Bishop Michael F. Burbidge kicked off Catholic Schools Week with Mass at Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg Jan. 30. During his homily, he congratulated the school community on its upcoming 25th anniversary. He also asked the students to remember three important words: remember, rejoice and renew.
“Remember all the special people in this school and thank them. Rejoice in knowing you are never alone, God is walking with you. Renew your promise to love God and one another. If you can do those three things, it will be the best Catholic Schools Week ever,” he said. “If you do those three things you will make Our Lord God so very happy.”
After Mass, Father John P. Mosimann, pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in Fredericksburg and affiliated with the school, presented Bishop Burbidge with a spiritual bouquet from the students. He joked that many of the students had pledged to pray for bishop’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles football team to win the Super Bowl Feb. 12.
Bishop Burbidge and Joseph Vorbach, diocesan school superintendent, visited each classroom and chatted with students.
Principal Stephen Fry announced Jan. 30 that thanks to the generosity of those who contributed to the parish “Growing Our Legacy of Faith” capital campaign, the school and parish have reached the halfway point of the financial goal for the long-awaited school expansion and parish renovation. He said they are $3.5 million closer to the goal. Fry presented the school’s new mission statement, now posted in all the classrooms. Plans include expanding the chapel, which was added during Fry’s first year as principal in 2019.
“Having the Blessed Sacrament at all times is a beautiful way to see the kids saying ‘Hi’ to Jesus,” said Fry. “It will be the first thing you see when you enter the school.”
The expansion also will move the preschool from the parish life center to the Holy Cross campus so parents no longer have to make two stops 5 miles apart.
“What makes Holy Cross so special is the vibrancy. The faith is so alive. It’s great to see our school families living the faith at church,” said Fry, who said the parish priests are very involved with the school.
Holy Cross Academy opened Aug. 31, 1998, filling a void left by Monfort Academy, which closed that year. Oblate Sisters of St. Frances de Sales, led by Sister Susan Louise Eder, welcomed 420 students that year including former Monfort students and the Lanzarone family. Chris Lanzarone was in seventh grade when he started at Holy Cross with his little sister Julia. He is now the chief operations manager at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church.
“Holy Cross is a place where I met one of my best friends who I’m still friends with today,” said Lanzarone. “I was blessed to meet so many people (at Holy Cross) who are very important in my life.”
His mother, Eileen Lanzarone, taught at Holy Cross for 22 years. The aerospace engineering major and former RCIA director taught a variety of classes in sixth, seventh and eighth grade, math, religion and physical science until her retirement last June. She still substitutes a couple days a week.
“Holy Cross gave my children a wonderful foundation in our faith and I feel the standards were higher than the local public schools,” said Lanzarone. “As a teacher, I liked the camaraderie of the faculty and under (Sister Susan Louise’s) leadership, it was a very spiritual place. It was exactly what I was looking for.”
She praised the school’s adoption of new technology and adaptability, especially during the pandemic.
The school has come a long way since 1998 and with the steady success of the capital campaign, there is a lot to celebrate now.
“We came out of the pandemic stronger than when we went in,” said Father Mosimann. “Because it forced us to rely on one another and form tighter bonds through that difficulty. It is inspiring to see those bonds blossom in the life of the school and the parish as we rally to grow our school and continue to strive to improve.”
Fry said the school PTO is planning a variety of events to celebrate the school’s upcoming 25th anniversary including a special rededication ceremony and Fun Run.
Kassock is a freelancer in Fredericksburg
