Dear Friend of CCHS,
Students are back and we have hit the ground running at Steubenville Catholic Schools!
Prayer, patriotism, and pep are all found in abundance in our first week!
We are less than a month away from our 2026 Crusader Homecoming! Check out our sponsors in Making It Possible who are making this year’s celebration a reality!
This month, we feature Ray Saccocia (’72) in our Crusader Heritage section!
Check out this month’s recap:
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1. Focused On Faith
2. Crusaders in the Classroom
3. Awesome Athletes
4. Amazing Art
5. Crusader Heritage – Ray Saccocia ’72
6. Making it Possible – THANK YOU SPONSORS!
7. Crusader Quote
Focused On Faith
First Mass in Lanman Hall
CCHS Pastoral Administrator, Rev. Michael Gossett (’01) celebrated our opening Mass in Lanman Hall.
In his homily, he exhorted our students and faculty to heed the day’s Gospel to always be vigilant for the return of Our Lord. He called us on not to fear, but to instead use each minute as a gift to love God so that we will be prepared and filled with joy when we meet Jesus face to face.
BJKM Holy Hour
BJKM held a family Eucharistic Holy Hour on the first Sunday of the school year. There is no better way to start our semester than to gather in prayer before Our Lord Jesus! We hope to have more Holy Hours in the coming months.
Successful BJKM Summer Reading and Math Camps!
Here’s to a summer filled with books, learning, laughter, and lots of reading memories! Mrs. Becca helped our BJKM students grow in their love of reading.
Students in grades 1-4 had a fantastic time learning with Mrs. Dankert during summer math camp. They brushed up on their math skills through fun, hands-on lessons and activities designed to help them feel confident and ready for the upcoming school year.
Welcoming New Crusaders!
Opening of the Year Flag Ceremony
First Pep Rally & Homecoming Court!
Culinary Arts Program Sponsor – We Are So Thankful!
Thank you to all our faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and volunteers who work so hard to give our Crusaders a top-tier Catholic education!
Awesome Athletes
Meet the Team!
2026 Battles on the Grid-Iron
Thank You to our 2026 Football Program Sponsors!
Catholic education is made reality because of our friends and sponsors.
Our long tradition of athletics has been such an incredible part of the Crusader experience for generations.
We are so thankful for our 2026 Football Program Sponsors who have made this year’s season possible!
Thank you!
PREMIER FOOTBALL PROGRAM SPONSORS
Attorney Francesca Carinci Class of 1977
Michael & Sherri Barber
Anthony Mining Company
Franciscan University of Steubenville
CRUSADER FOOTBALL PROGRAM SPONSORS
Professional Tire
Trinity Health System
GOLD FOOTBALL PROGRAM SPONSORS
St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
Interstate Waste Services
BLUE FOOTBALL PROGRAM SPONSORS
Dr. Eric Balzano
Mosti Funeral Home
A&B Pharmacies
The Ridgefield Group, Inc.
FRIENDS OF CRUSADER FOOTBALL
Hollywood Center Inc | Hausers Furniture Co | Wheeler Funeral Home | FOP Lodge #1| Steubenville Electrical LMCC | KOC #4361 | James White Construction Company Friend | First Choice America FCU | Newbrough Photo | Marcino Enterprises LLC | Gus’s Goodies | Naples Spaghetti House | Village Sleep Center | Shorac Funeral Home
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Click Here For 2026 Crusader Football Schedule
Volleyball Victories!
Crusader Cross Country
Thank you to our Athletics Staff, Coaches, and Volunteers for making our sports programs a reality for our students!
Summer Color Guard Camp
2026 Crusader Band Sponsors
Crusader Band continues year after year thanks to the generosity of the amazing people and businesses who step forward and generously sponsor us.
Thank you to the following 2026 Band Sponsors:
Attorney Francesca Carinci, Crusader Class of 1977
Wintersville Catholic Parishes
Professional Tire
A&B Pharmacies
The Ridgefield Group, Inc.
Thank you to our Art Teachers, Band Directors, volunteers who make the arts possible for our students!
Crusader Heritage – Ray Saccoccia
Raymond (Ray) Saccoccia (‘72) says he will forever be inspired by a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln that hung on the wall of John Nese’s classroom “Don’t point the way. Get out front and lead the way”. He saw this mindset modeled daily by the teachers, staff, and coaches at CCHS, making a profound impact on his friendships, formation, and his Faith.
Ray’s parents sent him to St. Anthony’s School for elementary before he came to CCHS. “I was raised by parents who placed God above all else and family was a close second. These values were reinforced by the teachers and coaches that I was fortunate to be studying under. The fact that practicing my faith today is a priority is due to these people and the time they spent with me in my Catholic upbringing.”
Like many Crusader alumni, Ray experienced the love of Jesus Christ and the mission of the Catholic Church through the founder of the Diocese of Steubenville and the builder of CCHS, Bishop John King Mussio.
