Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School Inc.

Our Vision - Welcoming all who desire our Catholic education, we are the school of choice for students and families seeking unique moments to learn, grow, and go forth to transform the world inspired by the light of Christ.

Our Core Values - Inspired by our Lord Jesus Christ and his servants Father Thomas Scecina and the Sisters of Saint Francis, we embrace:

Vocation: Honoring and living according to the unique gifts that God has given us in keeping with the teachings and values of the Catholic faith
Servant Leadership: Following Jesus’ example of meeting people’s needs and helping them fulfill their highest destinies
Stewardship: Receiving, cultivating, and sharing God's gifts gratefully and generously
Excellence: Living the Gospel and attaining the best possible results in all that we do.

Our Founding - In 1952, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis announced plans for a new Catholic high school on Indianapolis' Eastside that would be named Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in honor of the fallen chaplain. On September 21, 1953, classes began at Scecina under founding principal Father Harry Hoover, who had overseen the construction of the school.

The dedication of the school to Father Thomas Scecina took place on October 18, 1953. The first class of 219 students graduated in June 1957 and, within a decade, Scecina Memorial High School grew to a school of 1,400 students.

In August 2013, the school celebrated its 60th anniversary year. Scecina Memorial is the first archdiocesan high school in Indianapolis to reach this historic milestone. With great gratitude and reverence for its past, we look forward to another 60 years of motivating our diverse and gifted community of students to attain educational excellence, be lifelong learners, and live as servant leaders in the inspiring footsteps of Father Thomas Scecina.

Our Namesake - Scecina is proud to be named after Father Thomas Scecina, whose life story continues to inspire people throughout the world.

Father Tom was a priest with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis who served God and country as a military chaplain during World War II before perishing at sea with other U.S. prisoners of war in 1944.

While he was stationed in the Philippines during WWII, Father Tom ministered to U.S. soldiers as well as a large congregation of Filipinos. He served on the front lines, rescuing and ministering to the wounded and the dying. He survived the Bataan Death March and spent two years in a Japanese POW camp.

In the fall of 1944, the Japanese prepared to move the POWs by ship for slave labor, a practice in violation of the Geneva Convention. Father Tom and his fellow POWs boarded a Japanese ship called the Arisan Maru. The ship was not marked as a POW ship and was subsequently fired upon by a U.S. Navy submarine on October 24, 1944. Father Tom spent his final moments in the sinking ship hearing confessions, offering absolution, and giving comfort. Nearly 1,800 POWs, including Father Tom, perished at sea that day.

Father Tom posthumously received many military awards, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster. In November 2016, he was inducted into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame.