Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Academy new name for Morinville school

by Lucie Roy

Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools (GSACRD) named two of their new schools at the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting held Feb. 22. In a unanimous vote, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Academy was selected for Morinville and Sister Alphonse Academy for their new school in St. Albert.

St. Kateri lived from 1656-1680, was canonized to sainthood in 2012, and is the first Native American to be canonized by the Church. The top three recommendations for the Morinville school were Pope Francis School, St. John the Baptist School and St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

The top three recommendations for the St. Albert School also included Pope Francis School, followed by Sister Alphonse and St. Andre School. Sister Alphonse was a Sister of Charity of Montreal (Grey Nun) and the first teacher at the St. Albert Mission. She accompanied the Oblates in tending to the needs of the first community.

“Both individuals are inspiring leaders and outstanding models and witnesses to the Catholic faith,” said Board Chair Noreen Radford.”Recognizing both of our schools as Academies will ensure that our District will offer unique programming for students that will inspire them to model the namesake of their schools in being their very best.”

Naming committees met On Jan. 28 and Feb. 2 to engage in a process that would bring three recommendations for each of the two newly-awarded schools to the Board. On Feb. 2 meeting was dedicated to finding names for the new Morinville School.

The names recommended within the list had been approved by Archbishop Richard Smith, Archbishop to St. Albert School and Archbishop Paul Terrio to the Morinville Ward and Legal Schools.

The new school is to be built in the Westwinds area of Morinville, north of No Frills. No date has been set for construction to begin.

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