Our school is named after Catherine of Siena (picture above). Here is some of her story:
St. Catherine of Siena was born during the outbreak of the plague in
Siena, Italy on March 25, 1347. She was the 25th child born to her
mother, although half of her brothers and sisters did not survive
childhood. Catherine herself was a twin, but her sister did not survive
infancy. Her mother was 40 when she was born. Her father was a cloth
dyer.
Despite Catherine's religious nature, she did not
choose to enter a convent and instead she joined the Third Order of St.
Dominic, which allowed her to associate with a religious society while
living at home. Fellow Dominican sisters taught St. Catherine how to
read. Meanwhile, she lived quietly, isolated within her family home. St.
Catherine developed a habit of giving things away and she continually
gave away her family's food and clothing to people in need. She often
visited hospitals and homes where the poor and sick were found. Her
activities quickly attracted followers who helped her in her mission to
serve the poor and sick.
St. Catherine was drawn further into the world as she
worked, and eventually she began to travel, calling for reform of the
Church and for people to confess and to love God totally. She also
established a monastery for women in 1377 outside of Siena. She is
credited with composing over 400 letters, her Dialogue, which is her
definitive work, and her prayers. These works are so influential that
St. Catherine would later be declared a Doctor of the Church. She is one
of the most influential and popular saints in the Church.
St. Catherine's feast day is April 29, she is the
patroness against fire, illness, miscarriages, people ridiculed for
their faith and nurses.
To mark this occasion, our entire school will enjoy a pasta meal on Friday, April 28 to honour our school's namesake!