Apostolic Nuncio to Parents: Contact the Vatican

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."

He goes on to state, "If you remain dissatisfied with whatever the Bishop Clark's response to you might be, you can then take recourse to the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education."

New Blog - Save St. John of Rochester

St. John of Rochester has started a new blog specific to reopening the school, located in Perinton, NY.

News 10 NBC: Parents Gather to Try to Save Catholic Education

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.

Meeting Tonight to Discuss School Closings

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.

Casa Larga Vineyard
2287 Turk Hill Road
Fairport, NY 14450
585-223-4210
Click here for a map

More Unsigned Letters from the Bishop

Some correspondence from Bishop Clark continues to arrive unsigned, raising further questions about his personal attention to the situation.

Parents Ask About School Board Role in Closures

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.

A Month in Hiding: Bishop Clark Refuses Requests for Public Comment

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.

Democrat and Chronicle: Catholic Schools Celebrate Their Faith

The D&C reports on St. John of Rochester School and Holy Trinity School celebrating what makes their faith-based communities special, even with the closings looming large.

Diocesan Correspondence to Parents and Students

Letters have begun to arrive from the Diocese to parents and students. Content varies, ranging from reiteration of DOR messages to terse notes. To have a letter posted, send a JPEG or PDF copy to gssparents@gmail.com.

Latest Democrat and Chronicle Feature Video

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

A Prayer for Good Shepherd - Part 4

Click here for the prior videos in the ongoing D&C series.

Supporters Protest at Cathedral

Local coverage of Friday afternoon's gathering at Sacred Heart Cathedral of concerned parents, grandparents, and students.

Messenger-Post Newspapers
- Bonus YouTube Video Post

WHAM-TV 13

News 10 NBC

Democrat and Chronicle
- Feb. 16 Update with StoryChat: Click Here

RNews - Parents Protest Bishop's Decision
RNews - Rally at Cathedral

Catholic Courier Weighs In

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.

Other Stories from Today:
- WHAM-TV 13: Efforts Continue to Keep Catholic Schools Open
- Catholic News Service (mentioning the Rochester closings)

CBS/Fox: Catholic School Closings Frustrate Families of Students with Disabilities

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.

Today's Other Stories:
- WHAM-TV 13: Catholic Schools Registration Begins

Democrat and Chronicle: Bishop Won't Spare Schools

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.

Other Coverage:
- News 10 NBC: Day One of Catholic School Registration
- Bob Lonsberry: Bishop Thumbs Nose at School Kids

RNews: Bishop Kearney Junior High Open House

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.

Bishop Ignores Proposals - Local News Coverage

Read and view local coverage of Bishop Clark's decision to ignore alternative proposals, just days following the conclusion of Diocesan "listening sessions."

News 10 NBC - Bishop Confirms Closure
News 10 NBC - Parent React

WHAM-TV 13

WROC/WUHF - Parents Vow to Fight On

RNews - Parents Crushed by Diocese Decision
RNews - Catholic Schools to Remain Closed

WXXI Radio

Diocese of Rochester Statement on Catholic Schools

Diocesan statement issued to news media and parents announcing that counter-proposals would not be considered by Bishop Clark.

Democrat and Chronicle: Part 3 of "A Prayer for Good Shepherd"

The Democrat and Chronicle posts part three of its "A Prayer for Good Shepherd" video series.

Click here for other videos in the series.

WHAM-TV: Parents Get Diocese's Attention

WHAM-TV 13 updates viewers about the ongoing "listening session" program between schools and DOR officials.

Bishop's Column: Dialogue is Key to Understanding

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.

Diocese Postpones Registration

See coverage of the Diocesan decision to postpone schools registration by a week to allow for consideration of alternative proposals:

WHAM-TV 13

Democrat and Chronicle

Messenger-Post Newspapers

Catholic Courier

D&C Blogger Discusses Schools Decision

Democrat and Chronicle Fairport/Perinton blogger Steve Hopkins writes about St. John's of Rochester's efforts to keep the school open.

