SURREY, B.C. (CCN) — In South Surrey, B.C., Saint John Paul II Academy has opened its doors for its inaugural academic year, marking the culmination of a 30-year vision of prayer and persistence and a 12-year mission toward fostering a space for Catholic education and community.
Initially envisioned as a way to combat Catholic education overcrowding, Saint John Paul II Academy now offers classes as a fully functional independent Catholic secondary school and student facility.
Silveria Roselli, president of the Saint John Paul II Academy Foundation and director of advancement, said the initiative has seen tremendous support from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, which understood the importance of a strong Catholic education hub from the school’s inception. Archbishop J. Michael Miller was the first to commission the school.
“The Archdiocese of Vancouver provided not only the land, but also a lot of support in collaborating with them. In doing so, we can realize our dream this September. They recognized that we needed to have a youth school because the present school that’s there, Holy Cross, is wonderful, but it continues to burst at the seams in terms of enrollment; they simply can’t take any more students,” Roselli said.
Knowing that, consequently, many students would end up going through the public school system, Father Stanley Galvon from Good Shepherd Parish put Troy Van Vliet in charge of establishing a dedicated group of visionaries to bring the vision of the academy to life.
“This has been more than a project — it has been a calling,” said Van Vliet, founder and chair of Saint John Paul II Academy. “Through prayer, persistence, and the unwavering support of our Catholic families and community, Saint John Paul II Academy is now a reality. It stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when people of faith come together for future generations.”
Fast forward to today, and Van Vliet’s vision is being put into practice. Saint John Paul II Academy’s 13 teachers and seven education assistants will serve approximately 150 students in Grades 8 to 12 over its first academic intake, with the academy aiming to accommodate more than 500 when it finishes expanding the campus in the next few years.
Van Vliet added that the school will eventually hold 540 students, with some unfinished areas in the lower-level classrooms, an artist space, and a theatre. Roselli hinted that once completed, the high school will be able to accommodate roughly 900 students, many of whom would have no alternative for local Catholic education.
Van Vliet also noted the urgent need for Catholic schools in Surrey compared with Vancouver. “It definitely serves a need in the area. In Vancouver proper, there’s 55,000 students roughly in K to 12, and we have four Catholic high schools in the city of Vancouver proper. In the city of Surrey, there are 85,000 kids in K to 12, and we had one Catholic high school (Holy Cross). So it was really needed in this area.”
The students will receive the standard offerings such as English, science, math, and career education, while a focus on faith-in-action — such as a prominent campus ministry, school Mass, and young changemakers projects — rounds out the school’s Catholic focus.
Catholic values emphasize service and leadership, and community outreach is slated to become a core component, with students participating in soup kitchen service, engaging with seniors through letter-writing and personal visits, preparing meals for the homeless, and honouring forgotten soldiers’ graves on Remembrance Day, among other acts of John Paul II-inspired service.
“Our mission is more than just saying that this is what we do, it’s about how we use our hands, feet, and minds to make a difference in the world. It’s about action with love, and that is woven and embedded in everything that we do, even in our standard curriculum,” Roselli said.
The school’s new state-of-the-art campus features a chapel at its heart to symbolize its identity, as well as a prominent cross etched in glass, visible to all around the school. Facilities include a gymnasium, athletic field, classrooms, breakout spaces, and a library. Design details include garage-style doors that open into a common courtyard from three different inside spaces, along with classrooms equipped with similar doors to allow breakaway or workshop space.
Dr. Joseph King, chair of the academy society, donated a chapel to the school, with Murray Neilson providing a unique European cross over the altar. In the cafeteria, a sculpture of the Table of the Last Supper by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz can be seen (see Last Supper Table sculpture lets students dine with Jesus at new Surrey Catholic school), and at the very front of the school is a statue of Saint John Paul II, engraved at the base with the words “Be not afraid.”
“Everywhere we look, we remember who we are, and Christ is in the middle of it all. There are some schools that, while private, you can’t tell that they’re Catholic, and so we wanted to make sure that we captured that,” Roselli said. “There is no denying that we’re Catholic, that we’re there to be evangelized and to be servant leaders like our namesake, Saint John Paul II; he is everything that we wish to represent.”
The academy community marked the milestone with a barbecue and open house on Sept. 7, when families, parishioners, and supporters toured the new facilities. Students were present to welcome visitors and share their excitement about being part of the first generation to study at the school.
Roselli is elated that the culmination of decades of planning is finalized as South Surrey’s latest offering to Catholic education.
“It is a feeling of pure joy that is overwhelming, and through the grace of God, we’re just so fortunate. Especially with what’s happening around the world in terms of the philosophy that’s being accepted out there, we really need to have this school open for salvation and for the love of God,” she said.
“On behalf of the foundation board, we are incredibly excited and grateful in Christ to see this commence.”
