Welcome to Calasanz de Davao Academy

The most prevalent problem of our society is poverty. National and international studies have indicated that education is very important in poverty alleviation. Education takes a focal role in developing and building the young individual's capacity. Education is a guaranteed constitutional right of every citizen's of the country. As the public sector is constantly pressured to provide such right, in many cases still there are gaps, because of huge financial, logistical and other requirements which public funds could not meet.

The CALASANZ de DAVAO ACADEMY, with the inspiration of St. Joseph Calasanz, the founder of the Piarist Fathers (Escolapios), hopes to be one of the partners of the government, the Department of Education in particular, in providing education to the underprivileged children of our society. The establishment of our pre-school and elementary education in Barangay Baliok, Davao City, would provide broader options for our target clientele that they too may have better developed capacities as human beings, equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude to face the challenges of their lives.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SAINT JOSEPH CALASANZ

SAINT JOSEPH CALASANZ Saint Joseph Calasanz(Sept. 11, 1557-Aug. 25, 1648), Priest, Teacher Patron Saint of Roman Catholic Schools, and Founder of the Orda Clericorum Regularium Pauperum Matris Dei Scholarum Piarum (Order of Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools) popularly called Piarist Fathers or Escolapios. The Piarists are a teaching order that, in addition to the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, practiced a fourth vow: the special care of children and youth through education.

Joseph Calasanz was born in Peralta de la Sal (Spain) on September 11, 1557. He was the youngest of eight children [five girls and three boys of Pedro Calasanz and Maria Gaston Sala, of a family belonging to the lower ranks of the Aragon nobility, the infanzónes. He received a good education at home and then at the school of Peralta.

After completing his primary school in his hometown, he was sent to boarding school in Estadilla to study Latin, Humanities and Rhetoric. As soon as he completed his classical studies at Estadilla he took up philosophy and canon law at Lerida and merited the degree of Doctor of Laws, and then with honors completed his Theological course at Valencia and Alcala de Henares. Later, Calasanz received his Doctorate in Theology in Barcelona.

His decision to become a priest, in the beginning, was quit hard because his father Pedro wanted him to marry and perpetuate the family. God interfered a sickness, which soon brought Calasanz to the brink of the grave. On his recovery, his father allowed him to receive the sacred Order. He was ordained priest on December 17, 1583, in Sanahuja! (Catalan Region] by Bishop Hugo Ambrose de Moncada, Ordinary of Urgel.

Calasanz began his labor as priest as secretary, confessor and examiner to some Bishops, chapter secretary, master of ceremonies at the cathedral, chief of staff of the Bishop, parish priest, archpriest, diocesan reformer and procurator with faculties as vicar-general.

A few years after serving to some dioceses he embarked for Rome (1592), seeking to know himself better and also in Spain, to improve his ecclesiastical status. Instead, he found God in the poor and abandoned children of Trastevere, Rome. In a letter he writes:

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"I have found in Rome the definitive way to serve God in the children and youth, and I will never leave it for anything in the world."

In 1597 at the Church of St. Dorothy, he began the first free school in Europe. Pope Clement the VIII gave an annual contribution and many others shared the good work, so that in a short time Calasanz had about a thousand children under his charge. He devoted himself for the neglected children for the rest of his life in the education of piety and learning (PIEDAD Y LETRAS). This is his unique contribution to the reform of the Church and the Society;

"If from the first a child is instructed in religion and letters, it can be reasonably hoped that his life will be happy."

To assure continuity to his work, he founded The Order of the Pious Schools (Ordinis Scholarum Piarum), a Religious Order of Priests and Brothers, under the motto of Piety and Learning (Piedad y Letras). However, much envy and opposition arose against him, to his school and to his new institute, but all were overcome in time.

He died in Rome, a faithful son of the Church and a true friend of forsaken children in the House of Saint Pantaleo, in 1648. His beatification was solemnized on August 7, 1748. He was canonized on July 16, 1767 by Pope Clement VIII. With God's grace Pope Pius XII proclaimed him as the Universal Patron of All Catholic Schools in 1948. His liturgical feast is celebrated every August 25.

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