A statue of Mary, the Blessed Mother, has a new home at Immaculata High School, following a blessing ceremony that brought together students, staff and guests connected to the piece of Old Ottawa East Catholic history, according to the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
The board said the statue was for decades a cherished symbol of faith for the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whose ties to Old Ottawa East are part of the neighbourhood's Catholic heritage. The Sisters, along with Forum Asset Management, helped preserve the statue and arrange its move to the school.
A gathering of the school and religious communities
The blessing was attended by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Yvan Mathieu, Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, and Sr. Andrée Guindon, Coordinator of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Canada.
The board described their presence as particularly meaningful, uniting the religious community that cared for the statue over the years with the school community that will now carry its legacy forward.
Mary is the patroness of Immaculata, and the board said her presence serves as a reminder of the faith and values that have shaped generations of students at the school.
Part of daily school life
The statue will become a familiar sight for students, the board said. They may pass it on the way to class, pause for a moment of reflection, or simply come to see it as part of what makes their school distinct.
The board connected the statue's arrival to its spiritual theme for the year, Open Doors, Build Bridges, Nourish New Beginnings, saying the link between past and present reflects that spirit.
While the statue's history stretches back generations, the board noted that its time at Immaculata is only beginning, and that the faith, care and devotion it represents remain alive in the school community.
