‘This building is here to serve’
HUNTERSVILLE — Holding an oversized pair of ceremonial scissors, Bishop Peter Jugis snipped a bright red ribbon to mark the opening of Christ the King High School’s 27,000-square-foot expansion Dec. 6.
The bishop was flanked by Dr. Janice Ritter, superintendent of the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic schools, and Dr. Carl Semmler, principal of Christ the King High School. After he said a prayer of blessing and cut the ribbon, loud cheers erupted from the gathered crowd of students, teachers, parents and supporters.
The two-story building more than doubles the high school’s total square footage – making much-needed room for its growing enrollment of 300-plus students.
The new building includes a cafeteria, large multipurpose room for drama and band, a fabrication shop, three science classrooms and eight general purpose classrooms.
Among other things, the additional classrooms will be used for art, industrial design, theater, music, guitar, chemistry, biology, earth science,environmental science, information technology, cyber communications and liberal arts. The building also has several common areas for students to work collaboratively.
It also houses new administration offices, guidance offices and a conference room.
The bishop celebrated Mass for the occasion and then toured the new facility, blessing each room with holy water as he went.
In his homily at Mass, he noted, “This building is here to serve.
“This building exists to serve you young people” – to serve them in their academic growth, as well as in the growth of their relationship with God.
“Generous service is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is a sign of the Holy Spirit – generosity and service to others. The service that is going on here – the giving of oneself to others – is a sign that the Holy Spirit is alive and well here working in your lives,” he said.
“As this new building therefore serves you and is placed at your service, we pray that the formation that takes place in this building will form you in thatsame spirit of Christian service of God and Christian service of each other,” he concluded.
After Mass school leaders gave thanks for all those who helped make the $11 million building project a success, and they reminded students that this latest investment in Catholic education is a gift that must be shared.
“God has built this house… because God has a purpose for everybody in this room. You young people, you know that. You know that God has spoken a word over all of your lives and that word will not be frustrated. It will be fulfilled, whatever you need to do,” Semmler said.
Semmler encouraged his students to be holy, to repay the investment the diocese has made in their education by going out into the world to be a light into the darkness.
Ritter also shared congratulated the school community on the project’s completion.
“Christ the King is now a thriving community of Christ-centered education,” she said. “I pray that God will continue to send His many blessings to each of you as you continue your journey to believe, to think and to serve.”
Students were all smiles for the special day.
“It is very exciting that our school is growing, and it’s great to see where it’s been and where it’s going,” said Jack Yordy, president of the student government.
Sarah Kocher, vice president, agreed. “It’s been growing in all aspects. To see a physical representation of that in the new building is exciting.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
