The Archdiocese needs our help to motivate our representatives in Harrisburg to support such legislation. Please read Archbishop Chaput’s column explaining this issue and contact our state representatives to express support for vouchers. The Archbishop’s column and contact information for our state representatives can be found below.

Masses will be held at 7 am (St. Mary of the Assumption) and 6 pm (St. Lucy).

This Feast celebrates Jesus’ Glorious Ascension into Heaven after spending 40 days on earth after His Resurrection. It also marks the last phase of the Easter season where the Church focuses on fervent prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Today Archbishop Chaput announced the resolution of eight of the cases of priests on administrative leave.  Three of the priests have been found suitable for ministry.  Five others will not return to ministry, although they retain the right to appeal this decision to the Holy See. In the case of a ninth priest, the man is now deceased, and no investigation can be concluded.  Details about these cases as well as additional information, can be found on the archdiocesan website. ( http://archphila.org/HHHIC/hhhic.htm )  

Information concerning the remaining cases cannot yet be announced.

The past year has been difficult for the whole Catholic community: for the victims of abuse who had to tell their stories yet again; for people in our parishes; for the good priests who serve our local Church; and for the men on administrative leave. The Archbishop has a duty to understand the suffering and support the healing of victims of clergy sexual abuse.  He also has the duty to respect and support his brother priests.  Finally, he has a duty to love and serve the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and to ensure their safety in our parishes, especially the young.  These duties should not conflict.  But if and when they do, as long as he serves as our bishop, the Archbishop publicly stated today that “the Church will place the healing of victims and the safety of our people first.”

As further information is announced, as Pastor/Parochial Administrator, I shall ensure that this information becomes available to the parishioners of St. Lucy and St. Mary through the various communications channels that I have utilized over the past year. Thank you and please continue to pray as we move throught these challenging times together.

I wanted to take a few minutes to update you on developments with respect to St. Mary of the Assumption parish at 176 Conarroe Street that could impact the neighborhood.

First, this past weekend it was made official that St. Mary of the Assumption will be closing on June 30, 2012. The Parish and its assets will become part of St. John the Baptist parish down on Rector Street.

What does this closure mean?

First, we will continue to rent the former St. Mary’s school to Green Woods Charter School. Green Woods is currently in the process of taking possession of the school and anticipate being ready by the Fall of 2012 to start-up with students. They have signed a lease for up to 3 years with options to break the lease if prior to the end of the 3 years they find a permanent location for their school. Right now we anticipate Green Woods being here for a minimum of 2 years.

Second, the former Convent ,which is rented to St. Joseph’ s University, to house graduate students doing a Catholic version of Teach for America will continue at least through the 2012-2013 academic year. We are in the process of signing an additional 1 year lease with St. Joseph’s University.

Third, in terms of the Parking Lot – it is anticipated that St. John the Baptist will continue to rent parking spaces to those who are interested in this. When we are clear on who at St. John the Baptist will administer the parking program, we will communicate it to all folks who currently are renting parking spaces from St. Mary of the Assumption.

The biggest change with this closure is that there will most likely be no routine Sunday Masses in the St. Mary Church building. However, since this has not been fully resolved, we will update you as information becomes available. After July 1, 2012, the church building will be considered a “Worship Site” and will be designated for use for Funerals and Weddings (Not routine Sunday Masses).

Concerning the St. Mary rectory, as many of you are aware St. Mary of the Assumption has requested the rectory be rezoned from single–family to multi-family unit in order to support renting the rectory to the Yale School. The Yale School would like to use it for a program to help “high functioning” young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome transition from high school to college. We met with the City of Philadelphia last week who heard our appeal. They were generally supportive but wanted more details on how the rectory would actually be utilized. St. Mary of the Assumption is in the process of providing this information. Once we submit this information to the city, we anticipate that we will obtain rezoning approval. Once we obtain zoning approval we need to meet with the Department of Public Works to make sure the site meets their requirements. If everything goes to plan we would anticipate Yale School starting their program in January, 2013 and getting fully up to speed by September, 2013.

