Bishop Canevin High School was founded in 1959 to serve the families of the Chartiers Valley, and from its earliest years, the school was deeply influenced by the ministry of the Conventual Franciscan Friars.
In 1961, the Diocese of Pittsburgh entrusted the administration of the school to the Province of the Immaculate Conception of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. For decades, Franciscan priests served as chaplains, teachers, mentors, and administrators, helping to shape generations of Crusaders through a spirit of joyful faith, humble service, and authentic community.
As the school evolved over the years, the Franciscan influence remained an important part of its story. Today, Bishop Canevin joyfully embraces that heritage once again, not as a return to the past for its own sake, but as a renewed commitment to the mission that has always been at the heart of Catholic education: forming young men and women who know Christ, love His Church, and bring His presence into the world.
The Franciscan charism is rooted in the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose radical encounter with Jesus transformed not only his own life, but the lives of countless others. Looking upon the brokenness of the Church, Francis heard Christ speak the words that have echoed through the centuries: “Go and rebuild my Church.” What began as the restoration of a small chapel soon became a lifelong mission of renewal, inviting people to rediscover the joy of the Gospel through lives marked by humility, peace, simplicity, and love.
That same invitation continues to shape life at Bishop Canevin.
A Franciscan education begins with the conviction that every person possesses an inherent dignity because each is created in the image and likeness of God. It teaches students to seek truth with humility, to recognize Christ in those who are poor, forgotten, or suffering, to care for creation as a gift entrusted to us, and to build communities marked by joy, compassion, and peace. It reminds us that greatness is measured not by status or achievement alone, but by the willingness to love generously and serve faithfully.
This vision reaches far beyond Campus Ministry. It shapes the culture of our classrooms, the relationships between students and teachers, the way our athletes compete, the spirit of our House System, and the opportunities our students have to encounter Christ through prayer, service, and leadership. Our Franciscan identity is not an addition to the Bishop Canevin experience: it is the thread that weaves every part of our community together.
You will see this identity throughout campus: in the San Damiano Cross that reminds us of Christ’s call to renewal, in celebrations of the Franciscan saints who inspire our House System, and in traditions of prayer and service that invite every student to participate in the life of the Church. More importantly, you will experience it in the people who make Bishop Canevin what it is: teachers who see education as a vocation, coaches who form character alongside athletic excellence, chaplains who walk with students in every season of life, and young men and women learning to recognize God at work in both the extraordinary and the ordinary moments of each day.
The Franciscan motto, Siempre Adelante– “Always Forward”- captures both our history and our hope. We honor the faithful witness of those who built this school before us by carrying their mission into a new generation. With gratitude for our past and confidence in God’s providence, we continue moving forward together, forming graduates who are prepared not only for success in college and career, but for lives of joyful discipleship, faithful leadership, and courageous service.