View Jeff Blackwell's latest video in the "Prayer for Good Shepherd" series here:
The Save St. John of Rochester blog just posted an interesting story regarding St. Louis Church in Pittsford, N.Y., refusing the registration of new parishioners from neighboring communities whose schools are closing. Is this simply a courtesy to ensure that families can remain in their home parishes while their children attend St. Louis School, or a protectionist approach that will divide an already fractured Catholic schools system?
A story in today's Catholic Courier states that support for religious education tax credits will be one of the priorities conveyed to lawmakers during the New York State Catholic Conference's 2008 Public Policy Day in Albany on March 11.
The Save Saint Margaret Mary blog has posted details about a new grassroots initiative among parents to ensure that children in the WIN schools have the opportunity to continue their Catholic education.
In a response to a letter written by a Good Shepherd School parent, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States, says that he cannot intervene in the Rochester school closings because "the Apostolic Nunciature is not tribunal for recourse against a Diocesan Bishop's decision or the evaluation of the factors that might have been involved in the decisions made by a Diocesan Bishop."
St. John of Rochester has started a new blog specific to reopening the school, located in Perinton, NY.
Read and view the News 10 NBC story on last night's gathering of parents from four area Catholic schools to discuss ways to save Catholic education in Rochester.
A meeting will be held tonight, Thursday, February 21, at 7 p.m. at Casa Larga Vineyard in Fairport to discuss next steps regarding the school closings and alternate routes. Parents, teachers and other interested parties from all the schools are invited to attend.
Parents are now asking about the role of the Monroe County Catholic Schools Board in the decision to shutter 13 facilities come June. While the task force included multiple board members -- Bill Carpenter, Raymond Diehl, Sr. Elaine Poitras, Darlene Ryan (board chair; pictured), and Rev. Paul Tomasso -- the full board has not yet weighed in on the Bishop's decision, nor has it offered to meet with affected families and students.
Today marks one month since Bishop Matthew H. Clark spoke publicly about the school closings, in a Diocesan press conference and in same-day interviews with select media. Since that time, repeated calls from parents, faculty, community members and media for in-person comment have been refused, with the Bishop relying on prepared statements.
View Jeff Blackwell's latest video in the "Prayer for Good Shepherd" series here:
Local coverage of Friday afternoon's gathering at Sacred Heart Cathedral of concerned parents, grandparents, and students.
Even the Catholic Courier's tonality is changing, beginning to represent the frustration felt by parents with the DOR's continued lack of accountability. Read the story here.
Read the story and watch the video of Emily Wysocarski's challenges in finding a new school, as reported by CBS-8 and Fox-31's Elizabeth Harness.
Read the D&C story on the Bishop's decision to ignore counter-proposals, moving forward with the original plan. Includes extensive StoryChat comments from the community.
RNews reports that on the same day Bishop Matthew Clark announced his decision to close 13 Monroe County Catholic Schools was final, Bishop Kearney High School held registration for its new junior high.
Read and view local coverage of Bishop Clark's decision to ignore alternative proposals, just days following the conclusion of Diocesan "listening sessions."
Diocesan statement issued to news media and parents announcing that counter-proposals would not be considered by Bishop Clark.
The Democrat and Chronicle posts part three of its "A Prayer for Good Shepherd" video series.
Bishop Matthew Clark's column in the latest Catholic Courier states "When we dialogue, exchange ideas, have honest and open conversations and, above all, pray together, we can move mountains, just as Jesus said." If only the Bishop were as willing to engage in the very dialogue he promotes, perhaps the schools saga wouldn't exist today, or at least the community would be more informed about the decision.
See coverage of the Diocesan decision to postpone schools registration by a week to allow for consideration of alternative proposals:
Read the Democrat and Chronicle story about parents and students searching for alternative schools, and concerns over capacities.
News 10 updates viewers on parent plans to submit counter-proposals to the Diocese.
The Democrat and Chronicle's Jeff Blackwell debuts his video series -- A Prayer for Good Shepherd -- that follows the school through the closing announcement and beyond.
Open houses begin for families affected by the schools closures.
