Verbum Dei High School
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Mission Statement
Verbum Dei Jesuit High School - founded in 1962 - is a Catholic, Jesuit, college and career preparatory complemented by our corporate internship program, serving young men of Watts and the surrounding communities who are economically and academically underserved. We develop self-confident gentlemen who are intellectually motivated, spiritual, contemplative, and courageous in their pursuit of a more humane and just world.
About This Cause
Verbum Dei, the Word of God, is a Jesuit school in Los Angeles, California. Nestled in the tiny neighborhood of Watts, Verbum Dei opened its doors in September 1962 at the request of Archbishop John McIntyre. Fr. Joseph Francis, SVD was named principal. Fr. Francis is believed to be the first African American to become principal of a Catholic high school in the country and went on to become one of the first African American Roman Catholic bishops. The school was under the governance of the Society of the Divine Word. Fr. Francis was passionate about creating an exemplary educational institution for the Watts community. In 1962 he wrote about his progress and goals stating, “We intend to be second to none.” This goal continues to this day! In 1967, Fr. Francis was appointed Provincial for the Western region of the Society of the Divine Word and appointed Fr. Fisher Robinson principal. Under his leadership the student body increased to 332 students. Fr. Robinson was instrumental in establishing fundraising efforts which allowed Verbum Dei to remain open despite financial issues occurring in the Archdiocese. This was also the time when Verbum Dei began its athletic legacy. From 1969 to 1974, Verbum Dei won an unprecedented six consecutive CIF basketball championships and compiled an overall record of 263-21. Verbum Dei produced some of the most prominent basketball players including Raymond Lewis, Keith Baptiste, Lewis Brown, Dwight Slaughter, Ricky Hawthorne, David Greenwood, Roy Hamilton, Leonel Marquetti, and Maurice Williams. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s the school faced surmounting financial struggles. The Archdiocese being unable to provide the subsidies it had contributed previously along with a change in the immediate neighborhood contributed to a smaller personnel and student body. Even with those obstacles, Verbum Dei remained committed to educating the young men of the community. In the spring of 2000, Cardinal Mahony asked the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order) to bring their vast educational experiences and expertise to Verbum Dei High School. The Jesuits agreed to enter into a partnership with the Archdiocese and with the dedicated lay faculty of Verbum Dei. The Jesuits, looking to save the school, brought on the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), an internship program that provided a method to help our students pay for a college preparatory school education AND receive real world experience. The program was patterned after the highly successful Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago that now educates approximately 550 students annually using this model. The CWSP program has become a stellar addition to Verbum Dei’s academic program in addition to our strong campus ministry, student support and athletic programs. Verbum Dei’s commitment to creating young men who are Open to Growth, Intellectually Motivated, Spiritual, Loving, Commitment to Doing Justice, and Work Experienced continues the legacy that began more than 50 years ago. There is no school like Verbum Dei!