Whenever the archdiocese decides to close a parish or a
school, there is a groundswell of anguish and protest from the
families and students affected by the closure. The closing of St.
Paul's elementary school in Staten Island has generated community
efforts to raise enough money to keep it open. A local real
estate magnate and philanthropic developer, Richard Nicotra, has
pledged scholarship money and will hold a fund-raiser at his
Hilton Garden Inn. My question is - where was everybody before?
I'm not asking this facetiously, but having been a participant in
the parochial school system for decades, I've known that this day
was coming since Cardinal O'Connor issued the first warning about
the possibility. The school my children were then attending,
Immaculate Conception, was on a list of 14 endangered schools. It
was an inner-city school, with most of the parents living in the
Stapleton Housing projects or in the nearby Parkhill development.
The local public school, P.S. 14, at the time had the lowest
reading levels in the borough and Immaculate Conception attracted
many non-Catholic parents concerned about their children's
education.
I had six children in the school, which had a sliding tuition
scale for large families, and the principal Sister Timothy
O'Keefe was a benevolent fairy godmother who sought out sponsors
to help us with tuition.
In return, I ran a second-hand store in the basement of the
rectory to raise money and helped out in the school whenever
possible. I knew these efforts were meager contributions, but
what I found so disturbing was how uninvolved many parents were.
Thankfully, the school was spared and is thriving today. The
current principal, Kathy Curatolo, has attracted grants and
scholarships that make Immaculate Conception a perfect gem with
state of the art computer and lab equipment. It is now fully
accredited, and in 2005 100% of the fourth- and fifth-graders met
or mastered English language arts, math, and social studies New
York State exams. Still, the tuition is minimal compared with
other private schools, and the school is not out of danger.
The parish of St. John the Baptist de la Salle also is scheduled
to close. This is the church I attended when I first moved to
Staten Island. I occasionally attend the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass there
when I am not scheduled to be the lector at Immaculate
Conception. There are usually fewer than 30 parishioners in
attendance. While there, I am reminded of a friend, Donald
Foreman, who always sat in the first pew. He was a Port Authority
police officer who entered the World Trade Center on September
11, 2001, and never returned.
I can't blame the archdiocese for closing this parish or any
other, because no matter what the parishioners are complaining
about, they have to admit that every effort has been made to keep
these parishes and schools open. I feel sympathy in particular
for the non-Catholic parents whose children are in those
shuttering schools because they pay higher tuition. It is assumed
that parishioners actually attend Mass and tithe regularly.
Judging from the collection receipts of many of the poorer
parishes, this is hardly the case.
The truth is that many Catholics are spoiled. They assume the
church will be there for the baptism of their children, the
distribution of ashes and palms, and for midnight Mass, and yet
they nickel and dime the collection plate the few times they
attend. I was just as guilty 30 years ago when my then-Baptist
husband attended Mass with me and threw a $10 bill in the basket.
I was shocked until he said, "How do you expect the church
to stay open?"
Times change. There are now few nuns or brothers managing the
schools inexpensively. The parishes depend on donations. Heating
bills, union employees, and lawsuits all cost money. I still see
many people regularly tossing loose change in the basket. After
the service, I observe their i-Pods, expensive sneakers, and
luxury cars. Priorities, priorities ...
While the state and city argue about the billions that disappear
into poorly performing public schools, the Catholic schools
struggle with the cost of education while maintaining strict
moral principles.
My daughter's alma mater, St. John Villa Academy high school,
recently suspended a student for posting lewd images on
MySpace.com. She also has been banned from attending the school
prom. Good for the principal.
Meanwhile, Democratic politicians such as Council Member Michael
McMahon, who adamantly oppose school choice, flock to the
parishes like St. Paul's for photo ops expressing their concern.
I ask again, where were they before?