roman Catholic High School for Boys both spiritually and academically into a new chapter of an already rich history of Catholic education in Philadelphia."

Bongard's appointment follows the departure of the school's former president and rector Father John B. Flanagan, who in June was named pastor of St. Madeline Parish in Ridley Park.

Bongard's previous assignments include school minister and athletic director for the former Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School in Norristown, assistant principal for academic affairs at the former Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia, and president and principal of the former St. Pius X High School in Pottstown.

The school, at Broad and Vine Streets, educates about 1,000 boys from across the city.