Students from St. Francis de Sales, Belle Harbor, will return to classes in their school building on Tuesday, January 22nd, for the first time in three months after Hurricane Sandy. They will be welcomed back with banners and balloons.

One of the five Catholic schools in the Rockaways that sustained significant damage, St. Francis de Sales was temporarily relocated as a school community to SS. Simon and Jude School, Gravesend.
After considerable renovations, the school building is now ready for students and faculty to return. The parish school was used extensively as a main relief site in the weeks following the hurricane.
“I cannot express how much I am looking forward to having the students back in their school,” said Msgr. John Brown, pastor. “Reopening at this time is a true testament to the hard work of everyone involved, from the parents and school staff to the construction and clean up crews; it really is a momentous occasion after such devastation.”
Auxiliary Bishop Frank Caggiano, vicar general for the Diocese of Brooklyn, will celebrate Mass with the students and school community on Thursday, January 24th at 9 a.m.