Lagomarsinos Give to New School Fund

Former Congressman Robert Lagomarsino and his wife, Norma, have contributed $100,000 toward construction of Holy Cross Elementary School in Ventura.

The San Buenaventura Mission is hoping to raise $7 million to replace the aging private elementary school, which was built in 1922 and does not meet building and earthquake codes. The mission is also building a 750-seat auditorium, expected to be completed soon.

The school serves about 200 students, said Msgr. Patrick J. O’Brien, pastor of the mission and school.

To date, $4.5 million has been raised for the new buildings.

“We are so grateful for such a magnificent gift and we hope it will be an example for many more from the community,” O’Brien said.

The school will host an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the new auditorium.

The auditorium building, situated behind the mission at 211 E. Main St., also includes some classrooms. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony will dedicate the new building at a 9 a.m. Mass Dec. 19, O’Brien said.

Robert Lagomarsino’s grandfather helped raise funds for the original Holy Cross school in the 1920s. The Lagomarsinos also chair the committee in charge of raising funds for the new buildings.