Our History

Pope John Paul II Catholic School was born on July 1, 1999,  as a result of the consolidation of four local Catholic schools—St. Pancratius, Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Fatima, and Five Holy Martyrs. The school consolidation was agreed upon by the four parishes in order to protect the livelihood of each individual parish and Catholic education in the community. The regional school now has the unique privilege of working with all of the priests and parishes of Brighton Park. The school officially opened its doors on August 25, 1999 with two campuses, and now remains solely at the Five Holy Martyrs site located on Richmond Street. In the fall of 2017, St. Simon Apostolic Church joined the PJPII community but in 2019 became part of the St. Gall community. 

While Pope John Paul II Catholic School is constantly creating its own unique history, the school attempts to integrate the lives of its students into the lives of each parish. As part of the Catholic family of Brighton Park, the students have attended liturgies at each of the sponsoring parishes. Students are encouraged to return to their home parish to receive the sacraments and are encouraged to participate fully in their parish community.

Pope John Paul II remains the only Catholic school in Brighton Park serving over 2,000 Catholic families in the area where students learn in a faith-filled community of academically excellent students ready to be responsible servants for their world.