The Latin phrase in our school logo "Nil Sine Fide et Labore" means "Nothing is accomplished without faith and work."
About Our School
At Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High 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.
Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School strives to be a Catholic, Christian community where each person is valued for his or her uniqueness and where together we are committed to social awareness and academic excellence in an atmosphere of cooperation and affirmation. Let us not forget that this can only be achieved through whole hearted faith and work. 'Nil sine fide et labore'.
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 green and gold.
Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School traces its roots to 1962, when a vision for Catholic secondary education in Durham Region began with just 22 Grade 9 students in Whitby.
Named after Archbishop Denis O'Connor, a Durham Region native, educator, and the third Archbishop of Toronto, the school honours his legacy of faith, leadership, and commitment to Catholic education. Relocating to Ajax in 1984, Archbishop Denis O'Connor grew into one of the region's leading Catholic secondary schools while maintaining the pioneering spirit of its early years.
Guided by its motto, Nil Sine Fide Et Labore (Nothing Is Accomplished without Faith and Work), the school continues to foster academic excellence, service to others, and a strong sense of community rooted in Catholic values.
God, Our Creator, You are with us today as we try our best in everything we do. Help us to be good to one another, in the words we use and the things we do. Help us to be peacemakers and good problem solvers. When we disagree with one another, help us to listen with an open mind and to resolve our differences with respectful words and actions. Above all, help us to work together because together we will build a better community for everyone. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen
We welcome your questions, comments and concerns.
Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School
80 Mandrake Street
Ajax, Ontario, L1S 5H4
Phone: 905-427-6667