Parish school renamed for John Paul II

10/25/2005

St. Adalbert-St. Hedwig School on Lagrange Street in North Toledo has been renamed Pope John Paul II School, the Toledo Catholic Diocese announced yesterday.

Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair announced in February that the diocese would close three Toledo schools: St. Hyacinth, St. Agnes, and St. Hedwig. St. Hedwig was merged into the St. Adalbert campus and kept the names of both schools.

Mack Schwamberger, a sixth-grade student at the school, submitted the name in a contest.

Tom Gladieux, principal of Pope John Paul II School, said it was fitting to name the school after the deceased pope.

"Pope John Paul II was Polish, and we have a very strong Polish community here, and he was also a very strong supporter of the youth," he said.