Niagara Catholic District School Board

The week leading into Thanksgiving was a week for counting our blessings at Niagara Catholic, as a second, beautiful new facility was officially blessed and opened. One day after the blessing of the new turf field at Blessed Trinity, the focus turned to the new St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School in Wainfleet, which was blessed by Bishop Gerard Bergie following a Mass concelebrated by the Bishop and Fr. Stanley Ksciuk, pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish October 10.

Director of Education Camillo Cipriano and Controller of Facilities Services Clark Euale were joined by Family of Schools Superintendent of Education Joe Zaroda and fellow members of Senior Administrative Council Lee Ann Forsyth-Sells and Pat Rocca. Chair of the Board Danny Di Lorenzo (who represents the Lakeshore Catholic family of schools), Trustee Jim Marino, and former Lakeshore trustee Dino Sicoli also attended, as did Board Chaplaincy Leader Krista Olivieri.

The school – a joint initiative with the District School Board of Niagara – was built at a cost of approximately $5.5 million. The five-classroom school has room for 115 students. St. Elizabeth and Marshville Public School share a childcare centre, a library, kitchen area, and gym. Unique to St. Elizabeth is a chapel, which will be decorated in stained glass depictions of The Beatitudes, painted by Grade 7 and 8 students in September.

That activity was part of a visit to both schools by Ontario Education Minister Jill Dunlop and Wainfleet Mayor Brian Grant on September 23.

During the Mass, Bishop Bergie blessed the crucifixes that will hang in St. Elizabeth spaces within the school, telling students how fortunate they are to have Jesus in school with them every day.

“I hope that every day you will look up to these crucifixes and that they will remind you every day how very much God loves you – this much,” he said, emphasizing the word this and stretching his arms wide.

Upon returning to St. Elizabeth, students returned to their classes to listen while Bishop Bergie offered a prayer for the new school, and then watched as their classrooms were blessed. The blessing concluded with a final prayer and then lunch for invited guests and school staff.

“The blessing of St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School was a beautiful way for our students and staff to begin the Thanksgiving weekend,” said Principal Julie Mangiacasale. “We are so very grateful for this wonderful new building and for the ability to host Bishop Bergie, Father Stanley and our senior staff to Mass and the beautiful celebration. I’m sure Catholic students in Wainfleet will enjoy this school for many years to come.”