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Educating and Inspiring… heart, mind, body, and soul!

CDSBEO Celebrates the Official Blessing of Sacred Heart, St. Joseph’s Intermediate

The Catholic school community of Sacred Heart Catholic School gathered on Thursday, May 23, to officially bless new Sacred Heart Catholic School, and the new Intermediate wing of St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School.

The blessing was presided by the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, SJ, Archbishop of Ottawa and Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall, with Fr. Louis Grotelaars, Fr. Cal Ibe, and Fr. John Whyte assisting with the blessing of the facility. Students, and staff were joined by members of the Board of Trustees, senior administration, elected officials and dignitaries including Guy Lauzon, MP, Stormont, Dundas & South Glengarry, and Jim McDonell, MPP, Stormont, Dundas & South Glengarry. Representatives from the architectural firm Edward J. Cuhaci and Associates Architects were also in attendance.

In his homily, the Archbishop spoke of the importance of faith and learning are not a contradiction, but that they go together.

“That’s one of the things that our Catholic schools emphasize and encourage, that faith and science, faith and life in the modern world are not in contradiction but theoretically go together. I would encourage you to ensure that your relationship with God, and Jesus, and your mind, and your heart, all go together.”

Chair Lalonde noted that it was an amazing day for the Board, and for Catholic education.

“We are so blessed to have this amazing facility, to have the opportunity to provide this school, and all of its amenities, to our students. Thank you to everyone, our partners, our clergy, and our students for being here to help us celebrate this special day.”

A group of students, staff, clergy and dignitaries stand for the official ribbon cutting ceremony.
Left to right: Erin Merkley (Principal, Sacred Heart), Fr. John Whyte, Jim McDonell (MPP, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry), Guy Lauzon (MP, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry), Donaleen Hawes (Superintendent), Tara McRae (teacher, Sacred Heart), Fr. Louis Grotelaars, Todd Lalonde (Board Chair), Susanna Venegas (student, Sacred Heart), Jerzy Jurewicz (Vice-President, Edward J. Cuhaci & Associates Architects), the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, SJ, Archbishop of Ottawa and Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall, Ruby Lalonde (student, St. Joseph’s Intermediate), John Cameron (Director of Education), John Van Loenen (teacher, St. Joseph’s Intermediate), Ron Eamer (Vice-Chair), Sue Wilson (Trustee, Prescott-Russell), Renee Rozon (principal, St. Joseph’s CSS), Fr. Cal Ibe, Natalie Cameron (Superintendent), Brent Bovaird (Superintendent)