Bishop to bless IHM Child Development Center in J.C. Aug. 6

I’m very excited to help nurture the growth of these children and to offer a sense of peace to the parents to know their kids are being taken care of by staff with experience with infants and toddlers, in a physical environment that’s very inviting, very safe.”

Leann Rockwell, director, Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Development Center, Jefferson City

Everything is in place and ready to go at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Child Development Center (diojeffcity.org/immaculate-heart), 601 Scott Station Road in Jefferson City.

All that’s missing is the holy water and the children.

Bishop W. Shawn Mc­Knight will bless the center at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6, followed by a reception with cookies and punch until 3 p.m.

All are invited and encouraged to attend.

Scheduled to open on Aug. 7, the center will provide affordable childcare for infants and very young children of diocesan employees as well as employees of parishes and schools of the diocese.

Its primary focus will be on helping to attract and retain teachers to work in Catholic schools.

“I’m very excited to help nurture the growth of these children and to offer a sense of peace to the parents to know their kids are being taken care of by staff with experience with infants and toddlers, in a physical environment that’s very inviting, very safe,” Leann Rockwell, the center’s director, stated during a July 30 open house.

Her goal is for the children who “graduate” from Immaculate Heart of Mary to be ready to go on to pre-school programs in local grade schools — “for them to be ready for that adventure, and to know that there’s something more for them to do.”

The center’s name honors the Immaculate Heart of Mary, patroness of the Jefferson City diocese.

Reminders of the faith are everywhere at Immaculate Heart of Mary, including colorful crucifixes and images of Mary and the saints.

“We’ll have prayer, Bible stories and spiritual activities for the kids,” said Mrs. Rockwell. “We will encourage them, even the babies, to grow in their faith all the time.”

Mrs. Rockwell is an experienced early childhood educator who previously ran the after-school and summer camp programs at Immaculate Conception School in Jefferson City.

“We’re super-excited,” she said. “We can’t wait to see all these little kids and their parents, to help them navigate the jobs that they have to do.”

Call Erin Vader Ed.D., diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools, at 573-635-9127, for information.