There’s a passage from the Book of Revelation that applies to Our Mother of Consolation School’s (OMC) recent tribulations: “Behold, I make all things new.”

For OMC’s students, staff, and parents, Jesus Christ’s triumphant proclamation from the final book of the New Testament holds special meaning, as an entirely new school has emerged from within the shell of the old one, which was devastated by a fast-moving blaze March 21, 2023.

Crowds of alumni, teachers, parents, clergy, religious sisters, dignitaries, and benefactors gathered under tents on the front lawn of the pre-K to eighth grade school Saturday night to celebrate its rebirth during a hugely successful open house. Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Cooke was on hand after 5:30 p.m. mass to bless the building and its facilities. He moved from room to room, sprinkling holy water, and taking time to chat with students and guests.

Among the guests was State Rep. Tarik Khan (D), who observed that the fire and subsequent rebuild reminded him of Job in the Bible. Job endured great hardship, but, Khan said, “God gave him everything twice over. It’s a source of inspiration for the entire community.”

Also on hand was Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson, who recalled the tragic day of the fire. “The school is such a big part of the community,” he noted. “It’s inspirational to see the reopening of OMC School after the fire. It’s a message of hope.”

Virtually everyone in the parish remembered the heartbreak of that day, which started at about 3:45 p.m. as an electrical fire in the attic, quickly burning through the roof and severely damaging the floors below. A group of children from the after-school program were playing outside and were quickly moved across Chestnut Hill Avenue to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. A few teachers were inside and escaped unharmed. Everyone knows it could have been worse.

Within two weeks of the blaze, the students and staff moved to classrooms at Chestnut Hill College. There they remained for two-and-a-half years — several months longer than the rebuild was expected to take. But the wait was worth it.

The school was redesigned and modernized from top to bottom, the culmination of a $17.5 million project.

“Out of the bad comes fantastic things,” OMC Principal Jessica Stack said. “To have this place as it is now, it’s awesome. It’s like nothing I could have dreamed of.”

Walk past the cardboard cutout of Pope Leo XIV in the vestibule, and, from the standpoint of those who recall the school in its previous incarnation, it’s a whole new world. Painted on a bright blue wall in the lobby are the words, “Humility. Gentleness. Compassion.” These are the central virtues of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, who have taught at OMC since its founding in 1862.

Walk on, and you discover many more new features: wide, cutting-edge “smart board” technology in the inviting, airy classrooms; bright blue desk chairs and light gray walls, with floor tiles to match; a cafeteria with inviting oval tables and an attached kitchen; air conditioning; an elevator; a high-tech library/learning commons; and an innovation lab for STEM activities. “These are all things we never had before,” Stack said.

The first time she stepped into the redesigned school building, she recalled, “It brought tears to my eyes. I was so emotional. I was so happy to be back and just amazed at everything we had.”

School administrators and project planners drew their inspiration from visits to other schools in the area, she said, such as Norwood-Fontbonne Academy and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

Sean-Tamba Matthew, a parishioner and parent of three children at OMC School, is, with his wife Elizabeth, co-chair of the $3.5 million capital campaign that helped bring the dream of a new building to fruition. So far, they’ve raised $3.2 million. The balance came from insurance and large donations from foundations and other generous donors, Catholic and non-Catholic, parishioner and nonparishioner alike.

Matthew is involved in Catholic education initiatives throughout the city.

“It was never a question as to whether or not we wanted to reopen here,” he said. “And I think it’s a testament to the spirit of the community and the passion and leadership that we had from [OMC pastor] Father John Fisher and from the rest of the team.”

Matthew believes the rebuilt school will help continue a proud academic tradition.

“Our school has always been noted for its performance and its academic excellence and its incredibly loving and welcoming community. And while the fire was a tragedy and we weren’t here for a number of years, coming back to this newly renovated, state-of-the-art community is a blessing that came out of a tragedy. It’s just so wonderful to be here. It’s so wonderful to see the kids walking through the halls again, and it’s wonderful to see them have an enhanced educational opportunity because of what we’ve been able to add and support through both the capital campaign and through the other assistance we’ve received as an organization.”