About CSCO

Our History

In the mid-1980s, after provincial funding for Ontario Catholic schools was extended to the end of high school, there began a rapid increase in the number of Catholic secondary schools. Concerned about the “Catholicity” of the secondary schools, the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops called for the presence of Chaplains in all the secondary schools.

As more Chaplains were hired — including many lay women and men — a need arose to define the role of the school Chaplain and to provide a support network. In November 1987, school Chaplains from all over Ontario gathered together for the first time.

A year later, in October 1988, CSCO (Catholic School Chaplains of Ontario) was incorporated and its constitution ratified. The new executive began networking among school Chaplains, launched a newsletter, and started clarifying the definition of Catholic school Chaplaincy.

Today, CSCO counts among its members over 230 Chaplaincy Leaders from high schools in all corners of Ontario, as well as members from outside the school system who have an interest in the future of this important form of pastoral ministry.