Bishop leads special service

MAGNOLIA — Nine years after the Catholic high school began, the students, faculty and religious leaders of St. Thomas More Preparatory School gathered on Thursday to celebrate the hard work its founding fathers with a special service.

From left, St. Thomas More Academy chaplain James Lentini escorts Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli from the Wilmington Diocese across the parking lot towards the athletic field while seniors Jessica Porter and Katherine Eliassen join him for the blessing. The bishop was at the school in Magnolia on Thursday to celebrate the school’s founders.Delaware State News/Dave Chambers

The Rev. Michael A. Saltarelli, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, performed the Mass at the school, which is owned and operated by the Diocese of Wilmington Schools Inc.

“It honors in a very spec

ial way men and women, whose courage, whose determination, whose faith, whose love ... made

this school possible,” Bishop Saltarelli said about the special ceremony.

“I continue to thank God for them every time that I offer the sacrifices of the Mass.”

However, he said what was even more important are the 207 students who make up the school today.

“Most of all my dear young people, I thank God for you,” Bishop Saltarelli

said to the assembly of high schoolers. “You are the reason for all of this.”

It is because of these same students that Earl Francis says all the time he spent fundraising and working to make a Catholic high school in southern Delaware a reality has been worthwhile.

“It’s just unbelievable” the Milford native said when thinking about how far the school has come.

Shortly after Holy Cross High School in Dover closed in 1987, a group of people decided to start their own Catholic school and created Thomas More Academy Inc.

Mr. Francis said the fundraising effort became a full-time job for several of those bent on making the school a

reality.

The dream began to materialize when 20 acres of land were donated.

With $1.6 million raised, he said they began construction, but then decided they needed a loan to continue.

This is when the group took their request for support to the diocese and Bishop Saltarelli.

Mr. Francis said their request was more then granted when Bishop Saltarelli pledged the diocese would not only back a loan but would adopt the school.

“For us that was the best thing that could happen,” he said.

The founders day celebration, held for the second year, also included the blessing of a new soccer and field hockey field.

After Bishop Saltarelli said a prayer of blessing, a sign honoring the benefactors of the field was unveiled.

The name, Miller Field, pays thanks to Charles and Frances Miller of Smyrna.

Mr. Miller said he was glad to be able to help the school’s athletics department and was truly honored by the sign.

“For all the future Ravens I hope for continued success and safety on these fields,” he said.

School principal David McKenzie said the celebratory Mass would become an annual event at the school.

“What we want is for the students to know the history of the school,” he said.

Mr. McKenzie said its history is especially unique because of how it was started.

As a part of this, he said, any visit by the Bishop Saltarelli is a special time for the students.

“He is not only their spiritual leader but they understand his place in the history of the school and so he is truly loved,” Mr. McKenzie said.

President of the school’s student body, Katherine Eliassen, said students had been anticipating Thursday’s festivities for a while.

“It reminds us that we are lucky to be here and gives us a chance to thank the founders,” she said.