If you build it, they will come.
That was the thinking more than 30 years ago, when a team of Catholic school supporters in Grimsby began dreaming of a new Catholic high school for their community.
When Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School opened in 1994 – a series of portapac buildings – it was little more than a field of dreams.
Yesterday, things came full circle, as students and current and past staff of BT celebrated the official blessing and opening of the school’s new turf field – the field of their dreams.
The new turf field and track surface, which cost approximately $3.8 million and took an estimated 18 months to complete, is a spectacular new facility that will be used by football and flag football players, soccer, field lacrosse, rugby players, and track and field athletes, for years to come.
The blessing celebration began on the field with a prayer service led by the school’s Chaplaincy Leader Stephanie Jarrett, and Fr. Rico Passero, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, next door to BT, with songs by the Blessed Trinity Choir.
Student Council Faith Rep. Ava Caldwell did the reading from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, which had a message about the way athletes train to win. Brynn Sartor, a member of Blessed Trinity’s girls flag football team playing its inaugural season and lacrosse team, and junior boys’ volleyball player Tyler Poole followed, offering a prayer for athletes and coaches.
The Prayers of the Faithful were offered by members of members of the Thunder’s Fall teams: Rawan Omran (Cheerleading), Jack Tehrani (Jr. Football), Aden Hendriks (Cross Country), Alana Meester (Girls Basketball), Cole Thompson (Golf), Aidyn Copeland (Girls Rugby), Matteo Pesut (Sr. Boys Volleyball), Ryleigh Schweitzer (Girls Flag Football), Adina Mous, (Tennis), and Anthony Faustino (Sr. Football).
When the prayer service concluded, Fr. Rico was joined by Mrs. Jarrett in blessing the new field, before the celebration moved to the gym where they joined rest of the school’s students and staff.
The celebration felt like a pep rally, with the BT cheerleaders and drumline amping up the energy for the day, introduced by vice-principals Randy Pruyn and Heidi-Ann Poltl.
Principal Jim Whittard welcomed guests and reminded students of their good fortune as benefactors of those who made their field of dreams possible.
“Thunder, we are providing a humble yet enthusiastic message of our mind, body and spirit in celebrating today,” he said. “I say humble, because we come from humble beginnings. This amazing school started literally as a field of dreams. We started as a vision and dream of a small group of energetic educators and families with nothing more than a field, then a portapac, then a gymnasium, school, expansion, and now our athletic field and track. Please try to imagine what we enjoy every day from the eyes of our founders. So we need to remember where we have come from as we enjoy an extension of every season, as we receive the generous funding to build, and as we are able to celebrate our gifts from God in a facility that others can only dream of, we are humble and thankful (to) our builders.”
Principal Whittard also thanked St. Catharines Trustee Larry Huibers, whose family had the dream for a school in west Niagara more than 30 years ago. He also thanked Director of Education Camillo Cipriano and Controller of Facilities Services Clark Euale for funding and supporting the dream, and former principals (and retired Superintendents of Education) Yolanda Baldasaro and Ted Farrell, current Chair of the Board Danny Di Lorenzo, and Joe Zaroda, currently a Superintendent of Education at Niagara Catholic Board “for enthusiastically keeping the dream alive” during their tenure as administrators.
Also recognized were the principal and vice-principal when Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School opened its doors in 1994, Mike Lostracco (now living in Calgary), and Ange Restivo, who attended the celebration.
“Mr. Restivo, please pass our thanks on this most important day to Mr. Lostracco … who, with his staff and you as a vice-principal, struggled in the early days to make today possible. Mr. Restivo, we would not be here today without your efforts and perseverance to put the vision into action.
“Thank you, and welcome to what was a field of dreams and is now a stadium.”
Chair Di Lorenzo noted how familiar it felt to stand in front of the podium in the gym speaking to students, before crediting Lostracco and Restivo for being “visionaries” in creating a “vibrant and flourishing learning environment” at Blessed Trinity.
“May this space be a place of camaraderie, sports, and memories that will last a lifetime,” he said.
Director Cipriano remarked on the life that students and staff bring to a school. Remembering his own years in coaching, he thanked the many teachers and coaches for enriching students’ lives.
