HERSHEY – As state officials broke ground on a new Pennsylvania State Police Academy on Dec. 18, 2023, they turned to a local pastor to offer a blessing.
Father Thomas M. Muldowney, Pastor, Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Moscow, who also serves as Chaplain for the Pennsylvania State Police, participated in a press conference as design plans for the new training facility were released.
The new state-of-the-art facility is expected to be the most comprehensive update to the Academy since it opened in 1960. Multiple new buildings, totaling 366,000 square feet, are proposed for the 146-acre site in Hershey.
The transcript of Father Muldowney’s prayer is below:
“Today, with gratitude and anticipation, we gather for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Pennsylvania State Police Academy. We invoke the spirit of dedication, unity, and commitment as we lay the foundation for a place that will shape the future guardians of our Commonwealth. May this ceremony mark the beginning of a home where knowledge, discipline, and honor will be instilled in those who will serve and protect our citizens. Let this groundbreaking be a symbol of progress, unity, and the enduring legacy of service to our state. May this academy stand as a testament to the values of integrity, courage, and excellence that will echo through the generations of law enforcement officers trained within its walls. With this groundbreaking, we embark on a journey toward a safer, stronger, and more just society. Invoking God’s blessing on the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, a beacon of hope, training, and service.
“We ask this in your holy name. Amen.”