On May 29, The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education gathered with students, staff, community members, and dignitaries on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier School to mark a significant milestone in the life of Catholic education in our city: the official ground blessing and sod turning ceremony for Holy Trinity Academy.
Led by Fr. Roque and Fr. Iqbal, the ground was blessed with prayer, holy water, and hope for the future of this sacred ground.
Adding to the significance of the day, the ceremony coincided with World Catholic Education Day—a global celebration of the gift of Catholic education. To mark the occasion, attendees wore blue as a visible sign of unity and support for Catholic schools around the world. The sea of blue throughout the crowd served as a powerful reminder of our shared mission and the strength of our faith-filled community.
Board Chair, Mrs. Kathy Glasgo, shared reflections on the journey that led to this moment, expressing gratitude to the Alberta Government for funding support, and to all partners, planners, and families who helped bring this vision to life. “This all started as a dream... an idea,” Glasgo said. “To build a theatre for all to enjoy, and to honour The Sisters of Charity of St. Louis, the ones who brought Catholic education to Medicine Hat in 1911.”
Representatives from Alberta Infrastructure, City Council, FWBA Architects, school division leadership, and local parishes joined in the celebration, alongside parishioners, St. Mary's School choir, St. Michael's School choir, and the St. Francis Xavier student body, who proudly had a front-row seat to witness this historic moment.
As construction begins, the excitement is growing—not only for a new building but for the many opportunities this new facility will bring to our community.
We give thanks for this moment and for the gift of Catholic education, and we look forward to watching the project take shape in the coming months.