It is anticipated that the Adoration Chapel (located below the Church) will continue to be used and be available. In addition it is anticipated that the Parish Center will still be available for rental but that will need to be ultimately decided by St. John the Baptist.

Once the Church closes all the support and administration for the facilities will be provided by St. John the Baptist. We will communicate to our neighbors all the contact information when it becomes available.

This communiqué is our attempt to wish to continue to be transparent and remain “good neighbors” to you all. Please feel free to contact St. Mary of the Assumption parish if you have any questions.

Gus Concilio

Director of Operations

In order to help us during this transition and to try and address the basic human needs that we all have, a number of events have planned to support all of us during this trying time. These events will provide an opportunity to grieve but also to celebrate the great things of God at St. Mary of the Assumption over the past 150 years. Below is a list of events with a short description.

A number of these events are still in the planning stages. Thus times and locations may change. Nevertheless, we wanted to give everyone at least an idea of what we were planning as soon as possible. If you would like to assist in this planning and implementation process, it is much needed and would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the rectory or Fr. Zlock.

Women’s Day of Reflection
Saturday May 12, 9:30 am – 2 pm.
Sr. Maryanne Nolan will present on Mary the Protector.
RSVP: 215 483 2156 or khack106@aol.com.

Celebration of Confession, Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Tues June 5, 7 PM – St. Mary Church

Jesus Christ came to earth to reconcile humans to God and to each other. Through his death, he overcomes sin and re-establishes communion. In the midst of our grief, we want to celebrate this forgiveness that has been won for us and make it more real in our lives here and now in Manayunk as we move forward in faith. There will be a “general confession” but the “Sacrament of Reconciliation” will not be celebrated or offered for individuals.

Second Day of Mourning – Mini-Retreat for St. Mary and St. Lucy

Saturday June 9, 2012, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martin’s Lane, Chestnut Hill, PA 19118

Few of us can say we’ve never been upset or disappointed with the Church. For every departing church member who left over a theological disagreement, several more leave quietly in disappointment that church failed to engage them or acknowledge their needs. So what do you do when the church disappoints you? This mini-retreat will allow us to engage the difficult questions, search for answers, grieve a little, listen and speak with others struggling with the same issues.

Evening Mass of Remembrance

Thurs June 14, 7 pm – St. Mary Church

Funerals can be sad events but they provide closure and the opportunity to say farewell one last time to our loved one. We will have a Mass of Remembrance to recall all those at St. Mary’s that have gone on to God before us. This will allow our parish to help us to say farewell and begin to bring a sense of closure according to our rich liturgical tradition of the Mass of Christian Burial and Resurrection.

Celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony with Renewal of Vows

Mon June 18, 7:00 pm

Locations: St. Mary Church / Reception in Parish Center

Marriage is an institution where people learn to love in a way, which imitates the love of the Three Persons of the Trinity. The other-centered love that happens in marriage produces children and through marriage the human community continues in time. For 150 years, St. Mary of the Assumption has been the focal point of this wonderful event. The grace that families have received through St. Mary’s will continue to be passed on from generation to generation into the future. This night, we will gather for a celebration of all the marriages that have been blessed at the altar of St. Mary’s and invite all married couples, to come, celebrate their marriages and vows and receive a special marriage blessing.

A light reception will follow in the Parish Center.

Last weekend we joyfully celebrated the glorious Resurrection of Our Savior Jesus Christ following our 40 day spiritual journey through Lent. Jesus’ triumph over sin and death continues to inspire and comfort us all in times of sadness as well as joy. In Christ, we personally live out our Catholic faith. But on the local level, it is in every parish where the Church, which established by Christ, finds its expression. It is in the parish where God’s Word and the Sacraments nourish us, and where spiritual fulfillment and pastoral care are found.

