The History of St. Columba School

Saint Columba Boys' School was opened in 1892 at the corner of Washington and LaSalle Streets with an enrollment of 210 boys. It was named after Saint Columba, one of the patron saints of Ireland, who lived from 521- 597 A.D. The Brothers of the Holy Cross of Notre Dame University were in charge of the school and were soon joined by the Sisters of Mercy.

In 1903, the Brothers withdrew and the Sisters of Mercy assumed full responsibility for the school. In 1913, a new school building was completed just north of the older school which four years later became a boys' high school and a parish school for boys and girls. In 1919, after two years of operation,		 the high school was discontinued because of the lack of required equipment and available space. The present building was completed in 1963 on the corner of Superior and LaSalle Streets.

In September of 1985, an addition to the 1963 building was completed on the site where the original school buildings once stood. The school, which serves pre-school through eighth grade, now houses 11 classrooms, a gymnasium, a library and a cafeteria as well as rooms for a computer lab, science, art, music, academic resource and audio visuals.
Saint Columba

St. Columba 521-597, born probably in Donegal Ireland of royal descent He studied at Moville under St. Finnian then in Leinster at the monastery of Clonard under another St. Finnian. He was ordained before he was twenty-five and spent the next fifteen years preaching and setting up foundations at Derry, Durrow, and Kells. Possibly because of a family feud which resulted in the death of 3000 and for which he considered himself partly responsible, he left Ireland at 42. He landed on the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. There he built the monastery which was to become world famous. With SS Canice and Comgall, he spread the gospel to the Picts; he also developed a monastic rule which many followed until the introduction of St. Benedict. He died on Iona and is also known as Colm, Colum and Columcille. His Feast day is June 9.


Information courtesy of www.Catholic.org