St. John Bosco Schools Information Night - Wed, June 11

According to the SaveSJR site, St. John Bosco Schools -- the new Catholic elementary school independent of the Diocese of Rochester -- will have an informational meeting for parents on Wednesday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. (location TBD).

Catholic Courier: Attempt at Christian School in Dansville Falls Short

As reported by the Catholic Courier, the effort to convert the soon-to-be-closed Holy Family School in Dansville into an independently operated Christian school has ended, due to the inability to raise needed funds.

Read the letter from organizers by clicking here.

DORCatholic: Collateral Damage Parts I & II

DORCatholic has posted a couple of lengthy columns on the collateral damage resulting from the school closings, making the case that a Catholic school is frequently important – and quite often critical – to the vitality of both its parish and its wider community.

Read Part I
Read Part II

New Blog: Unemployed Catholic School Teacher

Suzanne Mettler, a kindergarten teacher at a soon-to-be-shuttered Catholic school in the Diocese of Rochester, has started a blog about her experiences. Click here to visit it.

An excerpt: We will be done with school in less than 1 month. It's hard to believe. My kids ( 6 year olds) have been quite vocal about the school closing. A little boy stated that 'as soon as Graduation is done, my school will close.' He started crying and I tried to reassure him and the others that things would be all right.

R News: St. John Bosco Schools Could be the Answer

R News reports on the movement to establish St. John Bosco, an independent Catholic school founded out of the DOR closings.

Visit the St. John Bosco School site here.

Remember! DOR "Catholic Call-In" Today

Remember, today is the DOR "Catholic Call-In" from 2 - 8 p.m., purportedly addressing any and all questions from Catholics across the 12-county region. The toll-free number is 1-888-477-1718.

The Diocese has said that Catholic schools questions may be re-routed to the schools office (i.e., "we're not going to share any new information, so don't ask."). However, if you've already taken that route with no or incomplete resolution, or if you'd like to inquire as to how the Diocese values Catholic education as a ministry versus its other commitments, you may want to place a call. If you do, please leave a comment here on your experience.

Bishop to Holy Cross: Misson Accomplished

DORCatholic has posted a copy of a letter from Bishop Matthew Clark to Fr. Tom Wheeland at Holy Cross, dated May 12, restating many of the reasons for closing the school. While it mentions the alternative proposals put forth, what's disappointing is that is doesn't address why those proposals were rejected.

The most outlandish sentence has to be "What the Task Force hoped would happen has indeed happened." So Bishop Clark is declaring success, having forced more than 900 students out of the system? Having put teachers and faculty on the street? Alienating so many in his flock with such careless leadership? Mission accomplished indeed.

Of course, in the next paragraph, he states that all the problems still remain. Go figure... sadly, this type of double-talk is no longer the least bit surprising.

[A reader comments below that all parishes attached to targeted schools received the same letter. If you have access to a copy, please send it via e-mail so that we can confirm this.]

R News: Holy Trinity School Holds Final Concert

R News reports on the emotional final student concert at Holy Trinity, as the school enters the last weeks of its 147-year existence.

From the report... "The concert was held in Holy Trinity’s new gym that was completed just a couple of weeks ago. It happened to be the first and last school event in the new facility."

Bid Your Way to a Private Meeting with Bishop Clark

Finally! For the hundreds of frustrated parents who have been spurned in their efforts to have a direct conversation with Bishop Matthew Clark regarding the closing of their children's schools, we've found a solution (but it will cost you).

As part of the annual WXXI auction, you can bid on the opportunity to have a one-on-one lunch with the Bishop at Critic's Restaurant in the Greece Ridge Mall. The bidding closes Saturday evening, so make your offer now!

WHAM-13 TV: Churches, Temples Strive to Make Ends Meet

WHAM-13 reports on the financial struggles of area churches and temples, exacerbated by the closing of Catholic schools across the region that may lead to an exodus of parishioners.

"Saint Boniface Church will lose its school in June. That worries Pastor Richard Brickler. 'It's sad to lose the school, I feel really bad about it,' he said. With the closing comes the concern that parishioners could also leave, but Father Brickler says members of his congregation are faithful and generous. 'Whenever we present the needs, they come through.'"

Fairport-ER Post: St. John of Rochester celebrating its history in final weeks

The Fairport-East Rochester Post reports on annual events now becoming final events at St. John of Rochester, as the school plans for its closure in June.

“It is important for our students, families, staff and alumni to share our faith and celebrate the history of St. John of Rochester School,” Principal Eileen O’Neill stated in a press release. “With 44 years in the Fairport community and dozens of faculty and staff across the Monroe County school system losing their jobs, this is such an emotional time. At St. John of Rochester, we have been focusing on the students we serve and my wish is for them to remember the positive teachings and blessings they have gained from here.”

Secretary Penny Gonzalez said 108 of the students will be going to St. Joseph School in Penfield in the fall. Another 30 will transfer to St. Louis School in Pittsford and the remaining 40 will go to public schools in their home districts.

MCCS 12th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic

The Diocese has announced the 12th Annual Catholic Schools Scholarship Golf Classic for June 26, with proceeds benefiting tuition assistance for MCCS students (including those from closed schools, according to the PDF files available here).

Rochester's Saga Being Noted Nationally

A Gannett News Service story on Catholic school enrollment declines is running in newspapers nationwide, calling out Rochester, Newark, N.J., and Detroit, Mich. as having among the steepest drops.

This particular story, in the Salem (Oregon) Statesman Journal, illustrates how Oregon is bucking the trend, with enrollments on the rise.

D&C: Part 8 of "A Prayer for Good Shepherd" Video Series

View Jeff Blackwell's latest video in the "Prayer for Good Shepherd" series here:

A Prayer for Good Shepherd - Part 8

This segment features displaced students, parents and administrators discussing what it means to have to attend new schools beginning this fall.

Click here for the complete listing of videos in the ongoing D&C series.

DORCatholic: Comparing Rochester to Wichita Catholic Schools

DORCatholic has posted a comparison of Catholic in schools in the Diocese of Rochester to the Diocese of Wichita, illustrating the vast differences in approaches and outcomes in developing a widely available Catholic education system.

DORCatholic: Update to "It Isn't About the Money?"

DORCatholic has posted an update to its "It isn't About the Money?" posting, comparing 2007-08 Catholic Ministries Appeal goals and pledges between parishes whose schools will remain open, and those whose schools are closing.

Diocese Reschedules Catholic Call-In

The DOR has rescheduled its "Catholic Call-In" to May 19, from 2 - 8 p.m. The toll-free number is 1-888-477-1718.

The Diocese has said that Catholic schools questions may be re-routed to the schools office. However, if you've already taken that route with no or incomplete resolution, or if you'd like to inquire as to how the Diocese values Catholic education as a ministry versus its other commitments, you may want to place a call on the 19th.