Democrat and Chronicle: Catholic School Parents in Search of Class Space for Children

Read the Democrat and Chronicle story about parents and students searching for alternative schools, and concerns over capacities.

News 10 NBC: Parents Fight for Catholic Schools

News 10 updates viewers on parent plans to submit counter-proposals to the Diocese.
Read and watch the report here.

Democrat and Chronicle: A Prayer for Good Shepherd Video Series - Parts 1 & 2

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.

A Prayer for Good Shepherd Home Page

WHAM-TV Reports on Schools Capacity Shortfalls

WHAM-TV 13 reports on anticipated capacity shortfalls at the remaining Catholic schools in Monroe County.

News 10 NBC: Catholic Schools Hold Open Houses

Open houses begin for families affected by the schools closures.
Read and watch News 10 NBC's report here.

City Newspaper: Can Catholic Schools Survive?

Rochester City Newspaper reports on and offers opinion
about the school closings.

Messenger Post: Parents Rally for Education

Read the Henrietta Post's coverage of the Good Shepherd School parent/community meeting to address its targeted closure, and the Fairport/ER Post story on St. John of Rochester efforts.

Other Coverage:
- News 10 NBC - Catholic School Parents Mobilizing

Guest Essayists in the Democrat and Chronicle

Read guest essayists share their views on the closings in the Democrat and Chronicle.

Bishop Matthew H. Clark: Closing 13 Schools is the Way to Save the Others, Cut Tuition

Charles Salvaggio: Many Reasons to Keep Good Shepherd School Open

Donna Slaybaugh: Archangel School is Catholic Option

Henrietta Post Letter: Catholic school closings upsetting then and now

Good Shepherd parent Denise Krenzer writes in the Ruch-Henrietta Post that, "I have watched people leave the school because they could no longer afford the cost, yet the Diocese continued to increase tuition and let families leave, until now it has reached a point where so many schools must be closed."

WROC: Holy Trinity to Appeal Next Week

See CBS/Fox coverage of Holy Trinity's plans to appeal its closure next week.

Democrat and Chronicle: Hope for Catholic Schools

The D&C reports on widespread efforts by parents to develop
alternative proposals to allow some Catholic schools to remain open.

News 10 NBC: Catholic School Teachers without Jobs Come June

View and read News 10's story about 200 teachers
losing their jobs after Bishop Clark's decision to close schools.

Catholic Courier: Closing Schools Explore Options

Read the Catholic Courier story on targeted MCCS schools pursuing alternative routes.

WHAM-AM's Bob Lonsberry Weighs In

View the "Bobcast" from WHAM-AM talk show host Bob Lonsberry.

WHAM-TV: Vigil for Catholic Schools

WHAM-TV 13 reports on a vigil for Catholic schools.

News 10 NBC Interview with Vicar General Joseph Hart and CFO Lisa Passero

News 10 NBC's Nikki Rudd interviews DOR
Vicar General Joseph Hart and CFO Lisa Passero,
the last such interview granted by Diocesan officials.

- See the Unedited Interview
(Windows Media Player ActiveX plug-in required)

Pope Issues Letter on the Importance of Catholic Education

In a January 21 letter made public today,
Pope Benedict XVI shares his views on the
importance of Catholic education. Read the
Catholic News Service report,
or view the original letter (in Italian).

News 10 NBC: Catholic Family Angry About Bishop's Decision

Read the News 10 NBC story here about the O'Neill family, including interesting remarks from Sr. Elaine Poitras, who resigned as superintendent the day following the non-public presentation of task force's recommendation to the Bishop.

Other Coverage:
WHAM-TV 13: St. John's School Parents - We Want Answers
WHAM-TV 13: Holy Cross Parents Meet to Save their School

WROC: Holy Cross School Finding Ways to Stay Open

Read WROC-TV's coverage of the aftermath of the school closing decision.

