CLUSTER 33 PARISHES CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT PLAN
(Press Release - 6/4/01)
| St. Agatha-St. James St. Barnabas St. Clement St. Cyprian |
St. Francis de Sales Good Shepherd St. Irenaeus Most Blessed Sacrament |
In accord with the Cluster 33 Pastoral Plan and the implementation process, self-studies were initiated at St. Barnabas, SS. Clement-Irenaeus, Good Shepherd and Most Blessed Sacrament parish elementary schools in late January 2001. In conducting these studies, each school evaluated its Catholic identity, educational program, demographics, finances, and facilities.
Upon completion of the self-studies, the five pastors and four principals of these schools met with Monsignor John Conway on seven occasions to analyze the individual reports and to determine the direction needed for serving this community in the future. After careful review of the factual data, it became evident that the five Southwest Philadelphia parishes can no longer sustain four quality Catholic elementary schools. At the sixth meeting, the pastors and principals agreed to put before the people their recommendation to close two of the schools (namely, Good Shepherd and MBS), and to solicit the input of the people. Also, all agreed that, if such closures would happen, they should happen in July 2002.
During this past week, the pastors and school principals of Good Shepherd and Most Blessed Sacrament consulted with their respective Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council, school faculty, and Home and School Association concerning this issue. Likewise, the pastors and principals of St. Barnabas and SS. Clement-Irenaeus schools informed their people of the recommendation.
If these schools (Good Shepherd and MBS) would close, closure would not take effect until the beginning of the 2002-2003 academic year. All of the parish schools in Southwest Philadelphia will continue in operation throughout the next school year.