“Being there the way that you are, doing the things for your students that you do, brings so much more to their education,” he said.
The celebration concluded with an introduction of the Fall teams and a brunch for dignitaries prepared by Chefs Ray Poitras and Luana Fazzari and their hospitality classes for dignitaries, and a junior football game vs. Notre Dame, watched by intermediate students from the Blessed Trinity family of schools.
Reflecting, Principal Whittard said the official blessing and opening of the new turf field at Blessed Trinity came together much like the school itself, through teamwork.
“The entire school came together to make today possible,” he said.
Special thanks to:
The founders of Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School
Director of Education Camillo Cipriano and Senior Staff
Controller of Facilities Services Clark Euale
Former principals Yolanda Baldasaro, Danny Di Lorenzo, Ted Farrell, Mike Lostracco and Joe Zaroda, and inaugural vice-principal Ange Restivo
The Niagara Catholic Board of Trustees
The staff of Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School
The BT Student Council
The BT Choir
The BT Drumline
The BT Rolling Thunder Video Production
The BT Hospitality and Tourism Program
BT Student Services and Physical Education
Father Rico Passero, Pastor of St. Helen Roman Catholic Church
A passage from the Letter of Paul to the Corinthians:
Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
A prayer for athletes:
God, let us play well but fairly. Let competition make us strong but never hostile. Forbid us to rejoice in the adversity of others. See us not when we are cheered, but when we bend to help our opponent up. If we know victory, allow us to be happy; If we are denied, keep us from envy.
Remind us that sports are just games. Help us to learn something that matters once the game is over. And if through athletics we set an example, let it be a good one. Amen.
A prayer for coaches:
God, our Father, We pray for our coaches. We thank you for their unselfish dedication to the team. We thank you for the hours they have dedicated to our team, And for the honor they bring to our school By their leadership and commitment. Lord God, bless our coaches in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of petitions:
The response – Lord, hear our prayer
Cheerleaders
For our sports teams this season, we pray for safe play, a fair playing field and good fortune. We pray to the Lord.
Jr. Boys Football
For focus on the field of play, help us to stay centered during our play and perform to the best of our abilities. We pray to the Lord.
Cross Country
For fun on the field of play, help us to enjoy ourselves and remember that the act of play is meant to be fun. We pray to the Lord.
Varsity Girls Basketball
For good team communication and camaraderie out on the field of play, help us to work well together as a group each time we are together. We pray to the Lord.
Golf
For fairness of play, we pray that we accept our mistakes and play with a spirit of fair competition. We pray to the Lord.
Girls Rugby:
For the opportunity to play our sport, we thank you for the abilities you have given each athlete, as well as the chance to engage in recreation that we enjoy. We pray to the Lord.
Sr. Boys Volleyball
For the bodies, minds and spirits of each member of our team, help us to make decisions both on and off the field of play that promote health and give us strength. We pray to the Lord.
Girls Flag Football
For your presence among us Lord, help us to represent your spirit in our play.
We pray to the Lord.
Tennis
For strength and agility, help us to play with skill and capability. We pray to the Lord.
Sr. Boys Football
For leadership both on and off the field of play, help us to respect each team member’s personalities and contributions to the team. We pray to the Lord.
Prayer of Blessing:
Our gracious Heavenly Father, we bow our heads in love and gratitude as we bless this field.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, we dedicate it as a place for teaching and learning; for healthy competition; and for pondering and reflecting on the wonders of the world we live in and on the eternal verities of life.
We pray that all who use this field may do so with appreciation and gratitude for those who have made it possible. We pray that coaches, who serve here, may feel Your inspiration in their work as teachers. We pray the minds of students may be enlightened; that those who play here will understand the importance of caring for the mind, body, heart and soul. We pray that all who train and compete here do so with vigor and a commitment to honor You in all they do.
Closing Prayer
Father, we are grateful for this beautiful setting and for the commitment to excellence, hard work and dedication of all those who helped our field of dreams become a reality.
Bless those with us today and those that will benefit from these facilities in the future. May Your will always be ours. It is through your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, that we pray. Amen.
St. Joseph, St. Helen and St. Martin, pray for us.