St. Junipero Serra Catholic School Breaks Ground on New Chapel and Student Creation Center
The 22,000-sq.-ft. project will complete a nearly $30 million, 15-year Master Development Plan for the largest Catholic Elementary school on the West Coast.
Garden Grove, Calif., (March 31, 2017) – The Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, and school officials will join students and parents at St. Junipero Serra Catholic School in Rancho Santa Margarita for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Saint Serra Chapel and a two-story Student Creation Center/Admin building.
Event Details
- What: Ceremonial Groundbreaking
- When: April 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.
- Where: St. Junipero Serra Catholic School, Rancho Santa Margarita
When completed in mid-2018, this ambitious project will mark the successful completion of the school’s Master Development Plan, which has spanned nearly 15 years.
“I am blessed to join with the St. Serra School family in beginning perhaps the most important building project in their history, the establishment of a chapel. As our Catholic schools faith is central and this new chapel will enable students to praise our Lord in a beautiful setting at the heart of their campus,” said Bishop Vann. “This project also demonstrates the incredible vibrancy and growth of our Diocese and its educational system. We are pleased to continue to invest in the future of our Church and community.”
About the Final Phase Project
This final phase of the campus master plan is a 22,000 sq. ft. project projected to cost $9 million and open in the fall of 2018. It includes:
- The St. Serra Chapel: The cornerstone of the campus, providing a central place for spiritual formation.
- A Two-Story Student Creation Center:
- Lower Floors: Educational space committed to STEM education, collaborative learning, and the Arts.
- Second Floor: Administrative offices and a volunteer parent hub.
“The seminal project for our campus solidifies our commitment to creating future leaders for our community through a commitment to STEM education and the Arts. Also, the addition of a central Chapel will keep our academic community firmly rooted in our Catholic faith and support the spiritual formation of our students,” said Angeline Trudell, president of St. Serra School.
History of the Master Development Plan
- Phase One (Completed 2004): A 48,000 sq. ft. Primary Education Building.
- Phase Two (Opened 2009): A two-story, three-winged classroom building and a Student Activity Center used for athletics, physical education, and community gatherings.
- Final Phase (2017-2018): The St. Serra Chapel and Student Creation Center.
History of St. Junipero Serra Catholic School
In 1993, a group of parents approached their Pastors about establishing a Catholic elementary school. Assuming responsibility themselves and working with the Diocese, they founded the county’s first and only tri-parish elementary school. The school opened in the fall of 1995 with 10 classrooms and 250 students.
Today, St. Serra educates over 1,000 students from Preschool through Eighth Grade and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. It serves the parishes of St. Kilian (Mission Viejo), San Francisco Solano (Rancho Santa Margarita), Santiago de Compostela (Lake Forest), and Holy Trinity (Ladera Ranch).
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