ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC School in Santa Ana recently unveiled the newest athletic field in the Diocese of Orange—one of many revitalization projects sweeping across all five Pax Christi Academies’ campuses. Bishop Kevin Vann blessed and officially opened St. Barbara Catholic School’s field with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to herald the facility upgrades. Bishop Vann talked of St. Barbara parish and school having a long and wonderful history of welcoming all, including refugee families.
CLAUDIA DANZER, THE PRINCIPAL OF ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC SCHOOL, SPEAKS DURING A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW ATHLETIC FIELD AT THE SCHOOL. PHOTOS BY SCOTT SMELTZER/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“Today with this, and your generosity, we continue that heritage of St. Barbara as a truly great and welcoming place,” Bishop Vann said.
The regulation athletic field will not only serve St. Barbara students, but Cristo Rey Orange County High School’s soccer team, said St. Barbara Principal Claudia Danzer. Thanks to $4 million in donations from the diocese, the St. Barbara parish and Shea Family Charities, the school also updated its parent pickup area, added a covered lunch area for students and a new playground, said Danzer.
For sixth-grade football player Ryan Dang, 11, the new athletic field means he can be more confident. He no longer worries about stepping in a hole during play.
EIGHTH-GRADE BOYS FROM ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC SCHOOL PERFORM A TRADITIONAL LION DANCE DURING A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW ATHLETIC FIELD.
“I’m just really grateful for this field,” Dang said.
The improvements have given St. Barbara students a great sense of pride, making them eager to show off their school and the hard work they are doing, Danzer said.
DAN O’MELVENY, WITH THE SHEA FAMILY CHARITIES, SPEAKS DURING A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW ATHLETIC FIELD AT ST. BARBARA CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA.
“I hope students take away the importance of the day, that they matter and they are important to so many people — their spiritual growth, academic growth, their growth as a whole child,” said Danzer. “They are welcome here, they are loved and that we want the best for them.”
The ribbon cutting was a chance for all five Pax Christi schools – St. Barbara, La Purisima, St. Anne, St. Joseph (Santa Ana) and St. Justin Martyr – to come together and celebrate. Along with St. Barbara’s cheer team and student council, the student councils of the other schools were on hand to welcome guests.
St. Barbara Student Council President Natalia Hong, 13, said she hopes the renovations will bring in new students to what is already a “wonderful community.”
During the ceremony, other Pax Christi schools also took the opportunity to share how their own campuses have improved thanks to the revitalization project made possible by a partnership with Shea Family Charities.
“This is a coming together: a collaboration that is a vision come to life,” said Dr. Christina Arellano, president of Pax Christi Academies. “This could not have been possible without those who believe in the revitalization of Catholic education.”
Pax Christi Academies is a network of five Orange County Catholic schools that came together under shared governance in July 2024 to address the issue of declining school enrollment and to improve academic performance. Since then, enrollment has increased and student test scores have shown great improvement, Dr. Arellano said.
Under Pax Christi Academies, 260 new children have enrolled across the five campuses, bringing the student population to 1,053, Dr. Arellano said. At St. Barbara alone, enrollment increased from 163 to 220 in just 18 months. Over the past year, students at Pax Christi showed strong academic gains, with 59% reading above grade level and 48% performing above grade level in math. “Families have taken notice: Pax Christi schools pursue excellence for our students because every child deserves the blessing of an exceptional Catholic education. We are not just schools that are existing; we are thriving,” Dr. Arellano said.
Across the Pax Christi schools, principals shared news of their own renovations, including added safety features a new roof and playground, and foundational improvements. Principals also described the refreshed “curbside appeal” of their schools with new landscaping, signs and marquees. Those types of aesthetic renovations “catch the eye” and are needed to bring new families in, said St. Anne’s principal, Allison Essman.
“Oftentimes the struggle for Catholic school leaders is to get families through the door,” Essman said. “But once I get you in the door and you see what we are doing, you’re hooked.”
Fr. Angelos Sebastian, the diocese’s vicar general and moderator of the curia who also serves on the Pax Christi board of directors, said that Pax Christi Academies is already making a tremendous impact — even in its infancy. But, he added, there is still more to do.
“Today we see a great dream coming true, but we have a similar dream at each of our Pax Christi schools,” Fr. Angelos said. “I hope going forward that everyone will be part of that dream.”