Other Coverage:
- WHAM-TV: Catholic Students Look for New Schools
- WHAM-TV: Catholic School Closings Elicit Anger, Shock, Questions

WROC: McQuaid Jesuit Considering New Middle School

WROC reports that McQuaid Jesuit is considering opening a new middle school in Rochester.

13 Catholic Schools Closing: Day One Coverage

Read and watch coverage from Bishop Clark's announcement that 13 of 24 Monroe County Catholic Schools will close come June.

News 10 NBC Coverage

Democrat and Chronicle: Bishop Announces Closures
Democrat and Chronicle: Closings Video

WHAM-13: Parents React to Closings (Video)
WHAM-13: Solutions for Displaced Catholic Schools Students
WHAM-13: Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy Expresses Sadness About Closings

WROC/WUHF: One-on-One Interview with Bishop Matthew Clark (direct video link)
WROC/WUHF: State of Catholic Schools in New York
WROC/WUHF: 13 Catholic Schools to Close
WROC/WUHF: Rochester Mayor Saddened by School Closings
WROC/WUHF: Parents in Disbelief Over School Closings
WROC/WUHF: Schools Welcoming Families Affected by Closures
WROC/WUHF: Wegmans Reacts to School Closings
WROC/WUHF: Bishop Chokes Back Tears as He Announces School Closings
WROC/WUHF: Mercy High Prepares to Add New Grades

Catholic Courier: Bishop Announces School Restructuring
Catholic Courier: Bishop Discussed School Trends, Challenges
Catholic Courier: Tuition Cut Aimed at Reversing Enrollment Decline
Catholic Courier: Bishop Hopes to Strengthen WIN Program
Catholic Courier: List of Schools Slated for Closing
Catholic Courier: Task Force Member List (note the Sept. 5 date of the first meeting)
Catholic Courier: Schools Outside Monroe County Unaffected
Catholic Courier: Diocese Offers to Help Displaced Workers
Catholic Courier: Affiliated Schools Plan for More Students
Catholic Courier: Technology Will be Strength of Remaining Schools
Catholic Courier: A History of Catholic Education in Rochester
Catholic Courier: Neighboring Dioceses Share Catholic School Concerns
Catholic Courier: Local, National Experts Extol Importance of Catholic Education

DOR Communications Regarding School Closings

Read the Diocesan communications regarding today's announcement that 13 Catholic schools will b closed in Monroe County.

DOR News Release
Letter to Parents and Guardians
Questions & Answers
Map of Monroe County Catholic Schools

Also:
- Statement from the Rochester City School District on the closings

Democrat and Chronicle: Catholic Schools Await Fate

Read the D&C story regarding today's anticipated
announcement regarding school closures.

I-Team 10: Bishop Will Announce Schools Closings Tomorrow

Reach and watch the I-Team 10 follow-up story
about tomorrow's expected announcement.

Other Coverage:
- WROC/WUHF: Parents Await Bishops Decision

Democrat and Chronicle Video: Holy Cross Awaits its Fate

View the Democrat and Chronicle video about Holy Cross.

Other Coverage:
- Catholic Courier - Holy Cross School Prays for Future

News 10 NBC: Parents Nervous About Closings

Post-leak, parents remain nervous about rumored school closings, as reported by News 10 NBC. The Diocese continues to not comment beyond a prepared statement.

Other Coverage:

- WHAM-TV 13: Catholic Schools Task Force Finishes Work

Task Force Leak Pegged to Laurence Feasel

Task force member Laurence Feasel speaks to the Democrat and Chronicle (marking his first and last comment on the work of the group).

The Leak: I-Team 10 Breaks the Closings Story

News 10 NBC's investigative reporter Brett Davidsen breaks the closings story, citing a leak from unnamed task force members. Schools are not named. Read and watch the report here.

Other Coverage:
- WROC/WUHF: Catholic Diocese Considers Closing Schools