St. Kateri Tekakwitha top choice for name of new Milton catholic secondary school

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Published May 7, 2021 at 2:15 am

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The name of an Algonquin-Mohawk woman whose life centred around healing the sick is the preferred choice for a new Catholic secondary school being constructed in Milton.

The Halton Catholic District School Board officially chose St. Kateri Tekakwitha as the first choice for the name of the new school located in southeast Milton at its meeting this week. 

St. John Bosco is the name being recommended and both names will be submitted to Bishop Douglas Crosby for consideration.

The bishop will advise the board if either name is acceptable.

The two names topped the list of the four that were voted on by students, staff and the community.

“I want to applaud them for coming up with this name,” said Burlington Trustee Tim O’Brien. “It’s long overdue.”

A Canadian saint, St. Kateri was the runnerup name last year for the Milton school now named St. Francis Xavier.

The Catholic Church says St. Kateri, who was born in 1656 and lived to 1680, performed a variety of miracles that centred around healing the sick during her short life.

“The Milton community will be very pleased with these names,” Milton trustee Marvin Duarte said.

An Italian priest, St. John Bosco lived from 1815 to 1888 and spent most of his life educating children and disadvantaged groups.

“Both names are winners,” Halton Hills trustee Janet O’Hearn-Czarnota said.

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