In the Fall of 2010, a pastoral letter was issued to parishes and parishioners throughout the Archdiocese. It outlined the necessity of an in-depth examination of all parishes in order to gauge whether they possessed the necessary resources to remain vibrant and sustainable faith communities. This process, known as “Parish Area Pastoral Planning,” was designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, along with their parish leadership, with an opportunity to dialogue with members of the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee in providing joint recommendations to the Archbishop for growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas.

During the process, additional steps were taken to be as inclusive as possible. In the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations. Additionally, recommendations by the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee of all parish mergers were brought before the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their observations and approval.

While this process for the entire archdiocese is expected to take anywhere from two to four years, certain areas, Manayunk among them, required immediate attention. Due to a number of factors including a shift in Catholic population, a high density of parishes in our small area, declines in Mass attendance, Sacramental activity, the availability of priests to staff parishes, and a review of parish facilities, mergers were proposed. These proposals were shared with pastors and lay leaders from all of the local parishes as well as the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee, the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors. Most recently, final proposals were accepted by the Archbishop.

As a result our parish, along with Saint Josaphat Parish, will be merging with Saint John the Baptist Parish to form a new parish effective July 1, 2012. Everyone will attend Mass at the current Saint John the Baptist church. For the time being, the Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Josaphat church buildings will still be maintained as “Worship Sites” for weddings, funerals, and feast days. Sunday Mass may also be celebrated at the worship sites at the discretion of the pastor of the newly formed parish and a newly formed pastoral council. Additionally, all of our parish assets, debts, buildings, and sacramental records will be transferred to the care of the newly formed parish which will be named Saint John the Baptist. The pastor of the newly formed parish will be appointed with the regular priest personnel announcements in May. In the interim period, I, as well as the other local pastors, will continue working toward the smoothest possible transition with our parish leaders. In addition, members of the Parish Pastoral Committee have planned a series of events to aid us through this difficult transitional period. Details of these events will be posted on our web site and communicated through other communications channels as well.

I know this news will cause sadness and pain. In the work of building up the Church and maintaining God’s Kingdom on earth we have been asked to let go of something so near and dear to each of our hearts. I pray that you will trust in the Lord as we move forward together and hope that He will grant us all the grace, strength, and wisdom to complete this process with charity and patience. This experience will be challenging and exciting at the same time. We are working to preserve a Catholic Church in Philadelphia so that the spiritual and pastoral needs of generations yet unborn will be tended to with the same love and care you have experienced and witnessed. All of us must be willing to labor together for the Lord to achieve that goal.

In the coming weeks, the pastor of the newly formed parish will consult leaders from all affected parish communities to create new pastoral and finance councils, parish committees and identify the appropriate staffing of all parish ministries. In additional, a “Transitional Team” will be assembled made up of lay leaders from each of the merging parishes to assist in moving forward with building a new parish community. Additional details regarding Parish Area Pastoral Planning in the Archdiocese can also be found on the Archdiocesan website.

In every death there is a resurrection; with all growth there is pain, but as Catholics we believe that Christ strengthens us. I pray that our Heavenly Father will fill you with every grace and assist all of us to work toward the strongest parish communities possible. In closing I pray that peace and joy of the Easter season be with you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Charles Zlock, Pastor

Parish Merger FAQs

April 2012

1. Which parishes are merging?

The following parishes are merging effective July 1, 2012:

Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Vincent de Paul and Immaculate Conception Parishes (Germantown) will merge at the location of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish

Saint Lucy and Holy Family Parishes will merge at the location of Holy Family Parish (Manayunk)

Saint John the Baptist, Saint Josaphat and Saint Mary of the Assumption Parishes will merge at the location of Saint John the Baptist Parish (Manayunk)

Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Cecilia Parishes will merge at the location of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish (Coatesville)

Saint Joseph and Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parishes will merge at the location of Saint Joseph Parish (Coatesville)

After reviewing all of the recent proposals, the Archbishop directed that the merger plans for the following parishes receive more input and broader consultation:

Holy Trinity, Saint Mary of the Assumption and Sacred Heart Parish (Phoenixville) will be studied further with a final decision expected by the Fall of 2012.

