ALTON — Marquette Catholic High School is moving forward with its 2013 Capital Campaign to ensure the "high quality Marquette experience continues for years to come," Marquette principal Mike Slaughter said on April 8 to people gathered with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki at a blessing of the school's new construction projects.

The 2013 Capital Campaign goal is to raise $3 million. "We aren't there yet, but we're close," says Slaughter. So far pledges are $1.7 million, which includes $854,000 from the Diocese of Springfield's Harvest of Thanks, Springtime of Hope campaign, held in anticipation of the 2003 diocesan sesquicentennial.

The projects include a spacious air-conditioned commons at the entrance to the gymnasium off Easton Street; an air conditioned gymnasium; resurfaced gym floors; new windows in the gym; new boys and girls gym locker rooms on the main gym floor; and replacement of the small outdated men's and women's restrooms near the gym entrance with modern, energy saving and low maintenance fixtures, and motion activated lighting.

A white stone statue of Our Lady of Marquette, installed outdoors years ago by the Ursuline Sisters in an interior courtyard on the school grounds but seldom seen by students in recent years due to its location, was cleaned and moved indoors to a place of honor in the commons. Glass trophy cases line a portion of the wall.

Among those at the blessing were members of Marquette's School Board and Foundation, Alton Mayor Tom Hoescht, and Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick.

Lowell Brosamer, foundation director of St. Teresa High School, Decatur, was also in attendance. Brosamer was the first lay principal of Marquette and later was the first lay principal of (at the time also Ursuline owned and operated) St. Teresa.

Sister Theresa Sarich, OSU, a principal of Ss. Peter and Paul School in Alton for years, and a frequent volunteer at Marquette over the years, was also at the blessing.