Holmwood high school naming taken to new heights

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ Board of Education has named the new Catholic high school being planned for the Holmwood Development Area of Saskatoon St. Pier Giorgio Frassati High School at the board meeting on March 30, 2026.

Holmwood is the development area east of McOrmond Drive and north of 8th Street. A joint-use facility with both GSCS and Saskatoon Public Schools high schools is being planned for the area.

Born in 1901 in Turin, Italy, Pier Giorgio was an avid outdoorsman who was an excellent climber and skier. He compared his physical ascent of the Italian Alps to his spiritual assent toward God, and "Verso l’alto" (To the heights), became his enduring motto. 

He developed a heart to serve the poor and would use his spending allowance to buy medicine, food and clothing for “the hidden Christ” he encountered when he visited the slums of Turin. He earned a degree in mining engineering because he desired to “serve Christ better among the miners.”

He died from complications of polio at the age of 24. At his funeral, thousands of poor citizens lined the streets to mourn the "Saint of Turin" much to the surprise of his family.

St. Pier Giorgio was canonized a saint on September 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV.

Learn more about St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Consultations for the naming of the school included a survey that had 1,200 responses; discussions with students from schools in the area; and committee discussions that included representatives from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon, an Elder, trustees, parent council members, principals, vice-principals, teachers, and support workers. The committee was co-chaired by GSCS superintendents Tom Hickey and Ryan Martin. 

At the first committee meeting, a shortlist of five names was developed: St. Carlo Acutis, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Our Lady of Hope. (Various names honouring the Blessed Mother under the title “Our Lady” were considered, such as Our Lady of the Prairies, and Our Lady of Guadalupe.)

Following a thoughtful and prayerful discernment process, the committee came to a strong consensus to recommend the name St. Pier Giorgio Frassati High School to the board.

“The process to name our newest high school was rich with thought and prayer, and we trust and honour the voice of the committee and the whole community that participated,” said Diane Boyko, GSCS Board of Education Chair. “I want to thank everyone who submitted a name, discussed options, and listened to the Holy Spirit throughout the process.

“I think St. Pier Giorgio Frassati will be a great patron and example for students, staff and the entire community who will see his name on the school as they drive by on McOrmond Drive.”

Committee members acknowledged that there was an initial enthusiasm for the school to be named after St. Carlo Acutis, who would also be an excellent choice. There was a lot of agreement that St. Carlo may be a better suited name for one of the elementary schools that GSCS will be opening soon, likely even before the high school.

Consultation timelines

• January 19: Board initiates naming process at the regular meeting of the board held
• January 19 – 30: Naming committee established
• February 6 - 23: Public survey. Shared with staff, students, community, and parishes.
• February 20 - 27: Consultation with Bishop Mark Hagemoen and Bishop Michael Smolinski.
• February 24 - 27: Student focus groups at St. Joseph, St. Luke and St. Augustine schools
• February 26: Committee Meeting 1
  • review of survey (raw data and top 20 responses);
  • establishment of selection criteria; and
  • creation of shortlist (five names).
• March 3: Committee Meeting 2
  • synthesis of student, ecclesial and Elder feedback;
  • additional information shared re: shortlisted names; and
  • discernment and finalization of recommendations.
• March 16: Presentation of Naming Committee recommendations to the board.
• March 30: Board selected name

St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

Born into a world of privilege but driven by a heart for the poor, St. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) stands as a modern icon of "ordinary" holiness. Known as the "Man of the Eight Beatitudes," his life was a vibrant blend of deep prayer, intense social activism, and a rugged love for the outdoors.

Early Life and Family Tension

Pier Giorgio was born on April 6, 1901, in Turin, Italy, to a prominent and wealthy family. His father, Alfredo Frassati, was the founder and director of the influential newspaper La Stampa and later served as an Italian Senator and Ambassador to Germany. His mother, Adélaïde Ametis, was a talented painter.

Despite their status, the Frassati household was often cold and lacked a shared religious fervor. Pier Giorgio’s deep-seated faith often put him at odds with his parents, who viewed his intense devotion and extreme generosity as eccentricities that didn't fit their social standing. He learned early on to practice his charity in secret, often arriving home late and breathless after giving away his bus fare or his coat to someone in need.

 The Student and the Activist

Pier Giorgio was not a naturally gifted student, but he worked tirelessly to earn a degree in mining engineering at the Royal Polytechnic University of Turin. His motivation was purely altruistic: he wanted to "serve Christ better among the miners," believing that by working alongside them, he could improve their harsh living conditions and share the Gospel.

His university years coincided with the rise of Fascism in Italy. Unlike many who remained silent, Pier Giorgio was a fierce and vocal opponent of both Fascism and Communism. He joined the People’s Party (Partito Popolare) and was often seen at the front of Catholic student demonstrations. He was arrested on one occasion and physically assaulted a number of times by the police for defending his faith and his political convictions. He famously said, "To live without a faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for truth, is not to live but to exist; we must never merely exist."

Verso l’Alto: To the Heights

One of the most relatable aspects of Frassati was his love for the outdoors. An expert climber and skier, he saw the physical ascent of the Italian Alps as a metaphor for the spiritual ascent toward God. He would frequently organize trips for his friends – a group he called I Tipi Loschi (The Shady Types) – where they would hike, laugh, share a meal, and end the day in prayer.

The phrase he scribbled on the back of a photograph taken shortly before his death, "Verso l’alto" (To the heights), became his enduring motto. It represented his belief that holiness was not about fleeing the world, but about climbing through it with joy and purpose.

Secret Service to the Poor

While his social life was public and vibrant, his most profound work happened in the slums of Turin. He joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society at age 17 and spent his "leisure" time visiting the sick, the elderly, and the impoverished. He used his entire allowance, and often his family’s resources when he could sneak them out, to buy medicine, food, and clothing for the "hidden Christ" he saw in the poor. When his father was named Ambassador to Germany, Pier Giorgio spent time in Berlin. Even there, he was found in the poorest quarters, continuing his mission. He never saw his service as a burden but as a privilege, famously stating, "Around the sick and the sad, I see a particular light which we do not have."            

Death and Legacy

In June 1925, Pier Giorgio contracted polio, likely from one of the many sick people he cared for in the slums. He kept his suffering a secret so as not to worry his family, who were preoccupied with the death of his grandmother. Even on his deathbed, with his hand paralyzed, he scribbled a note to a friend to ensure that a poor man's medicine was delivered.

 He died on July 4, 1925, at the age of 24. His parents expected a quiet funeral attended by Turin’s elite; instead, thousands of poor citizens lined the streets to mourn the "Saint of Turin." It was only then that his family realized the magnitude of his secret life of charity.

Pier Giorgio Frassati was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990 and was canonized on September 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV. He remains a patron for students, youth, and mountain climbers, proving that one can be a "normal" young person — full of life, jokes, and athletic passion — while being entirely devoted to God.

Prayer to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

Heavenly Father,
Give me the courage to strive for the highest goals,
to flee every temptation to be mediocre.
Enable me to aspire to greatness, as Pier Giorgio did,
and to open my heart with joy to Your call to holiness.
Free me from the fear of failure.
I want to be, Lord, firmly and forever united to You.
Grant me the graces I ask You through Pier Giorgio's intercession,
by the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us.