Saint Benedict, Saint Madeleine Sophie, Holy Cross and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parishes (Germantown, Mt. Airy) will be studied further beginning in September 2012.

2. What is a parish merger?

A merger is the joining of two or more parishes into a single new parish. The newly merged parish will consist of one location, which includes a church for parish worship and administrative offices. The new parish may also administer a worship site and locations designated for pastoral purposes. The pastor of the newly formed parish will consult leaders from all affected parishes over the coming weeks to create new pastoral and finance councils, parish committees, and identify appropriate staffing of all parish ministries. A transitional team will be assembled made up of lay leaders from each of the merging parishes to assist in moving forward with building a new parish community.

3. Why do we have to merge parishes?

The merger recommendations were based on a combination of factors, including demographic shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of declining Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges that threaten sustainability and a decrease in the availability of clergy to staff parishes.

It is clear that population shifts in our region have affected our parishes across the Archdiocese, with some parishes growing, while others continue to shrink. The result has been that some parish churches are filled to capacity, while others have many empty pews. The decline in the number of parish families can have a negative impact on the financial stability of some parishes, thus impeding their ability to support effective programs that further the parish’s mission. In addition to demographic changes, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has experienced, and is projected to continue experiencing, a decline in the number of priests available to serve our families. By 2025, we expect to have fewer priests available to assign to parish ministry than the number of parishes that we currently have, making a serious Pastoral Planning Initiative critical.

It is hoped that the end result of the planning and restructuring process will be revitalized parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are equipped to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of future generations.

4. Who made these decisions?

After consulting with all the priests in the Archdiocese these geographic areas were identified as ones that needed to be looked at for a possible merger of parishes. The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning committee reviewed the information available about the parishes and made this recommendation, which was reviewed by the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors before approval by the Archbishop. The Strategic Planning Committee’s work is overseen by Monsignor Arthur Rodgers, the Coordinator of Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Initiatives. The committee is comprised of the appropriate regional bishops and deans as well as various Archdiocesan administrators. Their responsibility is to offer assistance in the transitional period related to mergers. They represent offices including the Vicar for Clergy, Property Services, Catholic Education, Communications, the Vicar for Cultural Ministries, and Accounting Services.

5. What was the basis for their decision? What did the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee consider?

The most important consideration is the number of registered active parishioners and the degree of participation indicated through Sunday Mass attendance and participation in the sacraments, the religious education programs and the institutional responsibilities of the parish (hospitals, nursing homes etc.). Especially important is the number of Baptisms, other sacramental activity and funerals as a way to gauge if the parish is stable, growing, or declining. They also look at the parish location and physical plant, the population projections for the area, and the financial reports for the parish. Finally they evaluate at the availability of clergy and how best they might be assigned to care for all of the parishioners in the Archdiocese.

6. How does merging differ from twinning?

Twinning of parishes involved two or more parishes remaining entirely independent entities while sharing one pastor. Although twinning can be seen as addressing the lack of clergy that we may face in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, it does not address the stress it places on our clergy nor the demographic and financial factors that challenge the vitality of many of our parishes.

7. How will these mergers benefit the parishes?

Although merging into a new parish may be unsettling for some, combining the parish communities can bring new life to the parish and its parishioners. Merging enables ministries to expand inclusively, using resources and talent from each of the parishes. New and fruitful parish relationships and identities will emerge when collaboration occurs across generational, racial and cultural lines. New lay leadership will also emerge to fulfill parish roles and responsibilities. The new parish will also be in a stronger position to evangelize and reach out to the community-at-large.

