St. Catherine of Siena Parish holding 'retirement' for school building Jan. 30

By The Catholic Week
 
With a mix of sadness, but also excitement for the future, St. Catherine of Siena Parish Pastor Fr. Fred Boni announced its school building will be demolished. The school closed at the end of the school year in 1986. 
 
According to Fr. Boni, it is unfeasible to get the building to a state of optimal functionality nor to continue to properly maintain it.  The parish also needs more parking for its Sunday 12 p.m. Mass, as well as for future growth of our whole parish (English and Spanish). Fr. Boni called it “A needed step to building a great future for our parish!”
 
The parish will have a “retirement” of the school building at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, beginning with Mass. The principal celebrant will be Fr. Paul Zoghby, pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Foley and alumnus of St. Catherine School.  Fellow alumnus Raymond Gueret will serve as deacon. 
 
Following Mass there will be a reception and an opportunity to walk through the school, connect with classmates, family members, coworkers and friends. Fr. Boni also said the parish is looking at possibilities of “a devotional space that incorporates aspects of the school building: preserving our past to build our future.”