Fr. Duc Pham, Sen. Janet Bewley, Ashland mayor Deb Lewis and Fr. Joseph Kumar smile at the blessing of the crosswalk near Our Lady of the Lake School and Church in Ashland. (Submitted photo)
Students, staff and guests attended the ceremonial opening and blessing of the new school and church crosswalk across Highway 2 in Ashland this spring. State Sen. Janet Bewley and Ashland Mayor Deb Lewis helped celebrate the event. Fr. Duc Pham and Fr. Joseph Kumar, Our Lady of the Lake priests, led more than 75 school students and guests in prayers, the official blessing and sprinkling rite asking for God’s help in keeping everyone safe as they cross the busy highway. The Our Lady of the Lake staff worked for more than five years with the Ashland Public Works Department, Mayor Lewis and her staff, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Director Daniel Bieberitz, Sen. Bewley and her staff, and Gov. Scott Walker’s office to obtain funding and installation approval for the crosswalk.
