February 2006
ST. AMBROSE PARISH SCHOOL TO CLOSE IN JUNE 2006
Reverend James N. Catagnus, Pastor of Saint Ambrose Parish in Philadelphia, announces that Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has accepted the recommendation to close Saint Ambrose Parish Elementary School (407 East Roosevelt Boulevard) at the end of the 2005-2006 school year. The recommendation was made by the Steering Committee of Saint Ambrose Parish which was made up of the Pastor, the Principal, a teacher, and four parish representatives.
Saint Ambrose Parish Steering Committee also recommended that all of the parish children attend one school to provide a sense of- community and continuity as they make this transition. This will maintain the Saint Ambrose Parish identity for the children and will enable the Pastor, Father Catagnus, to provide pastoral and spiritual care for the parish children. The Saint Ambrose Parish Steering Committee selected Saint Martin of Tours Parish School (Roosevelt Boulevard and Sanger Street) which is approximately two miles away from St. Ambrose Parish.
The recommendation of the Steering Committee was a result of declining enrollment, declining baptisms and increasing expenses. Since 1996, the enrollment of Saint Ambrose School has declined from 470 to 195 students in the current school year (kindergarten through eighth grade). Projected enrollment for the 2006-2007 school year was 180 students.
Tuition does not cover the cost of running the school. As enrollment has decreased, the cost to educate each pupil has steadily increased, placing a tremendous financial burden on the parish. The parish has needed to draw from its reserves to support the school.
During the months of May through September 2005, the demographic, financial and school enrollment projections of Saint Ambrose Parish were studied.
On November 8, 2005, the Steering Committee for Saint Ambrose Parish hosted an information night for parishioners and school parents. A survey was distributed for consultation. All but twenty-nine surveys were returned (parents of eighth grade students who are graduating did not feel a need to complete the survey). Most parents indicated that they could not afford a significant increase in tuition which would be needed in order to keep the school open. Almost 30 percent of those responding indicated they intend to move out of the geographic boundaries of Saint Ambrose Parish within two years.
In late December 2005, the Saint Ambrose Parish representatives who had been studying the school situation, after consultation with the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, unanimously agreed that Saint Ambrose School would need to close in June 2006.
Saint Martin of Tours Parish will host an Open House on February 16, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall to welcome the Saint Ambrose Parish School family members.
There are no plans for the Saint Ambrose Parish School buildings.
For more information, please contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Office for Communications at 215-587-3747.