St. Jerome Catholic School offers 4K through junior high and welcomes all faiths. We are a Catholic School in the Diocese of Madison serving the families of Columbus and the surrounding communities. We believe that nurturing Christian values along with excellence in education develops strong character and leadership skills in our children. Our school has over 50 years of history and we take pride in our students, parents, faculty and school.
Mission Statement
We dedicate ourselves to building a value-centered learning community rich in Roman Catholic traditions of prayer and service. We foster a safe, nurturing environment of mutual respect. We encourage a partnership between the parents/guardians and school to nurture student growth. We value innovation in education with the goal of our students becoming Christian stewards and lifelong learners.
Motto
“Christ in Self, Christ in Learning, Christ in Each Other”
St. Jerome School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights,privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
The Story and Facts of Saint Jerome
(347 – 420 A.D)
Saint Jerome’s birth name was Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius and he was born in Strido Dalmatia (eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea). As a boy, he was sent to Rome to study and he became a proficient translator of Greek into Latin. He was baptized in the faith at age 18 and then began his study of theology and the Hebrew language. He died on September 30th, 420 and was buried under the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem.
Saint Jerome is a confessor, meaning he is a saint who died of natural causes. He is the patron of librarians, scholars, students and abandoned children. More particularly of theology, due to his translation of the Scriptures, known as the Latin Vulgate. He is often represented in Christian Art wearing cardinal’s robes. Even though cardinals were not instituted until three centuries after his death, this is to acknowledge him as one of the great fathers of the Church. You may see artwork of him holding miniature churches and an open book in his hands, these are attributes for his work in translating Scripture for the Church. You also sometimes see a lion at his feet, this is representative of his life in the wilderness of the Syrian desert.
Patron: librarians, scholars, students and abandoned children
Feast Day: September 30th
Prayer to St. Jerome – Patron Saint of Students: Master of unworldliness and founder of monasteries, you had a deep love for God’s inspired Word and were a most careful translator of the Sacred Scriptures. Your single-mindness in seeking God’s glory is a perfect model for all exegetes. Inspire them with respect for the sacred text as well as for Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. Help them to impart to all the true meaning of the Word of God. Amen.
