Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on Aug. 17.
The school is operating in a new structure on the campus of St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17524 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.
Most Holy Redeemer, which was founded in 1954, took on its new name last year, but didn’t move to its new campus until this academic year.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
The school, for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, has an enrollment of 355 students, said Principal Johnnathan Combs.
That’s up from the enrollment at the Most Holy Redeemer campus last year, which finished out last school year with 239 students.
All but two of those students are attending classes on the new campus. The two that aren’t moved away to Orlando, Combs said.
The students are coming to the school from St. Timothy, St. Paul, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Mary and Most Holy Redeemer parishes, he said.
Four classrooms at the school are still under construction, Combs said. But when they are finished, the school will have a capacity for 600 students.
Construction costs for the school are around $8 million, said Dr. Michael Tkacik, secretary for ministries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
The school will be celebrating a mass and a dedication ceremony on Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., he said.
Tkacik said enrollment in the Diocese’s Catholic schools has been holding steady for the past couple of years.
As he looks to the future, Tkacik said he is “guardedly optimistic.”
He points to projects such as Tampa Premium Outlets and other construction activity as a sign that the economy — stalled for several years — is showing new signs of life.
The school on Saint Timothy’s campus is inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and is rooted in the Catholic faith, according to its website. Its mission is “to develop young people who strive for academic excellence, recognize the dignity of each individual and foster service to others,” the website says.
Its fundamental reason for existence is to help children learn about Jesus and to develop their Catholic faith, Combs said. Of course, he added, academics are important.
The Pope John Paul II Youth Center, also on St. Timothy’s campus, has already opened.
The facility will be used by the school during the school day and also will be used for athletics.
Published August 19, 2015
