Students, staff and dignitaries gathered to officially open Sarnia's new Catholic elementary school during a blessing ceremony at Gregory A. Hogan on Wednesday.
Director of Education Scott Johnson said since the blessing there is a sense of relief.
" [Students] have only been in this building six weeks of this year and a couple of months in the spring and it looks like the school's been here for a decade already because it's filled with warmth and love already and artifacts, it's really quite shocking," he said.
A mass was held to open the new state-of-the-art facility, led by Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro.
Johnson said having a blessing ceremony is everything that the St. Clair Catholic School Board stands for.
"We believe that our system is to bring people closer to Christ and so Christ was here today," he said.
Johnson said the school board is growing faster than it ever has.
"I think that's the biggest sign that what we're offering is of great value to our community," he said. "The parents when they come to the school certainly can recognize its beauty but I think the fact that we're growing as much as we are is our biggest telltale we're on a great direction right now."
Staff and students from the former Gregory A. Hogan school moved over to the new building in March.
The former school on Hogan Drive has been undergoing renovations.
When it reopens in September 2025, it will be the new Sacred Heart Catholic School.
