A local high school’s expansion, opened since September, has finally received its proper blessings.
When school came back into session again this year, the young men of St. Raymond’s High School were delighted to finally step foot inside the school’s brand new $8.5 million, 14,000-square-foot expansion.
On Wednesday, November 9, students, faculty, alumni, and others, were joined by Edward Cardinal Egan to bless the new addition. Egan said it was well deserved for a school that not only takes much pride in educating their students, but developing them into respectful young men.
“I came in here this morning, and I met about a dozen young, Catholic gentlemen. Sacrifices have been made, and a greater gift could not have been made to this school then the expansion they received,” Egan said. “We need the kind of education that is being provided in this school, here at St. Raymond’s.”
The new building is fully completed and includes new offices for staff, a new alumni dedicated library, additional classrooms that include a new computer lab, art room and music room, a book store for students, an elevator for handicapped faculty and students, a new senior guidance center, and a rooftop recreational basketball court that will be ready for use very soon.
Egan was brought around the entire complex by principal Br. Daniel Gardner and St. Raymond’s Church pastor Msgr. John Graham, where he blessed each room with holy water. Egan was impressed with the new state-of-the-art building, and was even given a show by the young men of the newly created school choir, and was also able to take home a specially made art piece made by students.
“We’re now in a position to provide a 21st century Catholic education to the young men of the Bronx,” Gardner said. “Today is more than just a blessing. Today, we proclaim loudly and clearly to all that will listen, that a Catholic education is alive and well at St. Raymond’s. The wonderful tradition of St. Raymond’s will live on for the benefit of future generations of many young men.”
“It is a privilege and a pleasure to have Cardinal Egan come back to St. Raymond’s to celebrate bringing this project into fruition with his official blessing,” Graham said.
Reach Vito Signorile via e-mail at vsignorile@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3383.
