Father Christopher Gray blesses the new addition of the Skaggs Catholic Center with holy water during the April 15 dedication ceremony. IC photo/Laura VallejoDRAPER — Eight new classrooms, a 400-seat theater and a new plaza at the Skaggs Catholic Center in Draper were dedicated and blessed during a ceremony on April 15.The 57-acre Skaggs Catholic Center houses Juan Diego Catholic High School, Saint John the Baptist, elementary and middle schools, and Guardian Angel Daycare, as well as St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. It opened in 1999.
 Despite the high winds of the day, Father Christopher Gray, rector of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, presided over the ceremony, accompanied by Deacon Lynn Johnson as master of ceremonies.
In his opening remarks, Fr. Gray welcomed those present and recognized “the ongoing work along with its faculty, staff, parents, priests and benefactors.” 
The new facility “is a vital resource for the moral and educational development of our youth and the comprehensive faith formation for all the faithful of our diocese,” he said, adding, “This building is to be a place of so many blessings for our youth who are also the light and salt of the earth.”
 As part of the ceremony, Fr. Gray used an aspergillum to sprinkle holy water throughout the new facilities. He also presided at a Mass celebrated in the new theater. Concelebrants were Dominican Fr. Michael Augustine Amabisco, chaplain of the Skaggs Catholic Center; Father Paulraj Rayappa, administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish; and Fr. Sebastien Sasa Nganomo, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City.
In his homily, Fr. Gray relayed remarks from Bishop Oscar A. Solis, who was unable to attend due to unexpected circumstances.
“Our bishop said to tell you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is a joyful and meaningful moment in the life in this Catholic school community,” Fr. Gray said. “We are gathered to celebrate another blessing from God. What we see is a building, but constructing it involved a lot of work, planning, organization and so many other pieces. … This building is a manifestation of God’s continuing work and mission in our world.” 
The facility is a space for the formation of the minds, hearts and souls of all the students of the Skaggs Center, he said. “Here students can develop their God-given talents” to be used “not for personal glory but for the service of good to others.” 
The building “is a welcoming space to gather to celebrate creativity, to share stories to inspire, for hope and compassion,” he said, adding that it is also “a sign of our Church’s commitment to culture, to arts and beauty.” 
The day was “a great occasion of joy and gratitude,” Fr. Gray stated, adding that the bishop said that it was also an occasion to thank God and the benefactors and donors who made the building possible. 
Father Gray then added a personal note, saying, “When we offer Mass for the first time in a place, it is very special,” and that day was notable because of the presence of representatives from across the Skaggs Catholic Center campus and beyond “who care about the mission of this wonderful place of spiritual giving.” 
Dr. Galey Colosimo, principal of Juan Diego CHS, agreed that it was a special day.
“Improving and expanding the Skaggs Catholic Center has been an ongoing task,” Colosimo said in an interview with the Intermountain Catholic. He noted that in the past few years “we have improved our science lab, transformed our technology, and these new gifts are for our performing arts, the music, the bands, the choir and the orchestra, the theater.” 
The Sam and Aline Skaggs Theater, classrooms and plaza “will enhance all of the performing arts in the schools [all over the campus]  … This is for all of our students who are really in love with the performing arts,” Colosimo said.
Nikki Ward, superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools told the Intermountain Catholic that it was a beautiful celebration. She recalled that she had been present for the opening of the Skaggs Catholic Center 26 years ago, and “it’s like coming home. Part of my role is operational vitality and keeping the schools alive for the teachers, and this is a great example of that.”