8. What are the greatest challenges when merging?

Change can be challenging, but if there is an openness to change parishes may see the many positive results of a parish merger. There will obviously be challenges, such as the adjusting of mass schedules, the merging of records, the formation of new ministry groups and the process of building a new community which may mean letting go of former perceptions. All challenges can be met with Christian dignity and mutual respect. Everyone’s needs can be met with Christ-like compassion.

9. What are key issues for the merged parish to address?

As parishioners transition into the newly merged parish, communication will be critical. The pastor of the newly formed parishes will consult and work with the transitional team over the coming weeks to identify shared goals, missions, and programs. Additionally, they will discuss staffing, assets and resources for the new parish. Pastors should always allow parishioners the ability to express their feelings of loss perhaps a through a particular liturgy.

10. When a merger occurs does the parish take a new name?

The newly formed parish does not normally take a new name in the merger. A merged parish usually keeps the name of one of the parishes, especially if it has historical significance or was the Mother Church in a geographic boundary.

11. If two or more worship sites exist, how does one refer to the parish?

It would be referred to as ________Parish, which also maintains the worship sites

of_______Church and _________Church (e.g., St. Mary Parish maintains

St. Peter Church and St. Paul Church).

12. How are sacramental records and handled when parishes merge?

The sacramental records of all the merged parishes are brought to the newly formed parish.

13. How will registration be handled when the parishes merge?

All registered parishioners will be incorporated into the newly merged parish.

14. Where are archives kept from a merger?

Historic documents that are to be preserved should be sent to the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center (PAHRC), which is located at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.

15. What about sacred objects?

A worship environment committee should be formed to recommend which sacred objects the new parish should retain and how the items will be incorporated into the parish church. Where there is a worship site, which will remain open for the time being, it may be decided not to move any sacred objects.

Where there is any question regarding the disposition of sacred objects, The Office of Special Projects is available to assist parishes with this transition.

16. How are finances handled, especially the merging of assets and debts?

The Office of Parish Financial Services will assist parishes during this time of transition. In a merger, the new parish acquires all assets and liabilities of the parishes from which it was formed. The pastor of the newly formed parish will consult parish leaders from all affected parishes to determine building needs and use, staffing and budgetary requirements.

17. What will happen with the buildings?

All of the buildings, assets and liabilities are assumed by the newly formed parish. The pastor and parish community will determine their best use in terms of providing ministry and service for parishioners. The newly formed parish may maintain a worship site, which may be utilized for weddings, funerals and feast days for one year during the transition. Sunday Mass may also be celebrated at the worship site at the discretion of the pastor and his newly formed pastoral council.

18. Will people lose their jobs in a merger?

Some jobs may be eliminated and new positions may be created. Discernment needs to be done by the pastor and the planning committee, in consultation with current staff and parish pastoral councils to determine what is needed for ministry in the new parish. New job descriptions should be written to reflect the ministry needs of the parish, and the pastor will make the final decisions concerning the staffing. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be offering assistance to the pastor and staff during this transition from the Office of Parish Financial Services, Office for Human Resources, Office for Catechetical Formation and the Office for Formation of the Laity. When a school is involved the Office of Catholic Education will also be available to assist.

19. How do we handle differences of ethnicity, cultures, worship styles, youth etc.?

No parish merger is identical. Every parish community has its own individual personality that reflects the history, ethnicity, mission, values, and liturgical style of the members that share their Catholic faith together. The transitional team, consisting of leaders from each of the merging parishes, will identify these needs and develop a plan that addresses them in the new parish. A planning process will outline suggested ways to build dialogue, to develop the plan and to lead a community through the transition of a merger of parishes.

20. What are the key elements for a successful merger and leading a parish through change?

The key components for facilitating necessary change in the structure of a parish community are prayer, vision, hope and leadership. Discerning and openness in a spirit of prayer to do what God is calling us to do is also essential.

