By editor - 19 May, 2016
A new state of the art extension at a college in Sligo which will cater for students with autism is to be known as the Bishop Christopher Jones Learning Centre.
The Centre at the College of the Immaculate Conception, Summerhill was blessed by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown, and opened by Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council on Wednesday.
Bishop Jones, a native of Tulsk, Co Roscommon, was Bishop of Elphin from 1994 – 2014. He attended today’s ceremony along with many family, friends and invited guests.
The new Bishop Christopher Jones Learning Centre includes two specially designated classrooms, a practical living demonstration room, a multi-sensory room, specialised outside gardening facilities, staff offices and resource rooms along with a large central activities space that can accommodate over 150 students.
This space links the new building with the main school.
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin also attended the ceremony and said he was “particularly happy to be associated with the name of this new centre in appreciation of Bishop Christopher Jones who, as a past pupil, long serving staff member and patron of the College, represents that stability and continuity of service and faith which is so much a part of the tradition of the College”.
Thanking the Board of Management “for bestowing this honour on me at this time” Bishop Jones said he was “delighted to be associated so publicly with such a progressive development in the life of the College”.
He also expressed the hope that “education at Summerhill College will be forever inspired by the Catholic ethos and the two great commandments: ‘Love of God, and Love of Neighbour’.”
The ceremony was led by students of the college and accompanied by the college choir.
