Glen Carbon — Father McGivney Catholic High School (FMCHS) has named Joe Lombardi as new principal effective July 1, 2017.

Lombardi, a resident of Edwardsville, is currently a coach and chair of the science department at Belleville West High School where he has taught for the past 18 years.

“Not only am I passionate about McGivney’s history and mission, but I’m also excited about where the school is headed and I can’t wait to be part of those future successes as well.” said Lombardi, who was selected following a nationwide search.

“I asked the committee to bring us a faith-filled candidate who is an excellent mentor to teachers, an inspiration to students, trusted by parents and has the passion and dedication to lead a new Catholic school to great success,” said Father Jeff Goeckner, president of FMCHS and pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville. “That is a tall order, but the Holy Spirit has responded and Joe answers our prayers perfectly.”

McGivney, now in its fifth year of operations, has seen some of its graduates accepted to highly selective colleges such as the University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Illinois. McGivney’s enrollment has continued to grow from its original class of 17 to an expected freshman class of more than 65 for next school year and with a total student population now more than 200 students.

“McGivney is very impressive in its commitment to the Catholic faith and education in its short existence,” said Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. “The fact that the Griffins take their name from Bishop James Griffin, the first Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, shows the strong connection between Father McGivney and the diocese.”

Lombardi succeeds Bobbie Madura, who has served as interim principal since the retirement of Michael Scholz.