Well-trained and supportive leadership and engaged Catholic laity are to build the parish of the future and weather this time of transition. This leadership, pastor and parishioners together, should allow all to feel a sense of ownership through the planning committee and by being in touch with all the parishioners as the transition plan is developed.

21. Will any kind of closing ceremony be held at the parishes?

The transitional team will recommend how to honor the parishioners’ connections to their parish through ceremonies or events that meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of their members. These may include prayer services, the celebration of the Holy Mass, traditional devotions, or parish gatherings.

22. What are the specific steps for the mergers? What dates are associated with each step? Who is “in charge” of each step?

The transitional team, led by the pastors and assisted by the dean and a facilitator, will identify the steps and the timeline as these mergers take place. The pastors and the transitional team will also determine specific actions and responsibilities for leadership at all involved parishes.

23. What suggestions and programs are currently being put in place to assist parishioners struggling with the transition?

An implementation manual is available that will include suggestions and program outlines. The book A Struggle for Holy Ground: Reconciliation and the Rites of Parish Closure, written by Thomas Weldon O.F.M. and published by Liturgical Press, is also recommended for parish leadership and parishioners struggling with the transition.

24. Will the Regional Bishop visit to speak with the people?

The Regional Bishop is planning to be with the parish community at the opening liturgy of the new parish, but his availability may be affected by already scheduled pastoral commitments.

25. Is there an instrument to monitor/measure the vitality/viability of parishes so that Parishes have an idea on how well they are doing on an on-going basis?

Parish pastoral planning was introduced over 15 years ago as an ongoing cyclical process in which parishes on an annual basis take stock of how they are doing in terms of the “Characteristics of Vital Parishes,” which can be found here: http://archphila.org/pastplan/INDEX/AnnRevIndex.html

“In Depth Evaluation of ParishLife,” a tool also available to parishes who wish to update their shared view of the parish and can be found here: http://archphila.org/pastplan/PDF/InDepthEval.pdf

St. Mary of the Assumption, St. Josephat and St. Lucy churches will remain as worship sites in this configuration. Guidelines for the use of worship sites can be found here.

Parishioners of St. Mary of the Assumption and St. Josephat may join St. John the Baptist. Parishioners of St. Lucy Parish may join Holy Family. However, parishioners of St. Mary, St. Josephat and St. Lucy may also elect to join another ethnic parish or they may join the territorial parish in whose boundaries they currently reside.

Earlier this year, the Pastoral Councils of St. Mary of the Assumption, St. Lucy and St. Josephat submitted an alternative proposal to the Strategic Planning committee which suggested consolidating the three ethnic parishes into one parish. The Strategic Planning committee evaluated this proposal in the light of a number of considerations listed below.

• The number of registered active parishioners.
• Sunday Mass attendance.
• Participation in the Sacraments.
• Participation in religious education programs.
• Institutional responsibilities of the parish to hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
• Recommendations of the parish based on first draft of proposed plan.
• Number of baptisms and funerals.
• Parish location.
• Architectural assessment of parish buildings.
• Population projection for the area.
• Financial reports for the parishes.
• Availability of clergy.

In the end, after considering all factors, the committee felt that the initial recommendation was best for a future vibrant sustainable Catholic community to thrive in Manayunk.

As pastor, I know that for many of you St. Mary of the Assumption has been your spiritual home for years and we are about to enter a difficult and challenging transition phase. I want you to know that I, the parish councils and parish staff are here for you and want to help in any way possible. Ultimately, while this is a very sad occasion, it is faith in Jesus Christ that sustains us and through His strength we can survive this loss.

An implementation phase will now begin to prepare for this re-configuation. An implementation committee with resources provided by the Archdiocese will soon be formed to implement any necessary changes. More details on the implementation of these changes will follow. In the meantime, the parish councils have a number of events planned to support all of us in this spiritually trying time. These events will provide an opportunity to not only grieve but to also celebrate the great things that God has done at St. Mary of the Assumption over the past 150 years. Please click here for description of these events and a tentative schedule.

