Heavenly Start For Rathdowne's New School
A teenager dubbed patron saint of the internet is being commemorated in a new school at Villawood’s Rathdowne community in Melbourne’s north.
Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School opened this month to more than 100 pupils at Wollert, paying homage to a young Italian web designer who died of leukaemia at age 15 in 2006.
Beatified in 2020, Carlo built a website cataloguing reported miracles and appearances of Christ’s mother Mary around the world. He is poised to this year become the first millennial saint.
The new Carlo Acutis Primary is being built over four stages and will eventually host some 600 students. It is the fourth school within Epping’s St Peter’s Parish.
Principal Damian Howard has spent the past year overseeing the school’s construction and fit-out and building close links with the Rathdowne community.
“There’s been such goodwill toward the school, the architects have been great, even the builders have bought into the story,” he says.
“One lady, struck by leukaemia herself, has donated $80K of textiles and materials to the school.
“I’ve met every school family and we have a great little community already.”
Damian has visited Assisi in Italy, where Carlo’s body lies in state, and met with his mother, Antonia.
Numerous images he photographed of patterns and features in churches and sites in Assisi have been incorporated into graphics, artwork and decorative fixtures in the new school.
Similarly, arches from the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi have been embraced within the design of the school’s front entry.
Construction will be an ongoing activity as further stages are added to cater for the school’s waiting list.
The initial stage includes flexible learning areas, specialist learning areas, play spaces, an adventure play area, landscaping, library, sporting and admin facilities.
On completion, the school will feature three buildings, landscaped gardens, basketball court, soccer field, playgrounds and open play spaces.
Link: https://carloacutis.catholic.edu.au/
