The Groundbreaking Ceremony and program for the renovation of the St. Joseph Early Education Center was held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 outside the current EEC building. More than 100 people attended the ceremonial groundbreaking and blessing led by Archbishop Shawn McKnight.

Special guests and members of the media joined Archdiocesan, civic and community leaders at the event, which marked an important milestone of the Generations Growing Together campaign to renovate Early Education Center, after renovations to Mirocke Stadium have recently been completed at the St. Joseph Athletic Facility.

Read the story featured in The Leaven archdioceesan newspaper here.

Pre-K students at the St. Joseph EEC join Archbishop McKnight, along with current and former pastors of St. Joseph and other dignitaries, in breaking ground for the renovated and expanded center which will welcome infants and toddlers through preschool and pre-K age children.

St. Joseph is addressing the waiting lists at the EEC by creating an accessible, one-level modern child care center for infants & toddlers through pre-K children. It’ll be a warm welcome for our youngest generation, and help meet a dire need for quality child care and early education in our community.


THE "FRONT PORCH" OF THE PARISH

Since its beginnings in the 1980s, the EEC has served as the "front porch" to the St. Joseph Church community, welcoming young families to begin their education and faith journeys here. But the facility in which the EEC is located (the 74-year-old former St. Joseph High School building) has aging mechanical systems and accessibility challenges for both families and staff. Fully renovating the building would be cost-prohibitive. After considerable study, the parish now plans to renovate a portion of the existing EEC space and build a new, single-floor addition with modern childcare amenities.

Now, with a modern, expanded facility positioned near the entrance of the bustling campus, the EEC will be capable of greeting generations more of our neighbors. Explore the renovation plans and learn why the EEC renovation will be the path to enriched education and faith formation for so many families in our large community.

Learn more about the EEC expansion plans

Support the St. Joseph EEC capital building campaign