Please click here to read Fr. Zlock’s letter to the parishioners of St. Mary of the Assumption.

Please click here for a FAQ regarding the parish merger.

Please click here to find information concerning how to canonically appeal this decision to the Archbishop.

Below is the official press release from the Archdiocese:

o   One Child …                                                               $4,200

o   Two Children ($750 reduction) …                                $7,650

o   Three children($2,000 reduction) …                          $10,600

o   Four children ($3,000 reduction)…                           $13,800

* This does not include the “tuition scholarship” from your individual parish

*This does include all fees such as technology or lunch monitor fee.

o   Non-parishioners/Non-Catholic

(per-student) …                                                  $5,200

This tuition schedule continues to reflect the true cost-per-student and is intended to keep our school financially viable and not put an undue strain on parish finances

As you already know, parishes will partner with “active and participating” families in offering tuition scholarships.

“Active and participating” has been defined by the Office of Catholic Education as “ Attending the weekly celebration of the Sunday Mass at your respective parish, and financial support of the parish.”

We understand the sacrifice that offering a quality Catholic education often poses on families.  Our hope is that this new schedule will allow families to consider the quality Catholic education offered at St. Blaise Regional Catholic School.

Registration has been extended until April 16, 2012.  No late fee will be imposed until after this date.

Applications are still being accepted for the St. Mary Heritage Grant.  This Grant will potentially offer financial support to active and participating Catholic families of St. Mary Parish who decide to send their children to the new St. Blaise Catholic School.

Details (terms and conditions) about the Grant, as well as Application Forms, can be found in the church lobby and are also available on the parish web site.  We are excited about this opportunity to help support both Catholic Education and our commitment to our Catholic families of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish!

St. Blaise has a new media portal/web site: http://saintblaiseregional.com  Please consult this web site for the latest, accurate and official information concerning St. Blaise Regional Catholic School or call Ms. Susan T. Canio   215-844-4126 ex. 117

He is also active on Facebook and Twitter which can be found on the website.

In addition, because the terms and conditions of the contract were quite favorable to St. Mary, the Parish Pastoral and Finance Committees recommended utilizing some of the available funds to support Catholic education in Manayunk and specifically, the new St. Blaise Catholic School. Thus we would like to announce the inauguration of the St. Mary Heritage Grant. This Grant will potentially offer financial support to active and participating Catholic families of St. Mary Parish who decide to send their children to the new St. Blaise Catholic School. We are excited about this opportunity to help support both Catholic Education and our commitment to our Catholic families of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish!

Guidelines for the Heritage Grant:

Application for Heritage Grant:

Thus, the school Implementation Committee proceeded with the following steps:

• Formation of an ad-hoc “Financial Committee” consisting of the Business Managers of the six parishes.
• This committee examined the various financial statements of both schools.
• The committee then calculated an initial cost-per-pupil figure. Using this cost figure, a “profit-and-loss” statement for the initial 2012-2013 school year was drafted and presented to the Implementation Committee.
• After further discussion and revisions, the ad-hoc committee submitted recommendations for a tuition schedule to the Implementation Committee and the tuition schedule was accepted. As of this writing (March 12, 2012) details about this tuition schedule are slated to be released soon.

Financial Support – Financial support for families attending St. Blaisé will come from a number of sources:

• Following the guidelines of the Office of Catholic Education, students of “active and participating” families will be eligible for “scholarships” to help defray the costs of tuition.  Eligible families will receive details about these scholarships soon in the mail.

• St. Mary will also be offering additional financial support to “active and participating” families in the form of a newly formed “St. Mary Heritage Grant.” Further details about the Grant can be found here.

