St. Charles Preparatory School Celebrating New Convocation Center, Plaza, & Beautified Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
In November, St. Charles Preparatory School will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of its founding by Bishop James J. Hartley in 1923. Before then, however, the school is proud to announce another very significant celebration: the opening of the newly constructed Frank E. Murphy ’54 Convocation Center, a central plaza, and the beautified Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. The ceremony took place on Friday, September 8th following an all-community Mass celebrated by Bishop Earl K. Fernandes at 11:40 a.m.
In 2018, St. Charles initiated The Vision for the Future; Building Leaders for the Next 100 Years campaign. It would focus on three elements that all supported the future growth of the
School: building new spaces and facilities to be used by the school community, beautifying and improving existing spaces, and growing its endowment.
Now in 2023, the completed Frank E. Murphy ’54 Convocation Center adds a state-of-the-art arena to the campus. It can accommodate up to 2,000 people for athletic and cultural events that will benefit both St. Charles and Central Ohio communities.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, one of the most sacred places of prayer and reflection on campus, was enhanced and beautified with the addition of a large circular gathering area and seating wall, paved walkways, and two new waterfalls.
A new central campus plaza has also been created. It has several paved areas, walkways, and places to sit and rest and surrounded by plantings and landscaping. This gathering space was designed to connect the buildings of the past with those of the future.
Another critical element of the campaign was to grow the St. Charles Endowment. This resource supports tuition assistance for St. Charles families as well as providing for faculty recruitment and retention.
In addition, Principal Jim Lower is also very excited to announce the beginnings of the new Brotherhood Center. This multi-story structure will repurpose the school’s old gymnasium.
It will offer more classrooms and offices, a library and media center, and spaces that foster 21st-century learning and future programming for students.
When it is completed, the campaign will have realized a total investment in the school and its students of more than $35 million.
St. Charles Preparatory School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
St. Charles Preparatory School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.
St. Charles Preparatory School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.
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