On a warm September day, an adorable herd of first through third graders in maroon uniforms followed a tall shepherd dressed in white and blue. Crosier in hand, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge led his young “sheep” around the colorful new playground as he blessed it and the children with holy water, as they rounded the bright orange slides. Their pastor, Father John P. Mosimann, loves the color orange.
The playset is one of several new construction projects completed this summer at Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg. The official groundbreaking was in April 2024 and the work was completed this summer just in time for the new school year.
Bishop Burbidge celebrated Mass for the school community Sept. 11. He blessed the new middle school wing, STEM lab, playground, cafeteria, preschool rooms, and finally the new chapel. He also visited with students in the different grades to meet them, answer questions and bless religious items.
A group of sixth graders gathered in the new STEM lab where sixth grader Joey Vogel asked Bishop Burbidge, “What does God have to do with technology?”
Bishop Burbidge explained that technology is a gift from God for the advancement of humankind but like other gifts it can be abused.
“It is up to us, and up to you how you use technology, how you use the internet, how you use your cell phones, right?” he said. “You can use it for good or for bad.”
The new St. Helena Chapel is strategically positioned at the front of the school to remind the students that faith is the school’s priority.
The chapel features two arched, stained-glass windows. The first window is a scene from the Annunciation and the second depicts a young Jesus in St. Joseph’s workshop.
Two wooden statues made in Italy include several personalized features. For the statue of St. Helena, Father Mosimann added the crown of thorns and Bible. For St. Francis, they added a dog, a skull and a falcon.
A new tabernacle for the chapel will arrive from Spain in January.
The chapel is perfect for the students to gather with their classes for Mass and as a respite for students during the day.
Donna Harring, Doris Inguanti and Mary Owens, three of the core organizers and volunteers with the capital campaign that made construction possible, accompanied Bishop Burbidge during the blessing. Seeing all the hard work finally come to life was an emotional experience.
“When they brought the cross into the chapel we were in tears,” said Harring. “Elena Doyle came up with the theme for the parish, ‘Nothing is impossible with God,’ and we adopted that for the campaign and now we are seeing the manifestation of that belief. We knew we needed Our Lady’s help. The campaign showed us how important it is to completely rely on him. God did this.”
The construction celebration continued at the parish picnic for St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, which took place on the school grounds Sept. 13. More than 1,500 people attended, with parishioners invited to tour the school by participating in a scavenger hunt.
Parents were excited to see their children’s positive reaction to the new spaces and are excited for the rest of the school year.
“I think all of the projects are very exciting,” said Katherine Resendez, a mom of three. “The beginning of my daughter’s time as a Crusader coincided with the beginning of construction. As I think about her time at HCA and slowly moving her way down the hallway grade by grade, I know we’re in it for the long run. We are also very excited that preschool is now up at the ‘big school.’ My girls love that their classrooms are right across the hall from each other and the preschoolers really feel part of the HCA community. The teachers are incredible, the faith life and education are amazing and now it’s exciting to see the investment in a building to match.”
Kassock is a freelance writer in Fredericksburg.
