Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, December 23, 1999
The Southern Cross, Page 7
Bishop blesses hell tower, school building at Saint Anne, Columbus
Top left: Bishop J. Kevin Boland prays during the blessing of the bell tower and middle school at Saint Anne's, Columbus. Top right: Ray
Crowley expresses thanks for the community's support of the $2.8 million project. Mr. Crowley and his wife, Evelyn, donated the bells.
Above left: First-grader Michael Jacobs presents a gift to the bishop on behalf of the students as Saint Anne School's principal, Patricia
Nobes, looks on. Above center: Saint Anne's choir provides music for the celebration. Above right: Father J. Gerard Schreck, pastor,
welcomes the bishop and guests to the dedication.
Photos by Mike Haskey.
By Judy Walsh
ikening them to the Voice of
God, Bishop J. Kevin Boland
blessed the four bells named for
Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John in the new bell tower at Saint
Anne in Columbus as more than
1,500 people attended the outdoor
Dedication and Blessing ceremony
on December 9.
Bishop Boland also blessed the
new Saint Anne Middle School
which was part of the $2.8 million
project that included six new middle
school classrooms, a fine arts room,
science lab, media center, clinic and
administrative offices as well as a
renovated cafeteria and new kitchen
and a new covered walk that links all
three of the Saint Anne school build
ings with Saint Anne Church.
“At Saint Anne parish, you will
now have the Voice of God in four
different voices—Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John—proclaiming the
Good News as the ever-present God
calls all of us to prayer,” said Bishop
Boland.
Before the blessing, readings of
Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 1:9-15;
Luke 4:16-19; and John 1:1-5, 14,
16-18 were read by parishioners Liz
Weidner, Robert Hermann, Noreen
Murray and Steve Wilson.
Bishop Boland, who was pastor of
Saint Anne’s for 12 years before
becoming Bishop of the Diocese of
Savannah, commended the congrega
tion. “You should be proud of your
accomplishment. Not only is Saint
Anne School Y2K-compliant in
technology, but it will supply spiritu
al and educational needs for our chil
dren for many decades.”
Father J. Gerard Schreck, Saint
Anne’s pastor, welcomed those
attending which included many
members of the clergy, Sisters of
Mercy and representatives from the
Diocese of Savannah.
Saint Anne School’s principal
Patricia Nobes said, “The children
are the light of our future. They
deserve the best we can give them
and they have the best in this new
facility. We are grateful.”
Also addressing the crowd was
Saint Anne and Pacelli alumnus
Mark Franco, who spoke on behalf
of the Building Committee.
“We started this project about five
years ago on scratch pads,” he said.
“Without the huge sacrifice and com
mitment of the members of the
parish, none of it would be possible.
By joining together, we have done
something truly wonderful for our
children.”
He praised both Mrs. Nobes and
Father Schreck. “Through total
chaos, she maintained peace. She
never wavered in her devotion and
love for the children of Saint Anne
School. Father Schreck’s wisdom,
guidance, faith and humor and his
complete dedication to this project
inspired us.”
Saint Anne students Michael
Jacobs, Chelsea Lipocky and Christi
Gregory presented gifts to Bishop
Boland, architects Philip Johnson and
Harlon Price, and Denson
Construction foreman Neil Boyd.
Ray Crowley, who helped organize
the campaign, expressed appreciation
to friends in the community for their
generosity.
Following the blessing, the bells’
full peal rang out to the delight of the
crowd. Tours of the new building,
barbecue, and entertainment by the
Tin Sandwich Band were other high
lights of the evening.
Bishop Boland concluded his
remarks by serenading Father
Schreck with the song, “The Bells of
Saint Mary’s” from the 1940’s Bing
Crosby movie. Father Schreck’s
mother, Patty, accompanied the bish
op on the organ.
Judy Walsh is editor of The Pulse,
the publication of Saint Francis
Hospital, Columbus.