Faculty, staff and students celebrated the beginning of the Arts Center remodel at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy with a blessing on Monday, Feb. 2.

Sr. Carolyn McCormack, O.P. president of Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, and Sister Celeste Marie, O.P., principal, presided over the blessing of the project, which included the sprinkling of Holy Water on the property of the remodel.

The blessing read in part, “May all who pass through the new Arts Center’s doors be filled with the joy of Your abiding presence as they work and learn, laugh and dance, design and create, in the light of our Catholic faith.”

The Arts Center remodel project is independent of the master plan. FSHA is currently in the process of seeking approval from the City of La Cañada to modernize some of the school’s older facilities, built more than 60 years ago.

Dylan Neil, ‘16, a student performer, took the podium to speak about the project.

“I never noticed any of the flaws in the old auditorium because of what we, the students, were able to do with it,” said Neil. “But it’s exciting to think of everything we will achieve once we have a real theatre.”

The event closed with all in attendance singing the “Dominican Blessing” (May God Creator Bless us. May God Redeemer heal us. And may God the Holy Spirit fill us with light.)

“I was happy to be part of the old auditorium,” said Neil, “but I’m really excited to be part of the new tradition that will begin once the new theatre is completed.”

“The arts are an important part of our Dominican heritage,” added Sr. Carolyn McCormack, “and we are proud to create a space that honors that tradition.”