A ceremony was held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 to mark the groundbreaking of Edmonton Catholic School District’s newest school construction project. The sod-turning was part of the site blessing for Divine Mercy Catholic Elementary School in the neighbourhood of The Orchards at Ellerslie, located in the Ellerslie Community of Edmonton.
The Site Blessing opened with remarks and greetings from Superintendent Joan Carr, Ward 77 Trustee Laura Thibert, Ward 12 Councillor Moe Banga, MLA Rod Loyola, and His Grace Archbishop Richard Smith. Father Patrick Basca (St. Theresa’s Catholic Parish) read the Gospel from John 20:19-31, with a reflection from His Grace.
After prayer intercessions, Archbishop Smith giving a blessing of the site, “Grant that this school, Divine Mercy, will be for your honour and for the benefit of all your people.”
The event ended with the placing of the cross as a symbolic gesture to mark the Catholic school site, as well as the sod turning.
There is a community drop-in information session about the new Divine Mercy Catholic Elementary School on Wednesday, September 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m at Father Michael Mireau Catholic School. Attendees will be able to learn about the design concepts, as well as meet the architecture firm awarded to construct the building.
Here is a tweet with a video of the sod-turning from Edmonton Catholic School District.
And just like that we’re ready for construction to begin at the site of our new elementary school in the Orchards. #ECSDfaithinspires #abed #yeg @rod_loyola @MoeBangaWard12 @LauraThibert pic.twitter.com/WMJ9glLcMb
— ECSD (@EdmCathSchools) September 19, 2018