Cardinal Wilton Gregory, an archbishop emeritus of Washington, blessed the new Benedictine Learning Center at St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28 and reminded the students, teachers and staff that the “final purpose” of a Catholic education is “to bring us to the fullness of the truth.”
“We ask the Father to bless this new facility and all those who have made it possible,” the cardinal prayed, “(and) that teachers, students, parents and benefactors always pursue the truth and know that you (God), the source of all truth.”
Calling it “a crucial investment in the future of our students and our educational mission” and “a bridge connecting our 1500-year tradition of Benedictine education with modern technology,” St. Anselm’s Abbey School officials said the new learning center would “provide the resources our students need for collaborative, hands-on study, so vital to learning in the 21st century.”
The 8,000-square-foot Benedictine Learning Center includes:
• A dedicated chapel for Masses and spiritual reflection.
• A library and resource center.
• Instructional spaces with whiteboard walls designed for flexible learning.
• Facilities and offices for the school’s admissions department.
• Heritage Hall to preserve and display artifacts from the school’s history and to celebrate the achievements of alumni.
• A multipurpose large classroom for combined classes and media presentations
• A conference room for meetings.
The building is designed around an outdoor courtyard, and its rooms can be used as additional classrooms for tutoring and one-one instruction.
John Corrigan, headmaster of the school, noted that Cardinal Gregory blessed both the groundbreaking and the final construction of new building, Corrigan said “the sense of continuity and to have his blessing is wonderful.”
He called the blessing “a momentous occasion” because “71 years from the laying of the cornerstone, we finally finish the building of the school according to the (original) master plan.”
At the time he blessed the groundbreaking, Cardinal Gregory said that the new facility would assist in “the vital development of St. Anselm’s young men … (and) be a distinct area on campus to nurture discipline, inquiry, and a commitment to spiritual and personal growth.”
When he blessed the completed Benedictine Learning Center, Cardinal Gregory said, “It’s a special privilege to return to St. Anselm’s to complete a job I started several years ago. It is good to see a job that started well is completed well.”
Recalling prior visits to the school, the cardinal said that “every time I have the good fortune to visit St. Anselm’s, I see these young men who are full of wisdom – and mischief also – but who are open to learn more about the God who created us.”
