Although College officials and the Ventura County Fire Department detected no signs of structural damage during an initial examination Sunday afternoon, the College took the precaution of closing the Chapel until a more thorough inspection could be completed. That meant postponing the start-of-the-year Mass of the Holy Spirit, which was scheduled to be offered at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. The ǰԾԲs Matriculation Ceremony when members of the Class of 2027 are formally welcomed as the Colleges newest students nonetheless took place as originally planned in St. Cecilia Halls Fritz B. Burns Auditorium.
Around that same time, the College received good news: The County Building Department, having arrived and examined the Chapel, confirmed that there was no structural damage. The Mass of the Holy Spirit would be moved to 4:30 p.m. and, beginning the next day, Masses would resume their regular schedule.
_The Chapel is a relatively new building, having been completed in 2009, and it was designed to stand the test of time, even in an earthquake zone, says Mark Kretschmer, the Colleges vice president for operations. Underneath its limestone façade is a base of reinforced concrete and structural steel, built to withstand Southern Californias seismic uncertainties, at least to the extent that modern technology allows. ±re grateful to God and to the buildings engineers that it held up so well.
_The only concern that emerged from the Chapels inspection regards the stability of the façade itself. As such, the College has cordoned off the Chapel plaza until the buildings engineer of record can examine the façade more closely. When we get the engineers report, we can determine the extent of the damage and how to repair it, adds Mr. Kretschmer. Until then, though, the building is safe to use, but, as a matter of caution, we are keeping the plaza off limits.
_Meanwhile, a new academic year begins on schedule, at the campus that famously survived the 91 Fire in 2017.
_We are profoundly grateful that the region weathered both the storm and the earthquake so well, and especially that all remained safe, says President Paul J. OReilly. We give thanks to God, to all those who have kept the College in their prayers, and to county officials, who have been so thorough and thoughtful in their assistance. We are delighted that we can move forward, undeterred, in our noble mission of Catholic education now in its 53rd year.
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For more information, please contact:
__Chris Weinkopf, Executive Director of College Relations
_805-421-5926 |
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), O.P., on St. Thérèse & Gratitude