Construction Begins on Fitzmaurice Hall!
We are delighted to share with you that the beautiful building formerly known as the Congregation of St. Joseph motherhouse/convent will once again be a part of our academic program.
Thanks to the generosity of the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph, this historic building will be an integral part of our students' academic experience once again.
The Sisters recently moved into a new Center for themselves on the northwest corner of the campus, and in turn have gifted their former motherhouse/convent to the Academy for our use. The Academy will once again have classes in the building where the Sisters lived, worked and prayed for more than 100 years. What a gift that is! It will be a living testament to the ways the history of the Sisters and the Academy are intertwined.
The building has been dedicated as Fitzmaurice Hall, named for Mother Theresa Fitzmaurice. Elected mother superior three different times during her lifetime, she was the visionary leader who purchased the property that is the campus shared with the Congregation and the Academy back in 1898. She had a dream of building an Academy for the education of young women, understanding the importance of educating girls for a future not yet imagined. She set out to fulfill that dream. Today, we are the beneficiaries of her bold vision, graced with beautiful buildings and property overlooking the Rocky River valley.
We have embarked on the adaptive re-use of this historic building. The work began in earnest this month and will be completed by August 2020. The renovation will preserve the building's rich history and distinctive architecture while updating it to support 21st century education. Our plans include completely renovating the lower two floors for ten large classrooms and various staff and administrative offices. We are reserving the top two floors for the future, as the landscape for Catholic education continues to evolve. We will have space for new opportunities that may arise.
Naturally, renovating a building of this size and age takes resources. We have quietly embarked on a capital campaign -
With Lifted Hearts - to raise the necessary funds to begin the renovations. Tuition will not be impacted. The Congregation is also providing financial support for this work, another gift for which we are most grateful! They have been joined by some generous benefactors, and many more will be asked to participate as time goes on.
The strength of a Saint Joseph Academy education is due to the outstanding efforts of our faculty and staff, as reflected in our strong enrollment and our students' exceptional academic performance. We have always believed a better future for young women starts with an education that lifts them up. Our vision for Saint Joseph Academy in the 21st century is rooted in what has always defined and distinguished us a school: to support innovation and academic excellence in a community where faith thrives and service to the dear neighbor is instilled in each student.
To learn more, please contact Vice President of Institutional Advancement Constance S. Sipple at csipple@sja1890.org.
Sursum corda! Lift up your hearts!
