Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 23, 2002
Our Lady of Lourdes School to undergo renovation, expansion
Upcoming jazz event to benefit capital campaign for school improvements
In the fall of Our Lady of Lourdes' inaugural school year, parishioners organized the now defunct "Rock of Lourdes" service organization. The group's name was derived from their experience in building a grotto in honor of the parish namesake. The men themselves brought most of the 725 tons of granite and stone used on the grotto to the site. The shrine stands today as a testament to the level of community devotion and involvement that makes Our Lady of Lourdes School unique.
Lourdes' tranquil campus, stretching north along Logan from Iliff to Warren, belies a vigorous community. The mission statement rings as true today as it did at the school's beginning in 1947: "Our Lady of Lourdes School provides a unique opportunity for personal and spiritual growth through Catholic education from kindergarten through grade eight."
Commenting on the secret to Lourdes' continuous vitality, the pastor, Father Robert D. Fisher, said, "We are a small school with an excellent staff that takes care of our students. Everyone helps everyone else. We are a community in which education excellence has developed a treasured past, a dynamic present and an exciting future."
School Principal Joan Sheehan added, "I can't think of a time in our history when we have had so much to share with our alumni."
Our Lady of Lourdes has adopted a long-range plan to keep pace with the dynamic changes taking place. According to school parent and campaign chair Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter, the goal of the first phase of the Faith in the Future Capital Campaign is to expand and renovate the school.
"The building project will include space for all classrooms, a before and after school childcare program, student meal facilities, a science and art lab, a library/media center, and an administration center under one roof and will enhance our grounds by adding parking spaces and improving access," Ritter said.
Increasing enrollment reflects the vibrancy of the school. There are 183 students attending Lourdes, drawn from throughout the metropolitan area. The school offers one class per grade with a student-teacher ratio of 16-1.
"We currently have space available in most grades and encourage everyone to see the Lourdes difference at our open house and registration," Sheehan said.
The event is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27.
"If I were asked to describe Our Lady of Lourdes in one word, it would be `family,'" said Vicki Huff Yarian, a former student and now a parent with her own children at Lourdes.
Yarian is helping school parent and event chair Nona Yakes organize a musical performance to benefit the school. Scheduled 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Glenmoor Country Club, "All that Jazz" is an intimate evening of jazz featuring internationally acclaimed singer and pianist Carol Welsman. Alumni reservations are $45 per person. All other reservations are $50. For more information, call 303-722-7525 or access the school's website at ololschool.org.
"I look forward to reconnecting with my extended Lourdes family at `All that Jazz,'" Yarian said.
The Seeds of Hope Charitable Trust, an organization established in 1996 to help Denver's inner city Catholic schools, is launching a search for all alumni of inner city Catholic schools in the metro area. Seeds of Hope is assisting Lourdes in its effort to locate their alumni. If you are an alumnus, call 303-715-3127 to help the school update its database.
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