BOUNTIFUL—It’s taken 16 years but Saint Olaf Catholic School has a cafeteria – and much more. The 16,000 square foot expansion was officially opened and dedicated on Monday by Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis, D. D. 10th Bishop, Diocese of Salt Lake City. 

“My dear brother and sisters, as we gather today to bless the new addition to Saint Olaf Catholic School, we recognize and honor the school as the gateway to the mental and moral development of youth of this parish,” Solis said. “The church maintains constant concern for schools, especially Catholic institutions. Today we celebrate a blessed triumph in the way the school, parish, parents, pastors, teachers and staff have realized their mission to build a faith-filled community with Christ as its foundation. Let us pray for the work begun as a vision and a hope in 2008 and completed and blessed today.”

“I’m humbled to stand before you today as the person who gets to be here when we finally achieve the dreams of 2008,” said Principle Simon R. H. McFall. “It’s truly my honor to stand on the shoulders of giants in the presence of Most Reverend Bishop Oscar Solis of the Diocese of Salt Lake.”

This day is not just to celebrate the physical expansion of the school, he said. “It’s also for the growth of our community and the planning that began over two decades ago. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed your time, your talents, your treasures and prayers to bring this vision to life.”

Three young men lead the procession down the aisle at the celebration of the opening of the extension. Photo by Roger V. Tuttle

The building has four classrooms, offices and new restrooms. A short distance from the main door is the great room used for daily prayer and as a lunch room for school and parish functions. The east-facing courtyard outside can be used as an amphitheater.

“In 2008 I was the vice principal,” said Cathy Moore. “There was no cafeteria. The kids spread out towels on their desk and ate in the classroom. They had no place to eat or gather.”

Principal JoAnne Emery had a vision for an expansion, said Moore. “We started fundraising and got $650,000 pledges. New pastors came along to try and revive it but it didn’t happen but we wanted to keep going.”

Moore said when Simon McFall came in 2018 she made an appointment with him. “I said ‘we’re going to do this.’ We wrote grants and got fundraising going.”

This is a beautiful building, she said. “There is a lot of emotion in it, to see something come to life.”

It’s the last school in the 16 dioceses of Salt Lake to get an official cafeteria, said McFall. “When I came in 2018, everyone was wondering why this hadn’t gotten done. They were inspired, stubborn and faithful. They hadn’t given up 10 years later.”

Most people would have quit, he said. “I am amazed by the faith and strength of the community. They were determined. I told them ‘I believe in you. I support you and your vision.’ Momentum begets success.”

The extension is designed in the form of a cross that potentially ties the three parts of the campus together, said McFall. “The church, parish rectory and the main school and parts of the community and parish offices. You can see the church steeple straight through the window and it’s absolutely beautiful.”

Local artist Peter Ruplinger donated a custom stained-glass window that will feature an image of Saint Olaf looking down on his namesake school that will be installed shortly, said McFall. “It will appear here above us and will be the first thing you see as you walk through the building.”

McFall said organizations joined them and came on quickly to help them move forward. “You could see the strength in the community. It was beautiful. Everybody did the work. I was just lucky to be able to get it to the finish line.”