When Diane Witte began working as the first full-time gym teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School, Richmond, in 1974, there was no gymnasium on campus – in fact, said her husband Bob Witte, there wasn’t even athletic equipment.
“For years, she spent her own money to buy equipment. And every time it rained, or it was too cold, there was no place to practice,” said Witte. “By 1976, we were asking about getting a gym built on campus.”
Diane passed away in 1999, but her husband kept up the campaign for decades. In the meantime, Our Lady of Lourdes athletic teams practiced in the school cafeteria or outside on the blacktop.
Bob Witte joined with other school alumni and parents, and by 2018, project leader Tony Giovannetti was starting to draw up a plan. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the Diane N. Witte Gymnasium was blessed by Bishop Barry C. Knestout, as were a new art room and a music room, all part of an approximately $4.2 million expansion of the school.
“It took a lot of work, and a lot of people,” said Witte. “If it hadn’t been for Father Jonathan Goertz, we wouldn’t have gotten it done.”
Father Goertz, who became pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in 2021, worked with Witte, Giovannetti, principal Dr. Carey Jacobsen, and others – including large- and small-dollar donors – to get the project over the finish line.
The Jan. 26 blessing followed a Mass celebrated by Bishop Knestout, concelebrated by Father Goertz and Father Armando Herrera-Dos Reis, the parochial vicar. Several schoolchildren participated as readers, offering the Prayers of the Faithful, and bringing up the gifts.

Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Giovannetti recalled his own days as a student there, saying, “We didn’t get a chance to practice much. We won a little bit, but not as much as we thought we could have.”
The true purpose of the project, Giovannetti said, is not to defeat the St. Benedict Comets or the St. Mary’s Monarchs in basketball – though he got a few cheers when he mentioned that prospect – but to bring more people into the embrace of the Our Lady of Lourdes community.
“If we do not use this to evangelize, to bring people into our orbit to know us, into sacramental practice, into the faith, into heaven, then we should knock it down,” said Giovannetti.
His comments echoed a theme of Bishop Knestout’s homily, in which the bishop compared construction of the space to other acts of service.
“Charity, shelters, food pantries … the day-to-day work and tangible care for the poor is important and necessary and integral to our lives as Christians and disciples,” said Bishop Knestout. “But with these larger institutional efforts, over time, we provide a space to those who are vulnerable or in need – the very young – where their needs and lives can be sustained.”
Bishop Knestout drew a link between the first reading from Nehemiah and the day’s events, recalling that it took both wise leadership and a strong community to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem upon the Israelites’ return from captivity.
“Ezra and Nehemiah are sent to rally the people to carry out this huge project,” said the bishop. “As a community, with leadership, they could accomplish it.”
Eighth grader Aidan Pudner, who plays basketball for Our Lady of Lourdes, said the new gym has had an immediate impact on the team.
“Before, at 8 o’clock at night, we had to go to Charles Johnson Elementary School, ten minutes away, where there was a half court,” said Pudner. “Now, we have a full court, so we can practice all at once, and have two groups on the floor at the same time. Plus, we can start right after school.”
In gym class, said seventh grader Harper Perkins, “We have a lot more space for activities. Right now, we’re doing cardio, and we can run longer distances.” Perkins added that she’s excited to try out the rock-climbing wall.
Ainsley Robinson and Claire Witte, two fifth graders on the girls’ basketball team, have the distinction of playing in the gym named after their grandmother.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Ainsley. “Also, when we practice, we don’t hit the lights.”
Though their grandfather Bob was keen to share the credit with the rest of the committee, there was also a hint of accomplishment in his voice as he reflected on his wife’s realized dream.
“I never thought I’d see it,” he said.