Santiago Trade School is a Catholic trade school for young men in Orange County, California. They have a unique mission of building upon the foundations of work, study, and friendship to produce excellent Christian tradesmen.
They offer training in several disciplines, plus daily prayer, bi-weekly formation courses, daily Mass, the study of classic works of philosophy and theology, and the support of fellow students and mentors in the program. The vision of Santiago Trade Schools is to empower young men through learning practical skills and receiving moral guidance and the opportunities for spiritual growth. Its mission is rooted in the belief that education should cater to the holistic development of a person, preparing students to contribute positively to society while living out their faith.
Featured Trades
General Construction
Architecture
Design
Blue Prints
Foundations
Agriculture
Horticulture
Hydrology
Soil Science
Concrete
Framing
Dry Wall
Insulation
Finishing
Electrical
Lighting
Energy Standards
Plumbing
Interior / Exterior
Landscaping
Commercial
Heating / Air Conditioning
Lath & Plaster
Roofing / Sheet Metal
Heavy Machinery
Automotive
Animal Care
Husbandry
Santiago Trade School is a two-year residential program operating under the auspices of Santiago Retreat Center. The campus sits on over 500 acres of land in Orange County, California.
The school is led by Catholic chaplain Fr. Glenn Baaten and mentors in the trades. Students are able to participate in work-study, giving them the opportunity to cut down on their tuition bill. The focus is on homebuilding, with students spending the two-year program on the construction of a house. They also learn about the use of heavy machinery. The property houses a 300-acre farm and ranch. This allows students to learn about raising chickens, sheep, cattle, bison, horses, and goats.
Students live and pray in community. Each day starts in the chapel with prayer. After a short break for breakfast, the work day begins.
Mid-day Mass and lunch gives the students a break. Study continues in the afternoon, with either trade-related online courses or the reading of theological and philosophical works.
After dinner and prayer, it’s recreation time and then lights out to complete the day.
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