Monsignor White spent his 65th Birthday organizing everyone to help with Project Face Lift at Ss. Cyril and Methodius School.

Over the years parishioners and employees of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish have been vigorously attempting to help restore the church and its school. In the past few years many projects have been organized to help fund the restoration of the church, parking lots, and most importantly, the school. There have been many restorations to the school, but none of them can compare to "Project Face Lift" a recent restoration project that started this summer and is successfully continuing.

"Our goal was to implement the face lift for the school," principal Ana Peterson said. "We got with the committee and we looked at different things and the idea grew more when we realized that the school needed more than just repairing."

Many employees included secretaries and teachers along with parishioners, parents, and A.C.T.S retreat members who all came together to give the school a new makeover and it is all thanks to the perseverance of one man, Msgr. Larry White. He has been pushing for the project to be completed and when his 65th birthday was approaching, Msgr. White asked parishioners of the church to come out for his birthday and help continue with "Project Face Lift."

"Any request from Msgr. White makes it special, he's done a lot for us," parishioner James Gonzalez Sr. said. "It's more special because it's his birthday, he never asks for anything."

On Saturday July 25, more than 100 people showed up to help out with the face lift. Many people flocked to help paint classrooms, outside walls, cabinets, and book shelves. Old windows were knocked down and new walls were built up. The school had contractors remove tile and carpet. Interior work was done, power washing windows, priming, and painting ceilings. People like Mando Lopez, who owns his own painting company, came out to contribute as much as he could from his profession.

"We've been painting the whole building," Lopez said. "It's wonderful to see the community coming together and helping out, it's going to look real nice."

Since 1953, Ss. Cyril and Methodius has been more than just a school, it's been a second home for students. Over the years, Ss. Cyril and Methodius has seen hundreds of students come and go and the school has maintained the same goal... to help students, educationally and spiritually. With this face lift, the parish hopes that it will have a different effect on the teachers and students. Many hope that a fresh clean room will help make a better learning environment.

"Teachers and students will come in and see clean class rooms and hopefully it will increase enrollment," Monsignor White said. "I'm just amazed that we had so many volunteers show up and help."

During "Project Face lift" over $40,000 in supplies and time were donated by parishioners. Monsignor White had stated that not one cent had come from the church, but that it was all donated by the church community.

"It's going to be a brand new school for the kids inside and out," parishioner Ruben Ledesma said. "It's an uplifting feeling knowing we can get together and serve the lord. It's all for the glory of God and it's nice for the kids to get a better feeling for the school."

Other than parents and parishioners getting involved, teachers were found painting and cleaning rooms. Jo Ann Clause, a teacher at Ss. Cyril and Methodius for 11 years, was helped out in many different ways, like sanding and painting cabinets.

"I like it a lot (Project Face Lift). We're bringing back our old school colors and it looks clean." Clause said. "It will reach the students more, they'll have school pride and it's more positive for them."

Monsignor White has been pushing for this project to be completed, which is why the festivities for his birthday were cancelled.

"There was originally a softball tournament with the A.C.T.S Community scheduled, but I discovered there wasn't enough time," Monsignor White said. So I postponed the tournament and asked everyone to come out.

Many people felt that his decision was a success.

"It's Monsignor," PTO president KiKi Garcia said. "His sacrifice made us want to sacrifice, we were following his example."

Virginia Sanchez, who has been the schools secretary for more than 30 years, said that the face lift was the most activity she's seen recently.

"Father is pushing this and when he pushes people, he's trying to help." Sanchez said. "It's very big of him to do that, once people see how clean it is, it's our hope that they will continue on."

Since 1991, when Monsignor White started at Ss. Cyril and Methodius, he has helped get rid of a $450,000 debt, but states that there is much needed work to do. With other projects in the future, for example, continuation for the completion of the parking lot and creating a new community center for the church, it is without a doubt that this dream can become a reality. The church will still be accepting monetary donations if people would like to contribute.