A Bishop's Blessing
Written By: Jeff Donaldson
The
fall semester always provides a fresh beginning for members of a college
community. This past fall, the official opening of the new classroom
building meant a bold step forward for students, faculty and staff
at La Roche College. On August 26, The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl,
STD, Bishop of Pittsburgh, marked the occasion by blessing the building
with holy water and a prayer.
“We dedicate this building to the education of the students
of La Roche College, to the progress of the sciences and to learning,”
said Wuerl in his blessing. “May it become a center where students
and teachers – imbued with the word of truth – will search
for the wisdom that guides the Christian life.”
Construction crews completed the building in August, one year after
the groundbreaking for the $5.5 million structure. The building contains
innovative “smart” classrooms (see companion article)
that are wired for 21st-century learning. Each is furnished with access
to the Internet, telecommunications, data transmission and cable television.
The building is adjacent to the Zappala College Center Square. It
also houses 13 faculty offices, two instructional computer labs, two
seminar rooms and an expanded bookstore.
After he blessed the building, Bishop Wuerl served as celebrant for
the Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Zappala College Center Square.
In the shadow of cutting-edge classroom technology, Wuerl marveled
at the advances. At the same time, he reminded students to remember
the fundamentals.
“It is a fact of life right now with the knowledge explosion
that everything we are learning will be obsolete in ten years’
time,” said Wuerl. “What will never be replaced will be
the answers to the basic questions of life. How shall I live? What
values am I going to express to direct my life? Part of the reason
for La Roche College is to help you find the correct answer.”
The new classroom building is part of Phase One of the College’s
master plan, approved by the Board of Trustees last year. The College
hopes to officially dedicate the building later in the academic year.
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