NEWS AND VIEWS: Announcement regarding closure of schools in Newark and Northampton (03/28/04)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Announcement regarding closure of schools in Newark and Northampton

by Metropolitan Stefan

The announcement of the closure of two of our remaining seven Ukrainian Catholic schools in our archeparchy was a sad but a necessary one. Our Archeparchy of Philadelphia, when it still encompassed today's Parma Eparchy, once had some 25 Ukrainian Catholic schools. The reasons for this necessity of closing schools are varied and have much to do with the changing demographics of our Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S.A.

The size of families today is rarely more than one or two children, as opposed to much larger families in the previous decades. There has been a migration of our faithful to suburbs and housing located at considerable distances from our schools and parishes. The once very strong commitment to the necessity of financially sponsoring private Catholic education for our children has, also, significantly lessened. For example, recent fund-raising efforts among parishes without schools to help support our schools have not been positively and generously supported.

Our schools and the parishes which have a school are, as a result, left to assume a large deficit. This deficit is usually covered by extensive fund-raising and charitable activities by the parishioners of parishes with schools. Those parishes then struggle to meet parish needs, and the parish and school often operate on shoe-string budgets.

Much honorable recognition and gratitude is due to the parish priests, teachers and school administrative staffs, parish committees, parents and parishioners for their tireless dedication to keeping the schools operating. However, despite their best efforts, the sheer practical realities sometimes prevent their success. Deficits of the schools become just too large to be carried by the parishes alone and the difficult, yet necessary, decision to close becomes reality. The financial stability of the parish itself is threatened, risking the continued existence of the parish.

The deficits of both schools closing this year were approximately $225,000 or more, each. Student populations were not sufficient to affordably operate these schools. The registration for St. John the Baptist School in Newark was not expected to surpass 50 this fall and St. John the Baptist School in Northampton had some 93 students.

The tuition increases proposed for the schools to be able to continue were prohibitive for parents. The lay board operating St. John the Baptist School in Newark was proposing to charge a tuition rate of $3,500 annually. The tuition at St. John the Baptist School in Northampton was inordinately low and would also need to have been increased to prohibitive levels.

Commendable efforts and promises were made and/or contemplated by the board members and teachers of both schools. Yet, during their one year of administration of St. John the Baptist School in Newark, the lay board was able to raise only a very small fraction of the funds they had hoped for. Raising funds is increasingly difficult and their efforts, while admirable, could not help to achieve their expectation. Yet, someone must pay the bills and cover the deficits.

Yes, the closing of these two fine schools is a sad reality for many. The lives of teachers, students and parishioners are significantly impacted. The parish priests and parish committees of both parishes have struggled with the necessity of taking such an action.

It is not easy and follows only a very close scrutiny of the parish and school finances and resources. It is understandably unpopular to close a school and it causes worry and concern for parish life. However, parish priests of both these parishes will endeavor to establish catechetical instruction for the children of the parish and, where possible and needed, a Saturday Ukrainian school program. Such programs ought to be a part of parish life and fulfill the parish's mission to instruct our children in the faith and in our culture. So, despite the present pain of the loss of something dear to many, there is hope for the future for our parishes.

I recognize the difficulty in accepting such decisions, especially by those personally affected. I pray for your peaceful acceptance of that which became necessary due to the fault of no one. The financial realities of operating St. John the Baptist School in Newark and St. John the Baptist School in Northampton have become overwhelming for the parishes and this has necessitated the unfortunate but necessary decision for these schools to close.

This reality of life has been faced by some 25 Ukrainian Catholic schools in the past two decades, and they have struggled and coped with the effects. This will equally be true of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Northampton. The clergy and faithful of these parishes will ensure that their faith and their Church will continue to survive and develop in ways and directions inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Philadelphia Archeparchy is the leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States. This article was submitted on March 22.

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