Last month, St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Elementary School hosted an event the whole community had eagerly been waiting since September – the school’s solemn blessing and official school opening.
Staff, students, parents, dignitaries and special guests joined MC and Trustee Maria Carnovale at the school in Woodbridge for this special, once-in-a-lifetime evening that united the entire community.
The much-anticipated solemn blessing, led by Bishop Peter Hundt, brought together the talents of staff, students and parents to make the evening unique and memorable.
A poignant slideshow reminded the audience of the school’s journey from its initial construction to present day. The school’s junior and intermediate students performed an artistic and creative liturgical dance set to the song, “Breath of Heaven.” The audience was also treated to vocal performances by the school’s talented choir and gifted vocal soloists.
“At our solemn blessing and official opening, parents, staff, and the church worked together to make the evening a success,” said Principal Elena Naccarato.
“However, the most heartfelt moments were those showcasing the many talents of our students in both song and dance. The evening was the embodiment of our school’s motto: ‘Together We Believe, Together We Belong, Together We Become.’”
St. Mary of the Angels’ blessing was Bishop Hundt’s final school blessing in Ontario, as he will soon be moving to Corner Brook and Labrador. Bishop Hundt has been called upon by Pope Benedict XVI to use his talents to serve Catholics in remote communities.
“I have grown in my appreciation for publicly funded Catholic education now that I’m going somewhere where it doesn’t exist,” said Bishop Hundt of his soon-to-be home, which does not fund Catholic education.
“We thank God for the gift of Catholic education,” said Bishop Hundt.
The evening was deemed a success by parents, students and guests, and the excitement of the audience showed that the St. Mary of the Angels CES is a school community that truly shines.