School Namesake

Bishop Amat was a Spanish Vincentian priest who had been the rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He was consecrated a Bishop in Rome on March 12, 1854. He was then appointed to the Diocese of Monterey, CA.

At his request, Los Angeles was made his episcopal city and the diocese of Monterey became the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles in 1859. The population of Los Angeles grew from 1,610 in 1850 to 10,000 in 1878 when the Bishop died.

Bishop Thaddeus Amat built St. Vibiana's Cathedral, which was consecrated in 1876. He opened the first schools in Los Angeles and invited the Vincentians to open St. Vincent's College, which was the predecessor to Loyola University. Bishop Amat Memorial High School was formally dedicated to his memory in October, 1959.