The Xaverian Brothers' association with Worcester dates back to September 1893, when a pioneer community of four Xaverians arrived in the city to formally open Saint John's Parish Grammar School for Boys. In 1898 a three-year high school curriculum was introduced. A fourth, or senior year, was added in 1906, when the College of the Holy Cross dropped that institution's college prep or high school senior course to concentrate solely on college-level work.
In November 1953, John Cardinal Wright, who was then Bishop of Worcester, transferred the high school property under the new title of Saint John's Preparatory School of Worcester to the Xaverian Brothers. The school population in 1954 consisted of eleven Brothers and 354 students. The brothers purchased a large acre estate in neighboring Shrewsbury. This acquisition was the first step in the expansion of Saint John's to a regional high school serving all of Worcester County. In 1959, one hundred twenty-five acres at the foot of Main Street hill were purchased, and Pioneer Field came into being. In 1962, all classes had transferred to the Shrewsbury location. A gym and cafeteria were added in 1963 and 1964.[3]
2019 Sexual abuse
In July 2019, Saint John's High School released a statement detailing six Xaverian Brothers, along with one from another order, who sexually abused underage school children—including two offenses on school grounds—and were employed by the school. These were detailed in a report compiled by a former FBI agent.[4]
Athletics
St. John's has 16 varsity men's sports. In the fall, they compete in football, soccer, golf, and cross country. They also have a club rowing team in the fall. In the winter, they compete in swimming, basketball, wrestling, hockey, alpine ski, and indoor track and field. In the spring, they compete in rowing, lacrosse, baseball, and outdoor track and field.
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