We are pleased to announce that Blessed Cardinal Newman School has been renamed to St. John Henry Newman School.
On Sunday, October 13, 2019, Blessed John Henry Newman was canonized by Pope Francis at a Mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome. At the Calgary Catholic School District's October 23, 2019 Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the name change.
St. John Henry Newman School is located in the SE community of Mckenzie Lake. It opened its doors in 1992 and grew rapidly through the years, at one point becoming one of the district's largest K-9 schools. The school is named for St. John Henry Newman, born in 1801 in London, England. He graduated from Oxford University in 1820 and was ordained a priest in The Church of England in 1825.
In 1846, he decided to enter the Catholic seminary in Rome and was ordained a Catholic priest the following year. He dedicated his time to helping the poor and establishing educational institutes for young people. Pope Leo XIII made St. John Henry Newman a Cardinal in 1879. St. John Henry Newman passed away in 1879. He spoke of the Lord as, "His Guiding Light" and the school's motto is "Walk in His Light."
"Our school names are very important to us," says Gary Strother, Chief Superintendent of the Calgary Catholic School District. "St. John Henry Newman reflects our commitment to gospel values, exemplary service to others and a willingness to journey in faith with God. We look forward to continuing to serve our students and families at St. John Henry Newman School for many years to come."