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St. Patrick School dedicated
By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian
Looking directly at the students of St. Patrick Catholic School in Norfolk during the school’s dedication liturgy Jan. 29, Bishop DiLorenzo appeared beaming with joy. “Good afternoon, boys and girls,” he said. “You’re the reason we’re here.” Indeed, the bishop directed his entire homily to the 185 students of the new school. “I think you all know what hopes are,” he said. “You have a hope that when you get there, something nice is going to happen to you.”
 Approximately 1,000 people gathered in the new school’s gymnasium for the liturgy. The students had gathered in their classrooms earlier and came in during the processional hymn “All Are Welcome,” written by Marty Haugen. They took seats directly in front of the temporary altar set on a makeshift stage. “While there is an awful lot of joy in learning, there’s always a question you have,” Bishop Di Lorenzo said. Engaging the students, the bishop dropped a book. “Why didn’t it go up? Why didn’t it float around” he asked. Many of the kids quickly raised their hands and said “gravity.” “There’s a lot to be learned,” Bishop DiLorenzo said. “There’s an adventure when you come to St. Patrick’s and have questions.”
He then spoke of the importance of welcoming new students. “When new kids come here, they find you to be warm and welcoming,” the bishop said. “At St. Patrick’s they expect you to play fairly in the gym and out on the field.” Regarding religion, Bishop DiLorenzo said there are always many questions about God. “You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers” he replied, a remark which caused many to chuckle.
“St. Patrick’s wants you to examine all that you want to do and all that you hope to be.” Bishop DiLorenzo told the students that education is one of the journeys that never end. “Are we there yet?” he asked, but quickly added “No, there’s still more to the journey.”
 The new St. Patrick School, located at 1000 Bolling Ave. in the Larchmont area of Norfolk, is adjacent to the campus of Old Dominion University. There are currently 185 students in grades pre-K through 6. A 7th grade will be added in the fall, and an 8th grade the following year. The school will seek a maximum enrollment of 400 students. According to George Raiss, director of development, applications for next year’s enrollment number more than the current enrollment.
Bishop DiLorenzo later told The Catholic Virginian that he was grateful to the James-Barry Robinson Trust which had done most of the work in establishing St. Patrick’s School. “They do all the work with Catholic mission and sponsorship issues and then invite us in,” he said. “I am profoundly grateful to them for their overwhelming generosity in this project.”
Construction costs on the new St. Patrick Catholic School were approximately $15 million. Tymoff + Moss of Norfolk was the architectural firm. W.M. Jordan Company, Inc. of Newport News was the contractor.
 Concelebrants at the Mass were Msgr. R. Francis Muench, Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Vicariate; Msgr. Thomas Caroluzza, retired priest and former Eastern Vicar; and the following Norfolk clergy: Father Venancio Balarote, pastor of St. Pius X Church; Father Ernest L. Bulinda, administrator of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception; Father John Dorgan, retired priest and former pastor of the Basilica; Father Daniel Klem, pastor of Sacred Heart; Father Joseph Metzger, pastor of Blessed Sacrament; and Father Brian Rafferty, pastor of Christ the King. Deacons Calvin Bailey and Louis Maurelli of the Basilica and Sacred Heart respectively, assisted in the liturgy. 
(A story on the James Barry-Robinson Trust will appear in the next issue of The Catholic Virginian.)
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