Saint Anthony Catholic School is planning a dedication ceremony for its renovated school building at 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive in San Antonio.
The event is slated for June 3 at 10 a.m., and the ceremony will mark the completion of a project to rejuvenate a three-story brick building originally erected in 1922.
(Photos courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School)
“We are so excited,” said Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal, noting that Abbott Isaac Camacho of Saint Leo Abbey will bless and dedicate the building.
After the blessing, those attending will be invited to tour the building and to stay for light refreshments.
The $1.8 million project involved restoration where possible, combined with renovation, to prepare the building for use by students today and for future generations.
The project is being paid for by the parish community, and $260,000 is still needed to cover the costs, the principal said.
The renovation involved converting the top floor of the building into a cafeteria and recreation space. The second floor has a media room, a computer lab, an art room and a Spanish classroom.
The ground floor has a music room, two extra classrooms and storage space.
Students began using the renovated building two weeks ago, Ottapurackal said, because she wanted the eighth-graders to have a chance to use it before leaving the school.
The dedication ceremony is being held on the last day of school because the community was eager to tour the building, she added.
Over the years, thousands of students have been educated in the building at a school whose history dates back to the 1880s.
Saint Anthony’s wants to share its celebration with anyone who would like to attend.
It issued this invitation through a news release: “You are invited to stroll through the halls of history, rekindle fond memories, and perhaps find the calling to make new memories for your children or grandchildren.
“Please join us as this grand hall of learning is dedicated and blessed as it prepares to enter into the next chapter of its story. You may find yourself among the pages.”
The renovation is the second major project completed at the school in recent years.
Last February, the school celebrated the dedication of a new building that was funded through the St. Petersburg Diocese’s Forward in Faith Capital Campaign.
The school officially opened in 1884, two years after San Antonio was founded as a Catholic colony.
The year before the school opened, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children. When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. Instead, she began teaching 14 children — including six of her own — in her kitchen.
Saint Anthony Catholic School is the oldest parochial school in the diocese and also is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida.
School Dedication
What: Saint Anthony Catholic School is having a blessing and dedication of its renovated 1922 school building. After the blessing, there will be school tours and refreshments.
Where: 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive, San Antonio
When: June 3 at 10 a.m.
Who: All are welcome, but please RSVP by calling (352) 588-3041. The school wants to be sure to have enough refreshments.
Published June 1, 2016
