Santa Margarita Catholic High School

The seal of Santa Margarita Catholic High School is a replica of the coat of arms of Bishop William R. Johnson, the first Bishop of Orange. It was his official seal and represented his ecclesiastical rank and the Diocese of Orange. 
 
When the Diocese of Orange was created in 1976 and the Most Reverend William R. Johnson was appointed its first Bishop, a new era for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church began in Orange County. One of the Bishop's first activities involved visiting all the parishes of the Diocese and asking the people how the Church could best serve them. From all over the county came the request for more Catholic schools for the children. The families of the south county were particularly anxious that a high school be established in this area. Bishop Johnson responded to the needs of God's people. He promised that everything would be done to make this dream a reality. When the opportunity finally came, with great courage and vision, he established Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
 
All of us associated with this magnificent endeavor know that without the leadership and inspiration of Bishop Johnson, this high school would never have been built. It stands as a monument to his love, goodness, and pastoral concern for the people. It is in his honor that the school has adopted his coat of arms as our school seal. He will always be in our hearts and prayers. His spirit will always live in our school family, as his motto becomes our quest - "Caritas Christi", the love of Christ. 
 
The Episcopal cross behind the shield is a symbol of the rank of Bishop. The left half of the shield is the coat of arms for the Diocese of Orange. In the left chief point are the Santa Ana Mountains. Beneath this figure is the orange tree. The image below is that of the mission corridor. The left base point represents the Pacific Ocean. 
 
These symbols are rich in meaning for Santa Margarita Catholic High School. The campus sits in the very shadow of the Santa Ana mountain range on a plane between the Saddleback Mountains and the blue Pacific. This campus was carved from the great Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores upon which flourished the orange groves which have played a significant part in the history of our county. Finally, the mission corridor of San Juan Capistrano reflects the architectural style of the school and the great tradition of faith brought to this land by Father Junipero Serra and continued in the life of Santa Margarita.
 
The right half of the shield is emblazoned with Bishop Johnson's personal insignia. The right chief point bears the figure of the eagle rising, symbolic of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist. The right base point is taken from the Irish coat of arms for the O'Connell family. O'Connell is the maiden name of the Bishop's mother. The figures of this field are trefoils. The motto beneath the shield, "Caritas Christi," was the Bishop's personal motto. It means the love of Christ and is taken from St. Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. It came from the Bishop's many years of service in Catholic charities and speaks of this commitment to the loving service of God's people. The school mascot is the eagle, a creation rich in scripture and Christian tradition as well as in the history of America. The trefoils represent the heritage of Bishop Johnson and also of the many peoples who came to America from all over the world. These were people of hope and courage. The legend, "Caritas Christi," reflects the spirit of the Bishop and the spirit of Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Our love of God, of one another and our commitment to make the world a better place has as its driving force and goal this love of Christ.