News

In a week celebrating the new Saint Martin de Porres, a $21 million state-of-the-art facility and the first school built of any kind in the neighborhood in over 100 years, many came out to enjoy and profile all the excitement surrounding our community.

It all started on Monday when Saint Martin President Rich Clark was up bright and early to be a guest on EWTN’s nationally syndicated show Morning Glory. President Clark comes in at the 46 minute mark of the show and highlighted our big week ahead, the Cristo Rey Network, and the incredible story of how he came to starting a new school in 2003.

Later that morning, Bishop Nelson Perez joined us, celebrating mass with our community at St. Vitus, then leading a procession of our entire student body and staff down Lausche to the new school for a blessing. Bishop Perez then joined students and staff for lunch, answering questions, and enjoying himself while eating an amazing meal prepared by our Chef Kenny. WKYC was on hand as well as Carol Kovach of Northeast Ohio Catholic. Carol did an amazing job of capturing the day.

On Tuesday, President Clark hosted other Catholic school Presidents from all over the area. They were amazed and impressed by what they saw in our new home. Wednesday night we honored our 15 newly elected members of the National Honor Society and their families. Thursday night saw the staff recognize our donors and stakeholders who helped make the Miracle on St. Clair possible, and on Friday we welcomed our current students and families to experience the new school first hand.

Saturday brought the formal building dedication and a full house to celebrate our ribbon cutting ceremony. Board President Dominic Perry did a terrific job as master of ceremonies, and the day included speeches from President Clark, 2009 Saint Martin grad and Project Engineer on the new school, Ricardo Henry, Mayor Frank Jackson, Strategic Advisor to Councilman Basheer Jones, Angela Thi Bennett, and senior Taylor Love. Ceremonial keys were presented by Ricardo and Taylor to Mayor Jackson, Special Advisor Bennett, and incredible Saint Martin benefactors Nick and Lorie Howley. After the speeches were complete, Taylor then invited our dignitaries, Board members and Saint Martin Student Council President Enrique Freeman over to the Monumental Staircase to cut the official ribbon and officially open up the school to the community.

After the formal ceremonies were complete, attendees enjoyed refreshments, toured the school, and took in the many demonstrations being presented by our students and staff. Later that afternoon we opened up the school to everyone, and invited them to come celebrate with us at our Community Open House. For two hours people from all over streamed in to see and experience this new diamond in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood.

It was a big day and a big week, and we are always so thankful when our local media members take time to see all the good that is happening at Saint Martin. WEWS, WOIO/WUAB, WTAM, City TV 20, and the Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com were all on hand to cover the historic event in our school’s history.

Thank you to all who shared in these wonderful moments with us, it is because of you that the Miracle on St. Clair went from a dream to a reality.