“He was a man of God that had the attention, admiration and respect of every student that walked the halls of Central throughout the years that he served as our shepherd. I say this with total confidence, when he celebrated Mass in Lanman Hall or St John Arena it made you proud to be a Catholic and from Catholic Central. His constant encouragement to love God and to turn away from Satan made us all better Catholics. All who knew him are better people because of it.”
Ray was proudly part of the only undefeated and untied CCHS Football Team, the 1971 State Championship Team. He has many fond memories of his time with his Crusader Classmates. “My favorite stories from my days as a Crusader will always revolve around the lifelong friendships that I made and hold so dear to my heart. Special times to remember are playing football and our 1971 State Championship team. The Big 8 basketball league, SEARCH, the Saturday night dances in the cafeteria.” For Ray, as good as all of these were, the most important thing he says he received from CCHS was, “the foundation of my faith in Jesus Christ.”
Ray expressed gratitude for both the academic and character formation he received as a Crusader, “My education at Catholic Central gave me the confidence to be more than just what my resume stated. I was always encouraged to be a person of action. To believe in myself and my abilities.”
When asked what advice he would give to current students, Ray said to “not be afraid to think outside the box” and that it is “wise to welcome the unexpected in life and at all times try to remain humble.”
After graduation, Ray went on to earn his B.S. in Education at the University of Akron and his M.S. in Education Administration from the University of Dayton. He is now retired after 31 years of teaching and coaching at Steubenville City Schools, and enjoys time visiting with his son Anthony and daughter Karly, and his five grandchildren (Carlo, Olivia, Giada, Dominic, & Vincent).
Ray has also dedicated his time to help The Frank Colallela Charitable Foundation in its mission of perpetuating the memory and legacy of a fellow CCHS Graduate, Frank Colallela (‘72) who passed away in 2022 through fostering and supporting education.
“The Frank Colallela Charitable Foundation is our tribute to our friend and teammate who lived life with a smile on his face and love in his heart . He would give you the shirt off his back and want nothing in return.”
“We are driven to keep his name alive and share his story for years to come through offering scholarships to seniors from area schools. It is the least we can do for a friend who gave us all so much.”
The Third Annual Frank Colallela Charitable Foundation Golf Outing will be hosted Friday, October 2 at the Steubenville Country Club.
Ray has been so grateful for the success the Foundation has had in its mission.
“In Cools memory we have all been humbled by the generosity given to the Foundation. In three years we have awarded $10,000 to area seniors. Our only hope is that each awardee is as proud to receive it as we are to award it.”
**If you are interested in signing up for a foursome or as a sponsor for the 2026 Frank Colallela Charitable Foundation Golf outing, email Ray and Cool’s fellow classmate Paul Carapellotti at [email protected]
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Click Here To Learn More About the Frank Colallela Charitable Foundation
We welcomed the Class of ’76 for their 50th Reunion!
The weekend featured an Ice Breaker at Scaffidi’s, a tour of CCHS, a Dinner/Dance at Florian, a Saturday Tailgate and Crusader Football game (the rain did NOT stop them!) , and Sunday Mass at St. Agnes followed by Brunch at Seven Ranges.
A total of 75 classmates and 37 guests were able to attend the weekend. Congrats and God bless to the Class of ’76 on 50 years!
Homecoming is such a fun and special time for all Crusaders!
We are so grateful for our 2026 Homecoming Sponsors who are making this year’s celebration possible!
Check out these incredible friends of Catholic education and our Crusader students:
Premier Sponsors
Attorney Francesca Carinci Class of 1977
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Nelsons of Steubenville
Crusader Sponsors
Professional Tire
Weirton Rental Center
Gold Sponsors
St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
Blue Sponsors
Mosti Funeral Home | A&B Pharmacies | The Ridgefield Group, Inc. | Dr. Eric Balzano | Weirton Rental Company
Friends of CCHS
Lisa Hall Class of 1992 | Newbrough | Hausers Furniture Co | Wheeler Funeral Home | FOP Lodge #1 | Steubenville Electrical LMCC | KOC #4361 | Marcino Enterprises LLC | James White Construction Company | First Choice America FCU Naples Spaghetti House | John & Candy Humienny
Thank you for investing in the future of Catholic education for our Crusaders!
Crusader Quote
When the dangers of life and of the world pursue us, when we feel weak and we want to become strong, when we feel sick and we want to be cured, when are are hungry and we want to be fed, then it is that we will go to the Divine Physician of the Tabernacle.
We will go to Him Who, being weary slept in a ship; He, Who, crushed by anguish was crucified on a cross. We will go to our Christ Who experienced pain and suffering.
Upon receiving our God, then and only then, can we find true peace, love and happieness. Then we shall have no fear, for with Jesus in our hearts we can weather every storm of life, we can overcome every temptation to sin, we can avoid every occasion of sin.
May your future years, patterned after the holy Mother of God, be a perpetual communion with our Eucharistic Lord.
~Excerpt from Rev. George Kramer, Principal of CCHS’s Letter to the Class of 1959
Thank you for keeping in touch and being a part of our Crusader Family!
God bless you and GO BLUE!
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