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That's one nice bit of property, almost 100 acres with much of it not much different than when Sisters of Mercy founded the school one hundred years ago.
I'm surprised that there isn't a way to go co-ed or for the school to go the independent Catholic school route in the future, like the example in the article.
I'm surprised that there isn't a way to go co-ed or for the school to go the independent Catholic school route in the future, like the example in the article.
In common with many other orders Sisters of Mercy are seeing dwindling numbers. OTOH many of the schools and other institutions they own/run are costly and powers that be simply feel it's best to move on.
That being said where student numbers are strong schools run by Sisters of Mercy as with other orders have no problems not only remaining open, but expanding as well.
I'm surprised that there isn't a way to go co-ed or for the school to go the independent Catholic school route in the future, like the example in the article.
Well there's usually always a "way", but then again some orders still cling to old ways. Brothers for boys and Sisters for girls, that is same sex education.
From the letter the Sisters sent to the preservation committee:
You know that we have other ministries on the campus of OLMA. And, while we have not completed an assessment for the potential uses of the OLMA-portion of our property, know that it will not include a school. Thus, any potential for a new school should be planned with the knowledge that the Sisters of Mercy property is not an option for running such an establishment.
ie - they ain't selling, and they ain't putting another school on the property (the preservation committee had floated the idea of a Diocesan takeover).
It is very very sad and it is because there are not many Christins in long island? What will happen to the students and where will they go. It could have been saved if they did do voutures like other places?
you obviously dont live here. there are christians everywhere. its the cost that is prohibitive
you obviously dont live here. there are christians everywhere. its the cost that is prohibitive
Yep, there aren't that many teaching nuns left and they have to hire lay teachers.....y'know, the ones who want vacation pay, benefits, workers' comp, a livable wage and other unholy demands...... That costs.
Apparently the enrollment absolutely plummeted the last four years or so. Local density for families who want (and can afford) to send their daughters to the all-girls Catholic school is now very very low.
At the same time one has to wonder if it would have thrived if it had the academic reputation of (all boys, much larger, very successful) Chaminade.
In any case (the all-girls and Catholic) Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead is still doing well.
The familys dont want to send the girls because many cant afford it and it is too expensive and its why they should get voutures. Probably many of them dont do also because there are not many christians there and values. There are more christens in hempsted maybe?
Not meaning to cause offense, but you're obviously not Catholic.
It isn't the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's or even 1970's any longer, world has changed and that includes for Catholics in USA.
Vatican II shook up the church in ways that are still being felt today.
There was a time when Catholics *had* to send their kids to religious institutions, use Catholic hospitals, etc.... That began to fall by wayside starting around post WWII years and picked up steam by 1970's.
First and foremost many Catholics packed up and moved to suburbs post WWII. Those areas offered good to excellent public primary and secondary education. This was something people were paying taxes already to support. So choice to send kids to private religious school became less unless parents wanted to do so for various reasons.
On other side of things days of brothers and sisters running schools, hospitals, etc... on bake sales and other charity began coming to an end by 1960's or so. Parents wanted and expected schools that had modern buildings, classrooms, highly educated and trained teachers/staff, etc... That all cost money. Real if isn't "The Bells of St. Mary's".
As Catholics packed up and moved in post war years it caused changes in parishes and archdioceses. Once stable Irish, Italian, German, Polish, etc.... parishes that filled masses and sent their (often large) families to Catholic schools began to dry up. Parishes did their best to keep schools open but where attendance of active contributing parishioners declines, where does the money come from?
In years following Vatican II numbers of professed religious (nuns, monks, brothers, sisters) and clergy (priests) began to fall off a cliff. Convents and monasteries were emptying out as religious left their orders, on other side numbers of new arrivals dropped like a stone. Orders that once boasted healthy numbers of "dedicated servants" to staff schools, hospitals and other ministries now had to hire lay persons.
Probably 1960's through 1970's was great last gasp of RC church and institutions in USA. By about 1980's things just started coming apart for host of reasons including those mentioned above.
Haven't even touched the near weekly litany of abuse scandals not just in USA but Europe and South America involving RC church and children/teens that make the news.
Apparently the enrollment absolutely plummeted the last four years or so. Local density for families who want (and can afford) to send their daughters to the all-girls Catholic school is now very very low.
At the same time one has to wonder if it would have thrived if it had the academic reputation of (all boys, much larger, very successful) Chaminade.
In any case (the all-girls and Catholic) Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead is still doing well.
Issue for many Catholic schools was in recent times they became defacto "cheap" choice of private school for children who weren't RC.
In many areas black, Asian and other parents sent their kids to Catholic school instead of (usually) bad local public. This even if they themselves were not RC. Even better many schools gave out scholarships or otherwise reduced tuition for those kids.
On one had classes were full, but not every family was holding up their end. Catholic parents were usually expected to hand over an envelope at Mass or otherwise contribute to local parish.
To be fair Catholic schools of all sorts long had scholarship students or other arrangements for families that couldn't pay full tuition. But you cannot have situations where majority of student body isn't paying full freight. Especially when parish itself is struggling to balance the books.
Just as Medicare/Medicaid helped kill off demand for Catholic charity hospitals, arrival of charter schools has offered "poor" or whatever parents another option for high quality education. Better still it doesn't cost them anything.
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