History & Tradition

THE STORY OF CANISIUS HIGH SCHOOL

Canisius High School is a school in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition, seeking to educate the whole person by caring for the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical life of every student.  Canisius first opened its doors in 1870 in a small wooden building on Ellicott Street in downtown Buffalo, but our roots extend much deeper.

The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) was founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish nobleman and soldier.  During a battle at the siege of Pamplona, Loyola’s right leg was shattered by a French cannonball.  Impressed by his courage, Loyola’s French captors took him back home to Spain, and he spent countless hours of a very long recovery in spiritual reflection.   After much prayer and contemplation, Loyola was inspired to form a new religious order – the Society of Jesus.  In addition to ministry work, the Jesuits turned to education and developed an approach that sought to integrate intellectual excellence with religious commitment.  In the Jesuit tradition, there is no life without learning, no learning without love, and no love without God.  This philosophy is the cornerstone of all that Canisius High School stands for.

Canisius takes its name from St. Peter Canisius, one of the early members of the Jesuits.  Born in Holland in 1521, Peter Canisius devoted his life to defending and strengthening the Catholic Church during the Reformation.  Convinced of the importance of instilling faith through the written word, he became the first Jesuit to write a book and published several volumes on theology and Church history.  His popular Catechism was published in 12 different languages and many editions, including one version with pictures intended for children and adults who could not read!  Peter Canisius founded numerous colleges and seminaries throughout Europe before his death in 1597.  Pope Pius XI canonized Peter Canisius in 1925. 

The years have seen Canisius High School move from Ellicott Street to Washington Street in 1872, from Main Street (sharing a location with Canisius College) to our present location on Delaware Avenue in 1944.  Today Canisius enjoys a central location in the Buffalo metropolitan area.  In its second century of serving many of the most talented young men of Western New York, Canisius continues to help its students develop their God-given talents and to use them in the service of others.  Graduates of Canisius are young men who are well-prepared for college and for life.