Blessed Sacrament Catholic School celebrates 20 years

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Blessed Sacrament School and parish community welcomes past principals James Marcosian (left) now vice principal of St. John the Baptist Middle School; Judy Julian, current principal; Sr. Barbara Stanek, founder; and Sr. Catherine Kamphaus, superintendent of Catholic Schools. IC photos by Christine Young

SANDY — Blessed Sacrament School, Sandy, celebrated the graduation of 25 eighth grade students and their 20th anniversary May 31.

The graduates processed in and stood before their parents, teachers, families, and friends, and expressed their fondest memories of their experience at Blessed Sacrament School.

Some remembered swinging on the tire on the playground, having fun at recess, running through the sprinklers, and jam they made in kindergarten. They especially liked performing in the school play "The Wizard of Oz," and their recent retreat. Many were grateful for their teachers, friends, and how much they received by attending Blessed Sacrament School.

Camrin Riverea, student council president said, "We are one class and one family."

The graduation Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Msgr. Robert Servatius, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Msgr. Servatius said, "We are graced to have all four of the principals with us for this celebration. We welcome co-founder and first principal Dominican Sister Barbara Stanek, Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus, now superintendent of Catholic Schools, and James Marcosian, who is the vice principal of St. John the Baptist Middle School.

Msgr. Servatius said, "As we celebrate 20 years in this parish and community, we celebrate the past, the present, and look toward the future. Part of that is the growth process that takes place year in and year out. We look at these young men and women and remember when they were in kindergarten. We see how they have grown up physically and emotionally, and developed into young adults."

"Remember God works through you," said Sr. Barbara. "You are the good news because you are the children who can walk through mud puddles, share ideas, love everyone, and understand your differences. Your parents have taught you Christian values and you use them everyday. When you spoke about what you got from your education at Blessed Sacrament, you spoke of relationships you had with teachers and with each other. Human relationships are our most wonderful gifts. I pray all of you are able to have rich relationships throughout your lives."

In celebrating the 20th anniversary of the school, Msgr. Servatius said he will always remember July 1, 1986, when Bishop William K. Weigand, then bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, appointed him as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Almost simultaneously, Bishop Weigand engaged two Dominican sisters from Las Vegas, Nev., to open a Catholic school. They were Sr. Stanek and the late Sister Sharon Carroll.

"Holy Cross Sister Joan Allem, then superintendent of Catholic schools, had visited one of our schools in Las Vegas," said Sr. Barbara. "So Sr. Sharon and I told Bishop Weigand we wanted to come to Sandy.

"What I remember most is the wonderful families we had to start the school," she said. "We had very little when we began and I remember the night before school started, parents were painting and putting the tables together. I have never worked with a more loving and supportive group of parents. They helped us raise money and in every way that we needed help."

"The school was built in five phases," said Sr. Barbara. "In the first phase, we built the parish center which served as the school. It began with kindergarten and first grade, and each year we added a grade. The second year we added pre-kindergarten and second grade. We made the commitment to stay until the first class graduated, and then we felt it would be time for someone else to take over."

Sr. Barbara served as principal from 1986 to 1995. She is now in Seattle serving as the administrator and property manager of Rosary Heights Retreat Center.

Sr. Catherine replaced Sr. Barbara and was there until 1998. Marcosian was principal from 1998 to 2003, when Julian became principal. Julian began teaching second grade at the school 19 years ago.

Each of these principals helped the school through a new phase. The fifth phase of the school added the Learning Resource Center for the gifted and talented as well as those who need extra help.