Fr. Sagi Stephen Parappally welcomed all attendees with heartfelt gratitude and provided a brief yet poignant narration of the challenges the school faced in recent months, especially regarding legal hurdles that had delayed the progress of the new construction. “Despite the unnecessary court cases and setbacks, we remained steadfast, and I am thankful to all who stood by the institution through thick and thin,” he said. He also highlighted the pressing need for proper infrastructure, with hundreds of students currently studying in inadequate classroom settings.

Following the invocation hymn to the Holy Spirit, Fr. Shining Dkhar SDB solemnly read the inscription prepared for the foundation stone. The Provincial then led the congregation in prayers, including scriptural readings and the prayers of the faithful, seeking divine blessings upon the new construction and the entire school community.

A significant moment of the ceremony was the blessing of the foundation pillar by the Provincial, after which cement and stones were symbolically placed by the Provincial, fellow priests, the contractor, and the architect, signifying unity and shared commitment to the educational mission.

The ceremony concluded with a prayer of thanksgiving and a hymn of blessing, echoing hope and renewed vision for the future of St. Anthony’s Lower Primary School.

The blessing marks not just the laying of a physical foundation, but also a renewed dedication to the holistic development of the children it serves, in the true spirit of Don Bosco.