Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School is proud to partner with the P.R.Y.D.E. Learning Centre to to offer a full service child care centre and before and after school child care service.
About Our School
At Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School, it is our mission to be an inclusive Catholic learning community that inspires every student to achieve their full potential through faith and education. We recognize our call to love and serve from our Master teacher Jesus Christ, and we are committed to creating a Catholic learning community under the protection of Mother Mary.
The Catholic Graduate Expectations are our foundation as we strive for academic excellence and the acknowledgement of those who achieve it. We recognize God as the source of all life and actively work to focus on social issues within our local and global communities.
We celebrate the diversity within our community with a collaborative approach to learning, in cooperation with parents, the Catholic faith community, and other organizations that recognize the value of our mission. Within the context of Catholic teaching and Sacramental living, our school community strives to demonstrate respect and reverence for all life, thus nurturing a safe, Christian environment for the entire school community.
Father Leo J. Austin was born in Toronto on May 23, 1918. He attended schools in Toronto and St. Augustine's Seminary in Scarborough. He was ordained a priest in Toronto on June 3, 1939.
Father Austin served in various parishes and came to St. John the Evangelist Church in Whitby in 1956. He served as parish priest at St. John's from 1956 to 1975. Because of his intense interest in education, he supervised the building of a new church. Father Austin was instrumental in establishing several area schools: St. Theresa Catholic School in Whitby, St. Leo Catholic School in Brooklin, and Whitby's first Roman Catholic high school, Archbishop Denis O'Connor. Prior to the appointment of a resident chaplain, Father Austin served as a Catholic chaplain at the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. Being an enthusiastic boatman, Father Austin later became chaplain of the Whitby Yacht Club. Poor health forced him to retire in October 1975. The town declared Father Austin Day, and the retiring priest was honoured by hundreds of parishioners and school and community representatives. Father Austin died in 1984. Bishop Clune summed up Father Austin's life in the following words: "His spirit was too big for his body. He was a real people person. He was always going." To mark this long time influence in the life of Whitby and his distinguished and lasting service to the Roman Catholics of Whitby, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby was named after him in 1989.
As Catholic educators, we live according to our Father's code and to lead our students, by example, to live the basic truths of the gospel message. This is an awesome, yet inspiring challenge which we share with the parents of our young men and women.
Children learn what they live. Each day we have the opportunity to teach our students:
- to love by the way we love;
- to be generous by our generosity;
- to be passionate by our compassion; and
- to be forgiving by the way we forgive.
However, a person cannot give what he or she does not have. Unless we are living the Gospel message, we cannot lead our students to do so.
There are many hallmarks of a Catholic educator, including:
- Prayer - The challenges of our vocation, and indeed life in general, are great. To meet them we need to follow Christ's advice that we "ask the father in My name". Each Catholic educator has a duty to expose students to his or her particular style of prayer in order to assist students to recognize the value of prayer in daily life.
- Eucharist - Parish, school, and staff liturgies provide opportunities to celebrate our faith. Our example can testify to the Eucharist as a joyful source of strength and community building.
- Social Justice - This is the heart of the Christian message, that we "love one another as I have loved you". As our brother's and sister's keepers, we must be concerned about the aged, the poor, the oppressed, and any other marginalized group - both at home and abroad.
Our school colours are black and red.
Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School opened in September 1989 at a temporary location in south Whitby, welcoming its first students before the permanent school building was completed. During the 1990 school year, the growing school community operated from two sites, including the former Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School, before moving into its permanent home on Dryden Boulevard over Thanksgiving weekend. Since its founding, the school has developed a strong tradition of academic excellence, faith formation, and community involvement.
The school is named in honour of Father Leo J. Austin, a visionary leader and dedicated advocate for Catholic education in Durham Region. As pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Whitby from 1956 to 1975, Father Austin played a pivotal role in establishing several local Catholic schools, including St. Theresa Catholic School, St. Leo Catholic School, and Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School. Known for his commitment to education, faith, and service, Father Austin left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire the school community. Today, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School empowers students to pursue excellence, embrace their faith, and contribute positively to the world around them.
Lord Jesus Christ, let us become a living example of our Catholic faith, so that we may be one with each other. Let us work to the best of our abilities, so that our successes may reflect the gifts you have given us. Let us be forgiving, so that compassion may grow in us all. Let us be educated, so that we may become wise teachers of Your truth. Let us be responsible, so that we may be prepared to face challenges with the values taught in the Gospel. Let us be unafraid of who we are, so that we may understand the unique value of ourselves. Let us be your hand and your voice, Lord Jesus, so that we may guide each other into the Kingdom of God. Let us be committed to excellence, faith, and community, so that we may live by what we learn at Father Leo J. Austin. Amen
Our Board's school year calendar is now available. Please visit our school year calendar webpage to learn more about upcoming events and activities happening at school.
We welcome your questions, comments and concerns.
1020 Dryden Blvd.
Whitby, ON L1R 2A2
Phone: (905) 666-2010
Fax: (905) 666-3035