Celebrating 100 years of academic excellence and fostering disciples, St. Andrew School in Waynesboro launched its centennial on September 19, welcoming Bishop Timothy Senior for the celebration of Mass and an unforgettable visit with students.
“Every Catholic school is a jewel, a gem. And this one certainly is too,” Bishop Senior told students, teachers, alumni and families gathered for the Mass inside St. Andrew the Apostle Church on Friday morning.
Students served as greeters, lectors and altar servers for the Mass, concelebrated by Father Christopher Onyeneke, MSSCC, pastor of St. Andrew’s; and Father Peter DiTomasso, MSSCC, and Father Marsianus Leu, MSSCC, pastor and parochial vicar, respectively, of Immaculate Conception Parish in Fairfield and St. Rita Parish in Blue Ridge Summit.
“We give thanks for the legacy of the teachers here, and we are mostly grateful for you, the students. This school exists for you, because of you. It is here for you to get to know Jesus,” Bishop Senior told the PreK-8 students seated in the pews before him.
“We teach the truth here. Education is a means for success. Success is often equated with money, but that’s not the true meaning of Catholic education. Its central purpose is to come to know Jesus Christ,” he said.
The celebration continued after Mass, as the school community gathered on the grounds to unearth a time capsule buried 25 years ago. Students looked on with great anticipation as Bishop Senior and Father Onyeneke opened the capsule, unveiling school uniforms, a yearbook, parish bulletins and other items that shared the history of students from the school’s past century.
Dr. Candy Wagner, principal, told The Witness she hopes the celebrations, which will continue with various events throughout the year, give current students a sense of connectedness to St. Andrew’s.
“There is a rich history here of developing the faith and educating our children. St. Andrew’s has been planning for this school celebration for several years, involving families, alumni, parishioners and the greater Waynesboro community,” Dr. Wagner said. Additional events will include a student-decorated Christmas tree for the town’s holiday celebration and a gala planned for April of 2026.
“The students were so eager to welcome Bishop Senior for the Mass and visit. We’re trying to show them the breadth of what it means to be part of 100 years of history here, and how special that is,” said Dr. Wagner.
St. Andrew School was built in 1925 under the pastorate of Father William Callaghan and first opened its doors to approximately 80 students. It was initially staffed by the Sisters of Mercy, who served there for 45 years. Following their departure in the early 1970s, the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius provided classroom instruction until 1999. Since then, the school has been staffed by dedicated lay teachers.
In 2017, a new wing was built at St. Andrew School to add five classrooms and additional restrooms to accommodate the growing population as the school expanded to welcome seventh and eighth grade classes. A full-day PreK program opened in 2022.
Dr. Wagner, in her first year as principal of St. Andrew School, said she is blessed to jump into the role as the school is celebrating such a milestone.
She came to St. Andrew’s after more than 30 years as an educator in the Fairfield Area School District and more than 30 years in the religious education program at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Fairfield.
“In the last few years, I finished my Principal Certificate and had been working on my doctorate in leadership and administration. Then I wanted to find something that was a really good fit for me,” she said. “The opportunity to be the principal at St. Andrew School presented itself and I knew it was God saying, ‘This is my plan for you.’”
“Being here at St. Andrew’s is the perfect fit for me. I’m able to connect my passion for education with my passion for teaching kids about the faith. And I absolutely love it here,” said Dr. Wagner, who continues to teach seventh- and eighth-graders in the religious education program at St. Mary’s.
“I’m blessed to be part of this centennial celebration in my first year here, and look forward to continue making connections,” she said.
Learn more about St. Andrew School at www.saintandrewschool.org or call 717-762-3221.
(Photos by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness.)
By Jen Reed, The Catholic Witness
