Residents in the Brookside neighbourhood of Scarborough can now send their children to a Catholic school.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Catholic School (BPGF), which opened in September, welcomed parents and guests to its school blessing on Nov. 20.
The blessing was led by children who attend BPGF. Housing kindergarten to grade 8, the new Catholic school on Seasons Drive has 233 students.
Children opened the celebration by singing the national anthem and led guests through the day’s blessings with Bible readings.
Father Edwin Gonsalves of St. Barnabas Parish and Bishop Nguyen blessed BPGF with an opening prayer and a reading of the Responsorial Psalm.
The children created a time capsule to be opened in 50 years. They filled it with items to mark the school’s creation, including a banner with the school’s motto, “We are many faces but just one family”, a shovel to mark the completed construction and a photo of Pier Giorgio Frassati among other symbolic items.
Principal Paola Cherrier was pleased with how the blessing went.
“It was an amazing event for our students, parents and staff,” Cherrier said. “And I think the student involvement made everyone feel that it was our school.”
In attendance was Angela Gauthier, Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Director of Education, Bas Balkissoon, Ontario MPP for Scarborough Rouge River and Garry Tanuan, TCDSB trustee for Ward 8.