• The Connelly Foundation has teamed with the “Catholic School Development Program” (an educational consulting company) in a unique initiative entitled “Partners Advancing Catholic Education.” Last year Holy Child was one of a select few schools chosen to institute proven “best practices” to achieve excellence in Catholic Education at Holy Child. Professional development and fundraising techniques, aimed at keeping tuition rates affordable, will be an emphasis of this program with details slated to be released throughout the 2012-2013 school year. St. Blaisé will continue to receive the support of this unique program next year.

Site Selection:

Holy Child School was the original site selected by the Blue Ribbon Commission. A number of parishioners from St. Bridget, who agreed with the rationale and benefits of the merger, asked to present a case to have the St. Bridget campus chosen as the final school site. These parishioners were granted a hearing by the “Review Committee” the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

In a statement issued by the Communication Office of the Archdiocese Of Philadelphia On March 8, 2012, the following communiqué was issued:

Creating a New Regional Catholic Elementary School in Manayunk at the Site of Holy Child Regional Catholic School

Why the Holy Child Regional School Site Was Chosen

Background on the Original Recommendation and the Appeal

On January 6th, the initial recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission were publicly announced. At that time, Saint Bridget Parish School and Holy Child Regional Catholic School were designated to form a new regional school for the children of Manayunk and East Falls opening in September of 2012. Holy Child Regional School’s building was the site selected for the new school.

The appeal from Saint Bridget’s, along with the facts presented were seriously, thoughtfully, and prayerfully considered. When weighed in light of the realities of the already regionalized school, however, the original recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Commission was upheld. That decision was final and the appeals process has ended.

As a final result of the appeals process, the recommendation of the Review Committee of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was that the newly formed school will be located at the current site of Holy Child Regional School. That recommendation was approved by Archbishop Chaput. The following factors figured largely into that outcome:

Holy Child Regional School was formed in 2005 out of the merger of Holy Family, Saint Lucy, and Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish Elementary Schools. Within one year Saint John the Baptist and Saint Josaphat Parish Schools joined the regional school. As it already successfully served as a regional school in the area, Holy Child was the most logical choice. It seemed to make the most sense to recommend that the children from Saint Bridget’s come to the existing regional school rather than uproot children from five parishes, some of whom had been part of a merger once already.

The facilities at Holy Child have been upgraded over the past five years thanks to extensive financial commitments making the building the best poised in the Manayunk/East Falls area to serve as the new regional school.

There was great sensitivity given to the Manayunk parish situation. All of those parishes are in the final stages of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative announced by the Archdiocese in December of 2011. Parishes in Manayunk will likely face consolidations later this year.

Although rumors have been circulating to the contrary, at no time did the process take into account where any Archdiocesan administrator went to school.

St Blaisé Implementation Committee:

After the Blue Ribbon Committee announcement, an “Implementation Committee “ was formed. Members included:

• The Pastors from St. Bridget, Holy Family, St. Lucy, St. Mary. St. Josaphat and St. John the Baptist.
• Financial Managers from the six parishes who provided financial advice and recommendation.
• Michael Patterson (Principal of Holy Child) and Ms. Susan Canio (Principal of St. Bridget)
• Selected parish members from each of the six parishes

The committee was presented by an extensive task list, which followed an aggressive schedule. Some of the initial tasks are outlined below:

School Name:

The students of both St. Bridget and Holy Child schools as well as their parents solicited suggested names and provided reasons for each name. Out of nine “finalists,” the name St. Blaisé was finally chosen. The rationale was in the hope that the “Flame of the Holy Spirit would be ignited in the students, parents, family and friends of the new school.”

Principal:

A special ad-hoc committee was formed which included the Pastors and several lay members from each of the six parishes. Lay members were either currently teachers and/or possessed educational administrative experience. After examining and/or personally interviewing five candidates, on Monday March 5, the Committee announced that Ms. Susan Canio, would serve as principal of the new regional school next year. In a statement, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was quoted as saying that, “Ms. Canio’s appointment significantly demonstrates the impartiality of the regionalization process.”

For more information, check out implementation page on Holy Child Catholic School’s website.