Serving pre-K through eighth grade, Saints Simon and Jude Catholic School is fully accredited by the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and has been delivering high-quality Catholic education for over 65 years. Students’ test scores are well above Diocesan standards and many Sts. Simon and Jude graduates go on to Catholic high schools.

Freedom, Joy, Justice, Sincerity and Truth

The Loreto Sisters of the Institute of Blessed Virgin Mary were founded in 1607 by Mary Ward who believed that, by educating young women, they would be empowered to take care of the faith. In 1954 in Arizona, the founding pastor of Ss. Simon and Jude, Father Paul Smith, sought a group of nuns to establish a Catholic elementary school. Father Smith contacted the Loreto Sisters in Navan, Ireland, and five sisters accepted the challenge.

Arriving in Arizona, the Loreto Sisters made it their mission to breathe the teachings of Jesus Christ into every subject and extracurricular activity. The Loreto Sisters continue to teach at Ss. Simon and Jude, sharing the core values of Mary Ward: freedom, joy, justice, sincerity, and truth.

Ss. Simon And Jude Catholic School Today

For over 45 years, principal Sr. Raphael Quinn has been committed to offering students a challenging academic curriculum in state-of-the-art facilities. Students can enjoy a variety of extracurricular activities and community service projects to enrich their development.

Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic School has produced 125 Eagle scouts and 58 Christian Service Award recipients. Other accomplishments include Honeywell Aerospace Championship teams that have made it to finals 14 times.

Sister Raphael Quinn led a campaign to raise funds to renovate and build.  As a result, the school has grown significantly in the last 10 years. A new 22,000 square foot multi-purpose building, Our Lady of Loreto Center, was established in 2010 and includes junior high classrooms, a gymnasium/auditorium, and a state-of-the-art science lab. A new school administration building was also built in 2017.  Many generous donors, including Shea Homes, helped Sister Raphael make her vision come alive.

Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic School serves over 500 students. Many students are the children of the school’s 4,000+ alumni, showing how strong the legacy of the Loreto Sisters really is.

Individuals and corporations can help create future leaders, too!  Direct your Private Education Tuition Tax Credits to Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic School through Catholic Education Arizona. For more information on tuition tax credits and how they work, contact Catholic Education Arizona today: www.catholiceducationarizona.org or 602 218-6542.