Helias Catholic H.S. fieldhouse addition completed, blessed
Gifts for updated equipment being accepted
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The addition to the Rackers Fieldhouse at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City was almost ready for use.
But one very important thing remained.
“Lord, we entreat your kindness, that this place and its facilities will contribute to leisure activities that renew the spirit and strengthen mind and body,” Father Brad Berhorst, judicial vicar for the Jefferson City diocese, prayed inside the newly-completed addition Nov. 15, 2025. “Grant that all who meet here may find the enrichment of companionship and together offer you the praise that is your due.”
What Fr. Berhorst then claimed for God with holy water, generations of student athletes will embellish with their sweat and tears.
The over 21,000-square-foot addition includes expanded facilities for wrestling, archery and strength training.
It’s the first part to be completed of an approximately $30 million expansion of the school’s facilities, including a 1,000-seat performing arts center, an on-campus baseball and softball complex, additional parking, and an outdoor prayer garden.
The performing arts center is scheduled to be finished a year from now, with the baseball and softball complex and prayer garden going into service the following spring.
Fr. Berhorst pointed out that God has given each person physical abilities for them to serve him joyously, help one another and “make our body fit for every good work.”
Fr. Berhorst, a member of the school’s Class of 2009, pointed out that God approves of recreation for the relaxation of the mind and the exercise of the body.
“Care for our bodies fosters mental wellbeing, and we are more readily to establish friendly and affable relations with other people,” he stated.
The blessing was part of the school’s fall open house.
People attending included Erin Vader Ed.D., diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools; Ron Vossen, president of Helias Catholic; Spencer Allen Ed.D., principal; Dwayne Clingman and Emma Williams, assistant principals; along with students, faculty, representatives of the Foundation for the Benefit of Helias Catholic High School; the Architects Alliance, which designed the addition; and SIRCAL Contracting Inc., the general contractor.
Dr. Vader said it was wonderful to see all the hard work beginning to come to fruition.
She thanked the school’s administration, the builders, the Foundation, and all the donors.
“This is a testament to the love and loyalty all our ‘Saders,’ past and present, have for this amazing school,” she said.
Dr. Vader acknowledged being more of a “theatre geek” than a natural athlete, but she played soccer, basketball, volleyball and other sports throughout her childhood.
“My parents knew the value of athletics,” she stated. “They knew sports would help teach me teamwork, discipline and self-confidence. And they did.”
But sports at a Catholic school need to do even more than that.
“The beauty of athletics at a Catholic school is that sports are married to our faith,” said Dr. Vader. “They are vehicles to teach compassion through competition, empathy through struggle, joy through victory, resilience through defeat.”
In short, she stated, sports help the students become more fully human and more fully Christian.
“My hope for all the students — and coaches and parents — of Helias Catholic is that these facilities and the events and practices they host will help them all grow and blossom more fully into the people God has called them to be,” said Dr. Vader.
“That these practices and games will allow them opportunities to be Christ to everyone they compete with and especially those they compete against, truly allowing them to be Christ’s hands and feet in this world,” she said.
She thanked everyone for their continued support and asked for continued prayers for everyone involved.
“And be assured of our continued prayers for you,” she said.
Let us give thanks
Mr. Vossen, a member of the school’s Class of 1974, offered a hearty thank-you to everyone who has helped throughout the “Spirit of Excellence” capital campaign to build the new facilities.
“To all who have played a big part in making this dream a reality, your generosity commitment and belief in our mission have brought us to this day,” he stated.
He offered a special word of thanks to the Foundation “for their ongoing partnership and support.”
He expressed deep appreciation for everyone who has contributed to the campaign, through gifts of time, talent and treasure.
“While today we celebrate this milestone,” he stated, “we also look forward with great anticipation to the next phases of our building project, as we continue to grow and enhance the opportunities available to every Crusader.”
Building a dream
Mr. Vossen said the rest of the project, part of a long-held master plan will bring all the school’s academic and extracurricular activities onto campus, is about 95 percent on schedule.
Construction workers are prioritizing getting the shell of the performing arts center under roof so they can keep working on it through the cold months.
Mr. Vossen tours the work site once or twice each week.
“I’m not going to lie: I love what I’m doing,” said Mr. Vossen, who joined the Helias Catholic faculty over 45 years ago. “What we’re seeing is a dream come true.”
He extended an invitation for people to visit heliascatholic.com/spiritofexcellence to make online contributions for updated equipment for the weight room in the fieldhouse addition.
In addition, pledges to the “Spirit of Excellence” campaign are always welcome, he said.
